NEW ERA BEGINS: LeBron optimistic over Sixers chances; Thunder stay hungry

NEW YORK (AFP) — LeBron James said the Philadelphia 76ers still had plenty of room for improvement after launching their National Basketball Association (NBA) season with an impressive opening night victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

James, 41, launched his quest for a fifth NBA championship with 14 points and seven assists in a 106-100 defeat of the reigning NBA champions at Madison Square Garden.

But despite an encouraging first win in a Philadelphia uniform, James was keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“It’s going to take some time,” James said of the Sixers new-look line-up. “It’s just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did.”

James though was happy that the Sixers showed signs of development during Tuesday’s opener.

“We’re still new to each other,” he said. “We will have some bumps in the road at times. But I mean, I think tonight when we had those bumps in the roads we were able to use what happened previously and then make the adjustment.”

James was the highest-profile addition to the Sixers roster in the close season and joins a Philadelphia team also bolstered by the arrival of Jaylen Brown from Boston.

James said Brown, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2024 during the Celtics’ championship season, would help foster a winning culture in Philly.

“He’s just another guy that can hold guys accountable because they understand, they see a guy that has gotten to the finish line,” James said of Brown.

“It’s definitely very helpful. These guys that’s been here are trying to be able to get to that point, obviously this is a marathon, and we’re not going to do it in day one.”

“But the experience that we have, the experience that we bring to this ball club, hopefully we can translate it to wins and more.”

James intends to lead by example in the Sixers locker room.

“I’m there before everybody gets to the gym, and I’m one of the last ones to leave,” James said. “I don’t just be like telling guys to do it.”

“I hold myself accountable, and if I’m not doing something, I want the guys to hold me accountable. So I think that that goes a long way.”

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said the Oklahoma City Thunder are “hungry” for more success after exacting a small measure of revenge on the San Antonio Spurs in their NBA season-opener.

Gilgeous-Alexander launched his account for the 2026-2027 campaign with a 32-point display as Oklahoma City scored a 116-104 win on the road over the team that eliminated the 2025 champions from last season’s playoffs.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player admitted though that simply being back on the court was more important for a Thunder team determined to reclaim their crown.

“Obviously this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal but for us I think it was more we’re just happy to be back,” Gilgeous-Alexander told NBC.

“It’s a longer summer when you don’t win, and we felt that this summer. So yeah, we’re just happy to be back. One of 82... we took a step in the right direction. We got to do it 81 more times and be ready for the playoffs if we get the chance to make it.”

Gilgeous-Alexander said the Thunder would carry an additional edge into the campaign after the disappointment of last season.