LeBron James begins final NBA season with defeat to Nets

LeBron James kicked off his final NBA season with a setback as the Philadelphia 76ers fell 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets in a preseason match. The 41-year-old American joined the 76ers in July, announcing it would be his last contract in the NBA following a career that spanned over two decades. James contributed 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out five assists and made one steal in the first half, playing for 18 minutes.

Despite the loss, James expressed optimism about his new team's potential, stating that they needed time to build chemistry and understand each other on the court. "We’re still trying to put each other in the position to be successful and complement each other the best way we can on the floor. But it’s going to take some time," James said.

"Tonight was a good sample size for us to build on." James is joined by new teammates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey, while Jaylen Brown led the scoring for the Nets with 18 points. James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has won championships with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, and will now aim to help the 76ers end their 43-year championship drought during the upcoming season.