Even in year 24, there’s new (and old) things to learn for LeBron James
James said he is figuring out his pregame routine again while still adjusting to life with the Sixers after scoring 10 points in his preseason debut against the Nets on Thursday.
NEW YORK — Even in year 24, LeBron James has to re-learn his routine.
What bus to take to the arena, how to lay out his clothes, when and how to warm up — when James enters a season, all that stuff has to come back to his memory, he said.
“Obviously, I have my routine, but when you go through an offseason, you gotta remember what your routine was again, no matter how long you’ve been in it,” James said.
» READ MORE: LeBron James takes just one shot — officially — in 10-point, five-assist Sixers preseason debut
Part of the routine included stretching in the Sixers locker room before Thursday’s preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets began while playing his music, which included songs from Future, over the speakers.
Then he took the floor as the crowd began gathering into the Barclays Center. He went through his pregame workout with assistant Phil Handy, who came to the Sixers after working with James in Cleveland and Los Angeles.
After heading back to the tunnel, it was game time with James getting a loud crowd pop, even with the public address announcer mumbling his name in the lineup (as most PA announcers do for road teams) to prevent a reaction. The first time he touched the ball, there were more cheers in a road arena, something that happens a lot for James no matter where he is.
“It felt a little different,” James said. “Obviously, just wearing a new uniform, but the game is the game, and the games need to be played on the floor. And I was happy to be able to log some minutes with the guys that we’ve been going at each other in practice for the last two weeks, a week and a half, or whatever the case may be, however long we’ve been practicing.”
Time can be a blur in an NBA season, so it’s easy to lose track of time as James may have. Also making the transition to the Sixers a little tricky for James is staying connected with his family. He said after Saturday’s Blue x White scrimmage that it’s “going to be a bit of challenge” not being around them as much, while saying everyone in the organization has been “super welcoming.”
“Every day is getting better, and obviously I’m gonna have some days where some days will be better than others,” James said. “But when I get to the facility, around these guys, it definitely helps. We got good energy, good spirit. Obviously, the basketball game, what it brings to all of us is a sense of like, togetherness and fun. It’s fun to go to work.
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“So there’ll be some days where it’ll be better than others, but especially when I’m around these guys, locker room, plane rides, practices in the facility, things like that definitely helps.”
The Sixers were off to Boston for their next preseason game on Saturday (7 p.m., NBCSP), when it’s unclear how many, if any, of the starting group will play (forward Jaylen Brown said “we’ll see” when asked if he may play in his return to the only city he has called home in his NBA career).
In his Sixers debut, James actually only registered on official shot attempt, a make, but he posted 10 points thanks to eight free throws. He also had five assists as it became clear he is going to play a significant part in facilitating the offense, both in transition and the halfcourt.
“He just creates plays,” VJ Edgecombe said. “He just requires so much gravity, everyone else gets open and he don’t care who scores.”
Then Edgecombe added, with a smile, “He already got the record,” referring to the all-time scoring record. James didn’t look like someone struggling to play basketball at 41. He got out in transition, pushed the pace, got physical at times, all in a preseason game. He was fairly happy with how things went, saying Thursday was “a good sample size for us to build on.”
It was good for him individually, too, to get back on the floor and re-learn that routine, even after 24 years.
“I’m still getting into the whole — everything — on the court and off the court, living and also being around these guys every day,” James said. “It’s still an adjustment for me. But every day will get better and better.”
After an exciting Sixers offseason highlighted by the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, join Inquirer beat writers Gina Mizell and Chris Hine for a preview of the season. Watch here.
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