The LeBron James preseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers has been knocked out, and there is a whole lot more to be excited about.
While everybody expected LeBron to be a major positive presence for this Sixers team, a little proof is always needed just to keep feeling good. And boy, does this team feel good after seeing the superstar forward go to work for 18 minutes with his new team.
It's time to talk about passing
Even though LeBron isn't billed as a point guard, the league has never slept on his passing. When James signed with the 76ers, there was an instant question of who was going to be the primary playmaker on the team, since Tyrese Maxey has been working on it since James Harden left the building for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Sixers aren't going to commit to one guy. Use the hot hand on the floor, based on the personnel. But one game of preseason action served as a reminder not to overthink it. Let LeBron make plays, and the entire lineup of stars will benefit.
James was one of four players to exceed double digits by scoring 10 points. Eight of those points came from the charity stripe. Why shoot when your teammates are making shots for you? James took one shot from the field, which was successful. He ended up leading the 76ers with five assists and turned the ball over just twice.
Call it an overreaction since it's just one preseason game against a rebuilding Brooklyn Nets team, but many fans and media members are seriously claiming that LeBron could end up finishing the season by leading the NBA in assists with this roster.
With the Lakers last season, LeBron averaged 7.2 assists per game, while turning it over 3.0 times per game in 60 outings. In the two seasons before that, he averaged over 8.0 assists per game in each season. It's been years since LeBron had a double-digit average, but with this kind of scoring star power on the roster, it's logical to make that a goal.
Last year, Denver's Nikola Jokic was the playmaking champ with 10.7 assists per game. Everybody behind him finished with 9.9 or below. It's just one game of preseason basketball, but the Thursday night showing in Brooklyn was extremely positive on that front. The IQ and passing from LeBron are exactly why he could end up being an X-factor.
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