LeBron James filled in at center as the Philadelphia 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks’ championship celebrations with a 106-100 win at Madison Square Garden.
With Joel Embiid in foul trouble, James stepped into an unusual role to close out the first half, a move Embiid revealed was his own idea.
“I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, because I just felt like the way they were calling fouls, I just felt like — and I was just being honest — I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls, wanting to stay on the floor,” Embiid said. “I just told them I thought we should do that.”
James also helped defend Karl-Anthony Towns, with the 76ers relying on communication to limit the Knicks big man’s impact.
The four-time MVP was quick to credit his teammates for making the strategy work.
“It was all a team effort,” James said, pointing to the team’s communication on the defensive end.
“So just try to have that communication just at a high level,” he added.
James finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his first regular-season game with the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey led the team with 28 points.
Embiid, who finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, said the defensive approach was familiar, having been used by Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
LeBron had guarded Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic in the Olympic semifinals, giving the pair experience executing a similar strategy against an elite big man.
Embiid summed up the impact of having James take on that defensive assignment in just three words.
“It changes everything.”
The win spoiled a memorable night for New York, which raised its first championship banner since 1973 before tip-off, while Philadelphia made an early statement after a major offseason reshuffle.