About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEW YORK — Late in the night, there was a moment of honesty – vulnerability? – from Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers locker room had all but cleared out, and Embiid was the last player fielding questions from an atypically large horde of reporters. With a 106-100 victory , the Sixers had just wrecked the coronation of the New York Knicks, who raised a banner here in Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years and who, prior to tipoff, had wedged championship rings the size of golf balls onto their fingers.
There were plenty of reasons why the 76ers won their regular season opener Tuesday, Oct. 20. But it was a small, in-game proposal from Embiid that proves the experiment that is the 76ers might just work.
Late in the second quarter, Embiid had picked up his third foul, which came during a four-minute span late in the period. So, at some point over halftime, Embiid told the 76ers coaches that it should be the newly-acquired LeBron James to guard Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, a six-time All-Star.
LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. The NBA picked the right game to headline an opening night slate with the New York Knicks welcoming the Philadelphia 76ers to Madison Square Garden.LeBron James begins a new era as he suits up for a Sixers squad with high aspirations. Leaving behind Hollywood for the bright lights of Philadelphia also means a great big spotlight on championship expectations. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) looks to pass the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner, Imagn Images) LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the first quarter of the game against Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) Jaylen Brown #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak with referee Justin van Duyne #64 during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) A general view as Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks jump for the opening tipoff during the first quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers performs his pregame ritual prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) A general view as Avery Wilson sings the National Anthem prior to the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) A 76ers fan arrives at Madison Square Garden for the NBA season opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in New York City on Oct. 20, 2026. (David Dee Delgado, REUTERS) 1 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. The NBA picked the right game to headline an opening night slate with the New York Knicks welcoming the Philadelphia 76ers to Madison Square Garden.LeBron James begins a new era as he suits up for a Sixers squad with high aspirations. Leaving behind Hollywood for the bright lights of Philadelphia also means a great big spotlight on championship expectations. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 1 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. The NBA picked the right game to headline an opening night slate with the New York Knicks welcoming the Philadelphia 76ers to Madison Square Garden.LeBron James begins a new era as he suits up for a Sixers squad with high aspirations. Leaving behind Hollywood for the bright lights of Philadelphia also means a great big spotlight on championship expectations. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 2 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 3 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 4 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) looks to pass the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner, Imagn Images) 5 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the first quarter of the game against Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 6 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers Jaylen Brown #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak with referee Justin van Duyne #64 during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 7 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 8 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers A general view as Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks jump for the opening tipoff during the first quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 9 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 10 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers performs his pregame ritual prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 11 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers A general view as Avery Wilson sings the National Anthem prior to the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026 in New York City. (Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images) 12 / 12 LeBron James makes debut for the Philadelphia 76ers A 76ers fan arrives at Madison Square Garden for the NBA season opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in New York City on Oct. 20, 2026. (David Dee Delgado, REUTERS) This would free up Embiid to play unencumbered. And it shows how dangerous this team can be.
"It changes everything," Embiid said after the game. "I had three fouls. I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, cause I just felt like the way that they were coming, I wasn't – I was just being honest – I wasn't going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor."
LeBron used his size and strength – James actually outweighs Towns by two pounds – to body Towns and jam up the timing and rhythm of New York's pick-and-rolls. The move gave the 76ers tremendous defensive versatility and stifled the Knicks' ability to scoop up offensive rebounds, which allowed Philadelphia's transition offense to flourish.
Towns, in the third quarter, took just one field goal attempt and scored only four points; the Knicks shot 5-of-21 (23.8%) in the period.
This is not unfamiliar for James, who can play every position on the floor. It's also a tactic Team USA employed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when James guarded Serbian all-world center and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić.
Embiid was also a player on that gold medal squad, and it was Embiid's foul trouble in the fourth quarter that prompted coach Steve Kerr to deploy the strategy.
"It was great," Embiid continued. "Another big body to guard the post. (Former 76er) P.J. Tucker was the last one we had where we could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George), but you know PG, he did a great job, but he's a little lighter. Having 'Bron do that in the Olympics. We've done that in the past. That's a good place to change (things) a little bit."
No team had a bigger offseason than Philadelphia, which also landed Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster deal with the Celtics. And the first impression of the revamped Sixers was mostly positive; the shot distribution was balanced, defensive intensity ramped up when it mattered most and the team committed just 10 turnovers, which had been an issue during the preseason.
But it was James who – as he has throughout his career – did a little bit of everything. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. He handled the ball and zipped passes to his teammates. He sprinted out in transition and got to the line. And he was instrumental in helping the 76ers retain their small lead throughout the fourth quarter.
It's still so very early, and the 76ers didn't play explicitly well; they hit just 27.5% of their 3-pointers and were outrebounded on the offensive glass by a margin of 14-6.
"I mean, it's still going to take some time," James admitted. "It's just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did, we can learn from the bad things we did tonight."
Though it was but one game, the vibes are high. And as far as first impressions go, these 76ers proved they should have lasting power in a loaded Eastern Conference.
It's their versatility and adaptability that can make them a legitimate title contender.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joel Embiid made an interesting suggestion about LeBron James – and it worked
Source: Sports
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