LeBron James kicked off his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers in spectacular fashion, leading his team to a thrilling 106-100 victory over the reigning champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on NBA opening night.

In his NBA-record 24th season, James contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Tyrese Maxey shined as the game’s leading scorer with 28 points, while fellow debutant Jaylen Brown, acquired from Boston, added 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson managed 21 points, but struggled with his shooting, hitting only 6 of 19 attempts. Despite a promising start, the Knicks faced challenges, shooting 37% overall and 33.3% from three-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns was a bright spot for New York, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Brunson, during a pregame ceremony celebrating the Knicks’ championship, expressed a desire to replicate last season's joy. However, the team needed to improve significantly to reclaim that success.

The game saw the 76ers close the third quarter with an impressive 11-0 run, highlighted by Brown's buzzer-beating three-pointer, giving Philadelphia an 83-76 lead. Despite a late rally from the Knicks, led by Towns’ three-pointer that cut the deficit to 96-95, Joel Embiid responded with a crucial three to maintain the Sixers' lead. Embiid finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

While the season opener is just one of the 82 games ahead, the 76ers couldn't have asked for a better start than defeating the defending champions on the road.