Philadelphia 76ers overcame a 29-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Thursday, in a season opener that also reminded Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson of the free agency target who went elsewhere this summer. LeBron James was in a Sixers uniform, rather than beginning a third stint with the franchise that drafted him.
Atkinson made no attempt to hide his disappointment before the game. “We were anticipating and excited [to land James] and then you have that [news],” he said pregame when asked about James going to Philadelphia. “Having gone through free agency a lot, when you’re expecting something to happen and it doesn’t happen, that first day or two, you’re just like, you’re depressed, quite honestly. That’s the emotions of it.”
Cleveland was in the running
Cleveland, along with Minnesota, Miami, Golden State and Philadelphia, was one of five finalists James considered after telling the Los Angeles Lakers that he would pursue free agency to play a record-setting 24th NBA season elsewhere. Cleveland was the only one of those teams that James visited. He met with Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman, vice president of business operations Grant Gilbert and now-Cavs general manager Brandon Weems, who has been a close friend of James since childhood.
James chose the Sixers, signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option for next season. On the day of his decision, he acknowledged Cleveland in a post on X: “Northeast Ohio will always [be] home!”
After the game, James was asked about the meeting with the Cavs and how much he weighed them as an option. “The nature of the meeting, I probably won’t discuss much, but it was [in] consideration for sure,” he said. “I mean, obviously, as a team trying to build towards a championship and things of that nature, and I was trying to decide where I wanted to go with the rest of my career, to finish my career or whatever the case may be, the next step. And a lot of consideration for sure.”
Cavs pivot to Peyton Watson
Atkinson credited the Cavs for quickly pivoting from James. They pieced together a five-team move to acquire forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade deal, parting with Max Strus, Dennis Schroder, Tre Mann and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick. Watson, 24, signed a four-year, $88 contract with Cleveland after the trade.
“I loved how quickly we just switched gears and the push to get Peyton in the fold and everything we had to do to do that,” Atkinson said. “I mean, that was a complicated maneuver. But it’s kind of what [Cavs owner] Dan Gilbert and Koby and those guys, they’re aggressive.”
He added: “They don’t stand pat, and I love it. We take risks; we take swings. It was a great switch to what was a tough blow for us in the beginning.”
Debuts on the court
Watson had eight points on 2-for-7 shooting, two assists, two steals and five turnovers in his Cavs debut. James had 17 points on 5-for-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and five turnovers in his second game with Philadelphia.
James said he already felt right at home, playing his first regular-season game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. “It was everything I dreamed of and more,” James said. “The boos, that was amazing. We deserved it. And then we got the cheers and we almost blew the roof off this thing tonight — in a good way. So, it was a hell of a night. … I’m happy to be here. Extremely happy. And I’m happy to be with these boys in the locker room. Hopefully, we’ll continue to do something special throughout the season.”