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LeBron James makes 76ers preseason debut in 114-108 loss to Nets

LeBron James played his first preseason game for the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday 8 October, scoring 10 points in a 114-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN had reported beforehand that he would play alongside the rest of the projected starting five.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Newsweek
Image: Al Jazeera

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2LeBron James made his preseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday 8 October, and the Brooklyn Nets won 114-108 at the Barclays Center. Centre · 1Before the game, Newsweek relayed an ESPN report by Dave McMenamin that James was expected to play and would be joined for the first time by the rest of Philadelphia's projected starting five. Centre · 1James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey had sat out the 76ers' preseason opener on Monday, a 120-97 win over the New York Knicks.

Left · 1According to Al Jazeera, James scored 10 points, making his only field-goal attempt and all eight free throws, with four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18:04 minutes in the first half. Left · 1Jaylen Brown, a trade acquisition from the Boston Celtics, led all scorers with 18 points, and Julius Randle had 14 for the Nets, who outscored the 76ers 37-23 in the third quarter. Left · 1James said the game felt different in a new uniform and that the team would need time to adjust. Coach Nick Nurse saw good passing and back cuts but also many turnovers, which he put down to it being preseason and the first time the group had played together.

Left · 1James is 41 and entering a record 24th NBA season. Al Jazeera says he announced in July a two-year, $8m deal with the 76ers after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Mixed · 2Before the game, a story had circulated that James scolded Embiid for arriving late to practice. It came from ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen during Monday's game. James denied it on Instagram, writing "He ain't been late, so stop the lie", and Nurse brushed it off. Breen apologised on Wednesday, saying he was disappointed by how the story was interpreted. Mixed · 2The 76ers have two more preseason games, both against Boston, on Saturday in Boston and on 16 October in Philadelphia. They open the regular season on 20 October at Madison Square Garden against the defending champion Knicks.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Al Jazeera wrote a post-game report on James's debut and the Nets' win, with quotes from James and Nurse.
Emphasis
The result, James's stat line, his and Nurse's quotes, and the Embiid rumour.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the Knicks preseason score or that the 76ers last won a title in 1983.
Charged language
“NBA superstar”“new-look 76ers”
For example
“NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first half in his first preseason game for Philadelphia” — Al Jazeera

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Newsweek wrote a pre-game piece built on an ESPN report that James would debut, with the expectations around the team.
Emphasis
The starting five playing together, the Breen–Embiid rumour, the remaining schedule and the franchise's title drought.
Leaves out or plays down
Written before tip-off, so it has no result or stats, and no James contract details.
Charged language
“The LeBron James era in Philadelphia”“King James”
For example
“The LeBron James era in Philadelphia is reportedly set to officially begin on Thursday night.” — Newsweek

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.