There was a time when LeBron James joining a new team meant wondering how quickly he could become its leading scorer. At 41, beginning his 24th NBA season, the question might be a little different. How much can he help a team win without having to carry the offence every night?

The Philadelphia 76ers offered an interesting first answer. In his debut with his fourth NBA franchise, James helped Philadelphia beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden, on the night New York raised its championship banner. James finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points, and that might be the more interesting part of the story. James didn’t need to be the leading scorer to help his new team win.

LeBron James Could Have a Different Kind of Impact in Philadelphia

James turns 42 on December 30, and the days of expecting him to score 25 or 30 points every night are probably behind him. That doesn’t mean his ability to influence a game has disappeared. It might simply mean that his contributions will look different.

For much of his career, James has been the player expected to create offence, take the big shots, and make sure his team had a chance to win. In Philadelphia, he may have a different job. If he’s playing more of a supporting role behind Maxey and the team’s other offensive options, he can pick his spots rather than having to force the issue.

That could make him particularly useful late in games. James still sees the floor exceptionally well, knows how to get teammates involved, and has decades of experience reading what an opponent is trying to do. If he can conserve some energy rather than carrying the scoring load every night, he may have more left for the defensive end and the important possessions that decide close games.

The Remarkable Part Is That He’s Still Contributing

Think about the distance James has travelled. He became a national sensation as a high school player, entered the NBA straight out of school, and has now reached a 24th season. Plenty of players struggle to remain effective into their late thirties. James is still joining a new team and helping it beat the reigning champions on opening night.

There’s no need to pretend age doesn’t matter. The physical demands of an NBA season are enormous, and managing his minutes and workload will be important. But James doesn’t have to be the player he was at 25 to remain valuable.

Perhaps this season won’t be remembered as one of his greatest scoring campaigns. It could still be one of his most interesting seasons if he helps Philadelphia win by doing a little less of everything offensively and making the right plays at the right times.

At this stage of his career, that might be the more impressive achievement.

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