LeBron James opens 24th NBA season hoping for his own banner night with the Philadelphia 76ers

NEW YORK (AP) — The first basket of LeBron James' career with the Philadelphia 76ers was a simple one. He took a feed from Joel Embiid in the paint and went up strong for an uncontested right-handed layup.Just two points. Just one bucket of what the Sixers expect to be many, many more over the next two seasons as James opened his record 24th NBA season on a milestone night in New York.Embiid appeared to wonder during the national anthem where the Knicks' championship banner was hanging in the rafters as James sat nearby on the bench with his head bowed and hands clasped.The banner was indeed raised in a pregame ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.It's the same kind of celebration the 76ers expect James, Embiid and the rest of a stout starting lineup to deliver on opening night next season.There was a plausible scenario under which James would open this season at the Garden — only in a Knicks uniform.His agent, Rich Paul, said over the summer the Knicks would have been Ja