LEBRON James

James had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in 33.8 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Knicks. His plus-minus was -2.0 in a game Philadelphia won. Against Boston earlier in the month he had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 24.7 minutes, with a +17.0 in a loss. Against Brooklyn he had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 18.1 minutes and finished +10.0 in another loss. He did not play in the other Boston game or the earlier Knicks game. Those were rest days. The numbers are modest, but the minutes keep going up. His passing has held steady. He has had at least 5 assists every time he has played.

James is not on the injury report right now. His October history shows a planned approach, not a problem. He was listed Day-To-Day for rest on Oct. 5 and again on Oct. 10. He was cleared in between and cleared again on Oct. 16 after a brief Day-To-Day tag that same day. Every listing carried a rest designation, not a specific injury. For a player who is 41 and in his 23rd season, that is what a managed buildup looks like. Fans should expect some rest days through the year, especially on back-to-backs. For now he is available, and his minutes against the Knicks point to a player close to his normal role.

Last season with the Lakers, James played 60 games and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 33.2 minutes. He shot 51.5 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three and 73.7 percent from the line. His true shooting percentage was 59.4 and his usage rate was 26.2. He added 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks and turned it over 3.0 times a game. His plus-minus was 2.0. He was still a primary creator who scored efficiently inside the arc. The three-point and free-throw numbers are the weak spots. The 76ers are betting that his playmaking holds up, and the assist numbers this October back that up.

James finished last season strong. In early May he had 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in 37.1 minutes in a win over Houston, with a +26.0. Then the Lakers ran into Oklahoma City and lost every game in that stretch. He scored 27, 23, 19 and 24 in those losses. In the last one he had 24 points and 12 rebounds in 40.4 minutes and finished -17.0. He played 36.3, 37.8, 36.9 and 40.4 minutes in that series. That was a heavy playoff load at his age, and he kept producing. It helps explain why Philadelphia brought him along slowly this fall.

James has been the main storyline around the Sixers since training camp. Dave McMenamin's reporting on the team covered James, Embiid and the preseason. Tony Jones reported on James along with Brown, Wade and George. Other Sixers notes this month have grouped James with Nurse and Brown, and the latest notes mention James, Embiid and Maxey. None of that has changed his status. He is on the roster, healthy and playing more each time out. The fit with Embiid and Maxey is what fans will watch most closely. A new team, a familiar workload and a season that is just getting started.