LeBron James and Joel Embiid are among the healthy inactives for the Philadelphia 76ers in their preseason opener Monday night against the NBA champion New York Knicks.

All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will also sit out. Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe are the lone regular starters in the lineup.

The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Knicks.

James signed a free-agent deal with the Sixers over the summer. He is a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

James, Embiid and the full healthy roster played in a public scrimmage on Saturday on the 76ers’ home court.

James said the scrimmage Saturday was a “great first step” for the upcoming season. 

“Obviously, it was fun to be able to play in front of our Philly faithful for the first time, and like I said, being able to take what we’ve done on the practice floor and bring it to the game to our game floor situation and around our fans,” James said. “It was a great first step in the direction we are trying to go. Like I said, it was great to hear some cheers from our fans.”  

The Sixers’ next preseason game is Thursday night on the road against the Brooklyn Nets.

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