The new NBA season saw LeBron James stealing some of the New York Knicks’ thunder during their championship ring and banner-raising ceremony.

James played a solid all-around game to help the Philadelphia 76ers’ newly stacked team secure an impressive opening-night win at Madison Square Garden against a subdued, sloppy Knicks team that still looked hungover from celebrating their championship.

James also drew headlines for a verbal altercation with a Knicks fan, earning both praise and criticism.

LeBron James Snaps At Knicks Fan Heckler, Drawing Mixed Response On Social Media

James continues to defy Father Time, looking lively as he started his 24th NBA season, recording 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists while helping Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown shine.

But with earlier reports that the Knicks’ front office had limited interest in signing James in free agency and the 4-time MVP reportedly commuting from New York City to Philly by helicopter, emotions were running high.

At one point, the Knicks’ supporters mocked James, as the NBA icon was met with a chorus of “We don’t want you” chants. He even had a verbal back-and-forth with a New York fan courtside, drawing mixed reactions online.

NBACentral tweeted the video of the altercation and wrote, “Bron standing on business.”

The league’s all-time leading scorer did not mince words during the heated exchange, saying, “Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest… I’m not from the West Coast, I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m an Ohio baby, (expletive) is you talking about?”

Meanwhile, The Volume Sports put two and two together and believed: “100% a ‘Go back to the West Coast’ comment from a fan.”

Another fan, amused by James’ reaction, wrote, “Bron out there ready to squabble on Day 1 LOL.”

However, not everyone seemed enamored with the Sixers’ superstar’s outburst, as oneNBA fan wrote: “When you have to say where you are from, you are soft.”

In a similar vein, another account remarked, “Ohio is no Flex.”

Jeff Sunday took issue with the idea that James ‘stood on business,’ and posted, “I know we all have different definitions of standing on business, but flexing you’re from Ohio and not the West Coast after leaving Cleveland to play for the Los Angeles Lakers is not my definition of it.”

Regardless of the noise from the Knicks supporters, the Sixers had the last laugh.

Aside from an impressive double-double off the bench from Andre Drummond, New York did little to trouble the Sixers on either end.

Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 28 points, along with 3 steals and 3 blocks. Former Boston Celtics star Brown added 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in his Sixers debut.

The NBA season tipped off in exciting fashion, with the Knicks celebrating their emotional ring ceremony before the Sixers got down to business and dampened New York’s party with a 106-100 win.

Now 1-0 after their win over the defending champions, Philly returns home Thursday to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.