It is hard to put on a show in a loss (let alone a preseason loss), but LeBron James did just that as his presence upstaged the Denver Nuggets’ hard-fought 111–113 road win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday Oct. 2.

James’ highly anticipated Lakers debut has become the main attraction in town, impressive for a city full of stars in Hollywood.

Before the ball even tipped, Lakers fans had already packed the house at Staples Center filling up the arena with 18,997 people, according to ESPN, a rare sight for an NBA preseason game. When James stepped foot on the hardwood floor, he no doubt became the biggest star to put on a Lakers’ jersey since Kobe Bryant.

James’ impact on his Lakers debut went deeper than just fan attendance as he played a brilliantly efficient game, scoring 15 points on only six shots.

James would also fill up the stat sheet, contributing three rebounds, three assists and one steal in only 15 minutes of game action.

The presence that James created made a difference in the first half of play, as the Lakers were leading the Nuggets at half time with an 11-point lead.

The Lakers played a fun and exciting brand of up-tempo basketball the entire game, scoring 111 points, 25 of which were fast-break points. The fast-paced style of the Lakers is likely a result of James’ presence on the court.

James had a plus minus of 13, which led the team, showing the difference he is making on the court for the Lakers.

Some players that have seemed to work well with James are center JaVale McGee, scoring 15 points, and point guard Rajon Rondo, notching seven assists. Both players showed they can co-exist despite their “pass first” playing style.

In a city filled with stars and exceptions, James sure left the basketball world with lots to be excited about in a loss.