Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James conceded that the Chicago Bulls are "much better" prior to helping his team to a 107-98 win in a pre-season game on Monday night.

The Cavaliers and Bulls are expected to contest top spot in the Eastern Conference in the new NBA season, but James believes that their rivals have an early advantage.

"[The Bulls] are a team that's much better than us right now just off chemistry," James told reporters before the game.

"They've been together for a while; we've got a long way to go."

After joining the Miami Heat in 2010, James and his new teammates struggled to a 9-8 start to the season before winning 21 of the next 22 games to reach the NBA Finals.

The two-time NBA champion returned to Cleveland this summer, with the franchise also acquiring Kevin Love to pair up with point guard Kyrie Irving.