LeBron James started at centre for the Philadelphia 76ers for the 15th time in his 24-year career on Sunday, as the team lost 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons for its first defeat of the season. Joel Embiid was out with right foot plantar fasciitis management, and the Sixers’ frontcourt was already thin.
The 6-foot-9 James, who turns 42 in December, matched up with Pistons big man Paul Reed for much of the game. He finished with 18 points, five assists and two rebounds. It was his first start at centre in five seasons. His previous 14 starts there came in the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. James sat out the Sixers’ win over the Bucks to manage sciatica, and head coach Nick Nurse has used him in spurts at centre this season when the team has gone to small-ball lineups.
James does not believe starting at centre is a long-term role for him, or one the Sixers need.
“Well, s— we got an MVP over there. I’m not here to have a sustainable role at the 5,” James said. “You got Joel Embiid on the team. … If I was to say I was signed here to have a sustainable role at the 5, I don’t think none of us would actually want that. I can do it, but… we have [Embiid].”
Thin frontcourt leaves Sixers exposed
Philadelphia was without Embiid and three other big men on Sunday. Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad) were all sidelined through injury. Guard VJ Edgecombe, the team’s best rebounding guard, also missed the game with an abdominal contusion.
“We’ve only got about three guys left that can possibly play the 5,” Nurse said before the game.
Adem Bona was the only true centre available for the Sixers. He played a season-high 25 minutes, grabbing 13 rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass, and scoring six points.
“I thought he was amazing tonight: his energy, his effort,” James said. “For us, who weren’t rebounding well, he came in and gave us that spark on the rebounding offensively and defensively. So, I think his energy and his effort are going to be great for our team throughout the whole season.”
The injuries have contributed to the Sixers’ rebounding problems. Opponents have outrebounded Philadelphia in every game this season. The Sixers lost the rebounding battle by 22 against Milwaukee on Saturday and by 17 against Detroit on Sunday.
For guard Tyrese Maxey, the solution is straightforward.
“Some of our tall guys come back. That would be great,” he said.