With Joel Embiid sidelined by right foot plantar fasciitis management and the Philadelphia 76ers’ frontcourt already thin, LeBron James started at center for the 15th time in his 24-year career on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons.
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 as the 76ers lost 106-93, their first defeat of the season.
It was James’ first time starting at center in five seasons. The previous 14 starts came in the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. In three games this season, James sat out the Sixers’ win over the Bucks to manage sciatica. Head coach Nick Nurse has used James regularly in spurts at center when Philadelphia has gone to small-ball lineups.
James does not believe that starting at center is a role the Sixers will need moving forward, or one they want.
Thin Frontcourt Forces Changes
“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].”
The Sixers are incredibly thin in the frontcourt. On Sunday, they were without Embiid and three other big men sidelined by injuries: Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad). “We’ve only got about three guys left that can possibly play the 5,” Nurse said before the game.
Philadelphia also lost VJ Edgecombe, its best rebounding guard, to an abdominal contusion. That left Adem Bona as the only true center available. He played a season-high 25 minutes, grabbing 13 rebounds, five of them on offense, 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.”
Rebounding Struggles Continue
The injuries have played a major part in Philadelphia’s rebounding problems. Opponents have outrebounded the Sixers in every game this season, including a 22-rebound margin Saturday against Milwaukee and a 17-rebound margin Sunday against Detroit.
Guard Tyrese Maxey sees a simple fix. “Some of our tall guys come back. That would be great,” he said.