LeBron James started at centre for the 15th time in his 24-year career on Sunday, as the Philadelphia 76ers lost 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons. The defeat was the first of the season for Philadelphia, which was without Joel Embiid because of right foot plantar fasciitis management.
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.
A rare start at centre
It was James’s first start at centre in five seasons. His previous 14 starts there came during the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. In three games this season, head coach Nick Nurse has used James regularly in short spells at centre when the Sixers have gone to small-ball lineups. James sat out the Sixers’ win over the Bucks to manage sciatica.
James does not expect to play the position on a regular basis, and he does not think the Sixers want him to.
“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
The Sixers have very few healthy big men. On Sunday, they were without Embiid and three other frontcourt players who were sidelined by injury: Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad). VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers’ best rebounding guard, also missed the game because of 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 Philadelphia. 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.”
Rebounding struggles continue
The injuries have contributed to the Sixers’ difficulties on the boards. Opponents have out-rebounded Philadelphia in every game this season. The margin was 22 rebounds in Saturday’s loss to Milwaukee and 17 on Sunday against Detroit.
Guard Tyrese Maxey believes the solution is straightforward.
“Some of our tall guys come back. That would be great,” he said.