LeBron James started at centre for the 15th time in his 24-year career on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, but the Philadelphia 76ers lost 106-93 for their first defeat of the season. With Joel Embiid sidelined by right foot plantar fasciitis management and the frontcourt already thin, James matched up with Pistons big man Paul Reed for much of the game and finished with 18 points, five assists and two rebounds.
The 6-foot-9 James, who turns 42 in December, made his first start at centre in five seasons. His previous 14 starts there came in the 2021-22 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, head coach Nick Nurse has used James regularly in spurts at centre when the Sixers go to small-ball lineups, although James sat out the win over the Milwaukee Bucks to manage sciatica.
James Says Centre Role Is Not Sustainable
Despite his starting role on Sunday, James does not believe that playing centre is something the Sixers will need going forward, or want.
“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].”
Injuries Leave Philadelphia Thin Up Front
The Sixers are severely short of frontcourt options. On Sunday, they were without Embiid and three other big men who were sidelined by injury: Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad). Guard VJ Edgecombe, the team’s best rebounding guard, was also out 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 Philadelphia and played a season-high 25 minutes. He grabbed 13 rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass, and scored 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 frontcourt injuries have contributed to the Sixers’ struggles on the boards. Opponents have outrebounded Philadelphia in every game this season, including a 22-rebound margin on Saturday against Milwaukee and a 17-rebound margin 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.