PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James started at center for the Philadelphia 76ers for the 15th time in his 24-year career Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, with Joel Embiid sidelined by right foot plantar fasciitis management and the Sixers’ frontcourt already thin. Detroit won 106-93, handing Philadelphia its first defeat of the season.
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 Center
It was James’ first start at center in five seasons. His previous 14 starts there came during the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. This season, James sat out the Sixers’ win over the Bucks to manage sciatica. In three games, head coach Nick Nurse has used James regularly in spurts at center when Philadelphia goes to small-ball lineups.
James does not expect starting at center to become a long-term role for Philadelphia, and he doesn’t think the team wants that either.
“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 Depth
Philadelphia was missing Embiid and three other big men on Sunday. Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad) were all sidelined by injuries. Nurse said before the game that the team had “only about three guys left that can possibly play the 5.”
Guard VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers’ best rebounding guard, also sat out with an abdominal contusion. That left Adem Bona as the only true center available. He played a season-high 25 minutes, grabbing 13 rebounds (five 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 contributed to Philadelphia’s problems on the glass. Opponents have outrebounded the Sixers in every game this season. Philadelphia lost the rebounding battle by 22 on Saturday against Milwaukee and by 17 on Sunday against Detroit.
Guard Tyrese Maxey sees a simple solution. “Some of our tall guys come back. That would be great,” he said.