LeBron James can play center. He would just prefer the Sixers remember they already employ a pretty accomplished one.
“Well, s— we got an MVP over there. I’m not here to have a sustainable role at the 5,” James said, via Kris Rhim of ESPN. “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].”
Fair point. Asking a man approaching his 42nd birthday to fill in is one thing. Making it a regular assignment is another.
James started at center Sunday for the first time since his Lakers days in 2021-22. Embiid was out for right foot plantar fasciitis management, and injuries left Adem Bona as Philadelphia’s only available true center. The Sixers lost to the Pistons, 106-93, their first defeat after a 3-0 start.
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James finished with 18 points, five assists and two rebounds. Bona supplied 13 rebounds in 25 minutes, earning praise from James for his energy and effort.
Still, Philadelphia was outrebounded by 17. Opponents have won that battle in every Sixers game this season, so this goes beyond one night of LeBron playing out of position.
Tyrese Maxey offered a fairly straightforward solution. “Some of our tall guys come back. That would be great,” he said.
James probably wouldn’t object.
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