A loan, not a lease
LeBron James lined up at center for the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, and he was quick to say it will not last. The 41-year-old told ESPN he is not meant to hold a sustainable role at the five with Joel Embiid on the roster. He could do it, he said, but Embiid is the team’s big man.
The start was the 15th at center in James’s 24-year career and his first there since the 2021-22 season. He finished with 18 points, five assists and two rebounds as Philadelphia fell 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons, matched up for much of the night against Paul Reed.
The reason for the experiment is a thin frontcourt. Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP, is sidelined with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad) are out as well.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Bona gets his minutes, the schedule does not ease
One beneficiary was Adem Bona, who came off the bench for a season-high 25 minutes and produced six points and 13 rebounds. James singled out his energy and effort afterward.
James sat out Saturday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks to manage sciatica, so he has played in three of the Sixers’ four games. They are 3-1. The week stays busy: at Indiana on Wednesday, home against New York on Friday, then at Charlotte on Saturday. Until Embiid returns, expect more small-ball lineups and more questions about where James fits.
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