LeBron James took the five spot in Philadelphia’s opener, a bold move that could reshape the Sixers’ frontcourt. Could this experiment solve their depth worries?
Dave McMenamin notes that Embiid, after picking up his third foul early, suggested James fill in at center to close the second quarter.
“I told the coaches I wasn’t going to be as aggressive on defense with three fouls and needed to stay on the floor,” Embiid explained. “I thought the switch would help.””,”James may never be the primary backup, but Coach Nick Nurse proved Tuesday that the lineup can flex with or without Embiid. When both shared minutes, James often guarded Karl‑Anthony Towns while Embiid took on Josh Hart.”,”Nurse said, “We talked about a four‑man look on KAT because the pick‑and‑rolls with Brunson give us coverage options.” He added, “It worked well and should serve us long term.””,”For my money, the Sixers finally showed a clear identity after beating the Knicks, signaling that their new rotations could stick.”,”Embiid entered the season healthy, logging three blocks in the opener. The three‑time All‑Defensive second‑teamer believes he can return to elite rim protection, stating, “If I keep this level every night, it changes everything.””,”Tyrese Maxey set the tone, pouring 28 points and matching Embiid’s three blocks after a 16‑point first half that kept Philadelphia afloat while others struggled.”,”Commissioner Adam Silver clarified that LeBron’s Fanatics helicopter ride is permissible because the deal is strictly between the player and the sponsor, with no team involvement. The question now is whether such perks will become commonplace for star athletes.”,”The Sixers’ depth at center behind oft-injured star Joel Embiid was a source of concern ahead of the 2026/27 season, especially after Ariel Hukporti…”,”Sixers Notes: James, Embiid, Maxey, Helicopter
While James may not become Philadelphia’s primary backup center, head coach Nick Nurse and the 76ers showed on Tuesday that they were willing to experiment with his role whether or not Embiid is on the floor. When the two players shared the court, James frequently ended up defending Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, with Embiid handling the Josh Hart assignment.
“[We discussed putting] a four-man on KAT, because there’s so many pick-and-rolls with him and [Jalen] Brunson that gives you some versatility to play some other coverages,” Nurse said. “I think it was good. … Over the long haul, it was very good for us, I think.”
Here’s more on the Sixers, who won their first matchup of the season with the division-rival Knicks:
- Embiid hasn’t been the best version of himself in recent years due to injuries, but he’s healthy to open the 2026/27 season and had three blocked shots in Tuesday’s regular season opener. The three-time All-Defensive second-teamer and 2018 Defensive Player oft he Year runner-up suggested he wants to get back to being an elite defensive anchor, per Kris Rhim of ESPN. “I think this year’s going to be back to All-Defensive team like in the past,” Embiid said. “So, felt good, moving great. Felt like I was all over the place, so I need to do that every game. … If I can play that way every single night, which I will, it changes everything.”
- Embiid’s healthy return and James’ and Jaylen Brown‘s Sixers regular season debuts stole the headlines, but it was All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey who set the tone for the team, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Lauded by Embiid for keeping Philadelphia “afloat” with a 16-point first half as other players struggled to make shots, Maxey finished with a team-high 28 points and matched Embiid’s three blocks.
- Asked during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (YouTube link) about James’ use of a corporate helicopter provided by Fanatics to commute from New York to Philadelphia, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said there are no issues as long as the team wasn’t involved in setting that up for him. “He has a deal with Fanatics,” Silver said. “It’s perfectly appropriate if part of his deal is they’re going to supply a helicopter to him, as long as it’s just a deal between Fanatics and LeBron and no team is involved. There’s no rules issue there whatsoever.” There have been some questions about the arrangement in part because Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin was a minority owner in the Sixers, but Rubin sold his stake in the team four years ago.