Holy smokes, Sixers fans. We’re one preseason game in and it’s already looking like a triage unit over there. But what’s really got everyone talking? Head coach Nick Nurse is reportedly so desperate for backup center minutes that he’s eyeing *every single front court player* on the roster to fill the void , and yeah, that includes LeBron James. You read that right: LeBron James, potentially playing backup five.
The Injury Plague Strikes Early and Hard
Seriously, what is even happening? Ariel Hukporti is already out long-term with an achilles injury. That’s a brutal hit. Then you’ve got Dominick Barlow, who’s completely out of practice because of a back issue. Not exactly ideal, right? And Anfernee Simons? He’s only a partial participant in practice, battling hamstring tightness. Good news, I guess, is that it’s not his hand that messed with him last season, but still, a hamstring is never what you wanna hear this early. Adem Bona, at least, seems to be on track. The team says he’s progressing, back on the court, looking good to hit that two-week timeline they first gave for his return. But make no mistake, for Thursday’s preseason showdown against the Brooklyn Nets, all three of those guys , Barlow, Simons, and Bona , are officially OUT. Man, just let them play already!
The LeBron-at-Center Experiment?
With the injury list looking like a novel, Nurse is basically throwing everything at the wall for those backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid. He’s talking about it being “all hands on deck” for the front court. He even dropped names like Dean Wade, who he called a “pretty good sized” small five candidate. But then he went there. He said straight up, “I think LeBron is another candidate. I think he’s played some small-ball five as well.” Small-ball five with LeBron? Nurse says he’s got “four or five guys” in mind for this “crew” unless “something else emerges.” It’s wild, it’s unexpected, and honestly, you gotta wonder what kind of desperate times call for these kinds of measures. But hey, if anyone can make it work, it’s Nurse. And if anyone can play any position, it’s LeBron.
So, what’s on deck for Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets? While the bench will be thinner than expected, Nurse is hopeful. He said he’s looking to get “a majority of the guys out there tomorrow.” It sounds like we might even get to see LeBron James suit up for his *first* preseason game with the Sixers. Nurse did mention today’s practice was “pretty rough and physical,” so everyone’s gonna be watched closely. But man, seeing LeBron out there, potentially even getting some reps at center? You know I’ll be glued to that game, just to see if Nurse actually pulls the trigger on this wild backup plan. Get healthy, Sixers, but also, let’s see some chaos!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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