Foul trouble for one star created an opening for another in Philadelphia’s season opener.
LeBron James spent part of his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers playing center, helping the Sixers beat the New York Knicks 106 to 100 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Madison Square Garden.
Why did LeBron James play center?
It was Joel Embiid’s idea. After Embiid picked up his third foul late in the second quarter, he suggested to teammates and coaches that James fill in at center to close the half.
Embiid said he worried he would not defend as aggressively as he should with three fouls while trying to stay on the floor.
Philadelphia trailed 51 to 46 with a little more than two minutes left in the half when Embiid checked out. With LeBron James guarding Karl-Anthony Towns, the Sixers stayed close and trailed just 58 to 54 at halftime.
Had the Sixers planned the move?
To some degree. The Sixers head coach said the staff had discussed putting a power forward on Towns before the game, because so many of the Knicks’ pick and roll plays run through Towns and Jalen Brunson. That approach allows more flexibility on defense, he said.
The team’s front line was thin. Forward Dean Wade missed the game with a left ankle injury, and backup center Ariel Hukporti is out for the season after surgery on his right Achilles. Those absences left Philadelphia searching for answers at center when Embiid sat.
The coach said the matchup worked well for Philadelphia over the course of the game. The Knicks’ coach said afterward that New York would not have felt good about a win given how it played.
How did LeBron James make the key defensive play?
With just under two minutes left and Philadelphia ahead 102 to 98, LeBron James pressured Towns beyond the arc and took away a passing lane for OG Anunoby.
Anunoby instead tried a pass across the court to Mikal Bridges. Tyrese Maxey intercepted it and raced the other way for an uncontested dunk that put the Sixers up by six.
James said Towns is dangerous when he has space, so he wanted to be there on the catch and give him no room. He credited Maxey for reading the play and called it a big momentum swing.
He also credited his teammates, calling the effort a team defense built on constant communication that limited Towns’ blind spots.
How did LeBron James play in his Sixers debut?
James opened his record 24th season with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. His biggest contribution, though, did not show up in the box score. James is 41 and will turn 42 in December, making him the oldest active player in the league.
Embiid finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. He was active on both ends, and he has said he wants to earn All-Defensive honors this season.
Where have the Sixers seen this strategy before?
At the Olympics. Embiid said the approach mirrored what Team USA did at the 2024 Games in Paris, when James guarded Serbian star Nikola Jokic in the semifinals while Embiid played alongside him. Team USA went on to win the gold medal.
Embiid said having James defend a big man changes everything for the team.
For a Philadelphia team built to contend, the ability of LeBron James to slide into new roles at this stage of his career could become a valuable weapon.
The Sixers hope it is the first of many nights like this one, and that LeBron James can keep finding ways to help in his first season in Philadelphia.
