'S--t We Got an MVP,' LeBron Reacts to Playing Center with Joel Embiid on 76ers' Roster

While he has served as a makeshift center at times for the Philadelphia 76ers, that's not a role LeBron James is looking to occupy on a regular basis this season.

"Well, s--t, we got an MVP over there," he said in reference to Joel Embiid after Sunday's 106-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons, per ESPN's Kris Rhim . "I'm not here to have a sustainable role at the 5. 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]."

Mostly through tactical necessity, James moved over to center for stretches in the season-opening win over the New York Knicks. Embiid, who was battling foul trouble, pitched the idea to the coaching staff mid-game.

Once again, coach Nick Nurse had little other choice but to deploy LeBron at the 5 on Sunday as the team rested Embiid on the second half of a back-to-back.

This will be an ongoing push and pull because Philly's center depth took a major blow with Ariel Hukporti's torn Achilles.

Even if he stays healthy all year, Embiid will miss games through load management, and he isn't going to play 40-plus minutes a night. When the seven-time All-Star isn't on the floor, using James as a small-ball center is probably the Sixers' most effective strategy. However, a 41-year-old LeBron will understandably have some reservations with that as he monitors his workload across the entire regular season.

Adem Bona had six points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes against Detroit. Perhaps he'll build on that and establish himself as a good backup big.

Even if that happens, the Sixers' center situation is going to be a subplot to follow throughout the campaign.