LeBron James Managing Chronic Arthritis in Left Foot as He Joins 76ers
At 41 years old, LeBron James is preparing for his 24th NBA season, now with the Philadelphia 76ers. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James is dealing with chronic arthritis in his left foot.
Each day, James starts his routine at the 76ers' training facility at 7:45 a.m., arriving by helicopter from New York. His longtime trainer, Mike Mancias, guides him through stretches and body activation exercises designed to ease his arthritis and address other physical concerns. Special focus is placed on James’ left foot, along with attention to his lower back.
Last season, while with the Los Angeles Lakers, James missed about a month due to sciatica. His ongoing work with Mancias also aims to reduce those symptoms. Despite various injuries over his career, James has consistently played in at least 55 games each non-COVID season.
New Chapter With the 76ers
This season marks James’ first with the 76ers after joining them as a free agent last summer. Though he didn’t stage a repeat of “The Decision,” his choice involved considering offers from five different teams before committing to Philadelphia.
McMenamin’s report reveals insights from the opening week of training camp. One notable moment was a session where Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and James practiced two-man plays together. The group worked on strategies to handle defensive traps, focusing on passing out of the post and making quick extra passes to open teammates.
The only projected starter missing from that group was 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe, who was expected to join soon. Edgecombe proudly mentioned starting a new team group chat before James arrived, then having Maxey add LeBron since Edgecombe didn’t have his number.
Preseason and Season Outlook
The 76ers will start their preseason on Monday but will be without stars including James, Maxey, Embiid, and Anfernee Simons for the game against the Knicks. The regular season kicks off on Tuesday, October 20, with the 76ers facing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where James is set to make his official debut with Philadelphia.
