LeBron James Managing Chronic Arthritis in Left Foot as He Joins 76ers for 24th NBA Season
LeBron James Faces Chronic Arthritis in Left Foot Ahead of 2026-27 Season
At 41 years old, LeBron James is stepping into his 24th NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Alongside the usual physical demands of a long career, he is reportedly dealing with chronic arthritis in his left foot, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Each morning starts early for James at the 76ers facility. After arriving by helicopter from New York, he begins his routine around 7:45 a.m. Working closely with his longtime trainer, Mike Mancias, James goes through stretches and activation exercises designed to prepare his body for the day. Special attention is given to his left foot to manage arthritis symptoms, followed by care focused on his lower back.
Earlier, during the 2025-26 season with the Lakers, James missed about a month due to sciatica. His daily sessions with Mancias now also target relief for those lingering issues. Despite various injuries over his career, James has played at least 55 games every non-pandemic season.
New Chapter with the 76ers
This season marks James’ first with the 76ers after joining as a free agent last summer. Though he didn’t stage another "Decision" moment like in his past, the star forward took his time considering options from five different teams before signing.
The start of training camp offered a glimpse into how James and key teammates are preparing to mesh on court. Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and James gathered early to drill two-man plays aimed at countering defensive traps.
"All four of those guys are going to be trapped somehow during the game, whether it’s in the post or on the wing," said a source. "We worked a lot on passing out of the post, making the extra pass to the corner."
Among the expected starters, 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe was initially absent from these sessions but seemed eager to join soon. He shared that before James arrived, he had planned to create a group chat for the core players. Since LeBron's number wasn’t known, Edgecombe asked Maxey to add him instead.
Preseason and Season Opener Details
The 76ers begin their preseason on Monday, but several stars, including James, Maxey, Embiid, and Anfernee Simons, won’t play in the opener against the Knicks. The regular season kicks off on October 20, where James is expected to make his official debut for Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden in a rematch versus the Knicks.
