LeBron James Managing Chronic Arthritis in Left Foot as He Starts 24th NBA Season with 76ers
After 24 years in the NBA, LeBron James is dealing with chronic arthritis in his left foot, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. At 41, the veteran forward now begins his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
James starts his day early at the 76ers' training facility, arriving around 7:45 a.m. after a helicopter ride from New York. His longtime trainer, Mike Mancias, guides him through stretches and activation exercises designed to prepare his body for the day.
Mancias pays special attention to James’s left foot, helping manage the arthritis symptoms, before focusing on his lower back. Last season, James missed a month with the Los Angeles Lakers due to sciatica, and part of his daily routine still aims to relieve those lingering issues. Despite various injuries, James has played in at least 55 games every non-COVID season throughout his career.
New Beginnings with the 76ers
This summer, James joined the 76ers as a free agent after contemplating offers from five teams. While he didn’t make a spectacle like his famous “Decision” years ago, his choice was eagerly awaited across the league.
The first week of training camp offered a glimpse into how the team is building chemistry. Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and James worked together on two-man plays designed to counter defensive traps. One source noted, "All four of those guys are going to be trapped somehow during the game, whether it’s in the post or on the wing. We worked a lot on passing out of the post, making the extra pass to the corner."
Notably, 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe had yet to join these sessions initially but was expected to soon. Edgecombe proudly shared that he created a new group chat for the core players, joking about adding James through Maxey since he didn’t have LeBron’s number. "Before Bron got here, I was like, ‘Yo, I’m making a group chat: Me, Rese, JB, Joel,’" Edgecombe said. "Then Bron came, and obviously I don’t got LeBron James’ number, so I told Tyrese to do it. I asked Tyrese if he could add him. But it was my idea. Anyone telling you it was their idea, they’re lying."
Season Preview and Upcoming Debut
The 76ers start their preseason on Monday without some key players, including LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Anfernee Simons. Their first official game of the 2026-27 season is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. This matchup will mark James's anticipated debut with Philadelphia.
