LeBron James is gearing up for his 24th NBA season, but get this: his left foot has *chronic arthritis* and his lower back, which sidelined him for a month last season with sciatica, is still getting “special attention.” These aren’t minor aches for a guy looking to lead a championship contender, they are serious red flags for the grind ahead.
The Injuries That Could Derail a Championship Dream
This isn’t some new development, either. The lower back issue forced James to miss the first 14 games of last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, limiting him to just 60 games total. Think about that: it was the fourth time in the last six seasons he played in fewer than 65 games. That’s a significant chunk of time off the court, and it speaks volumes about the toll 23 years in the league takes on even the greatest athletes. While he still put up crazy numbers in 2025-26, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, and even helped the Lakers reach the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sixers know what they’re getting into. His health, specifically that chronic arthritis and the persistent back issues, is the biggest question mark hanging over their title aspirations.
New City, Star Squad, and a Wild Commute Plan
After becoming a free agent, James linked up with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining an absolutely loaded squad that already boasts Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and the recently acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics. This team is built to chase an NBA championship, plain and simple. Head coach Nick Nurse has already been talking about managing the workloads for both James and Embiid during the regular season, especially when it comes to back-to-backs. And get this for dedication: late last month, it was revealed James will be using a helicopter to commute between Philadelphia and New York, where he plans to live, throughout the season. They are clearly pulling out all the stops to keep him fresh.
This Sixers squad, with Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown, is chasing a championship. They are definitely not looking to overwork the legend. With training camp conversations already happening about managing his and Embiid’s workloads, especially for those pesky back-to-backs, all eyes are gonna be on how Philly handles their aging superstar. Will the helicopter commute save some wear and tear, or is Father Time just undefeated?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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