When the Philadelphia 76ers won the LeBron James sweepstakes several months ago, there was much optimism about the city and its team's chances of capturing another championship. However, James' age and durability remain concerns, and a new update might raise those concerns among 76ers fans. On Monday, NBA insider Dave McMenamin revealed that James is dealing with "chronic arthritis in his left foot," which is impacting the way he trains ahead of the season.
According to McMenamin, James works with trainer Mike Mancias each morning ahead of practice, and his foot issue is part of the focus. Special attention is also being paid to James' lower back after a bout with sciatica sidelined him for the first month of last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. More news: Becky Hammon Gets Honest About ‘Atrocious’ Aces Playoff Loss to Valkyries After leaving the Lakers as a free agent, James signed a two-year deal at the veteran minimum to play for Philly.
This will mark James's 24th NBA season, breaking his own record for the most seasons played by any player in league history. However, part of the excitement for fans will be seeing him on the court as part of a formidable foursome that also features 2024 NBA champion Jaylen Brown and 76ers All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Emerging young star VJ Edgecombe rounds out the starting lineup, giving Philadelphia one of the best new-look teams on paper ahead of the season.
They are currently tied with the New York Knicks at +900 odds to win the championship, per DraftKings Sportsbook. Based on their current rosters, these two teams could battle once again in the postseason for the right to play in the NBA Finals. At age 41, James is still playing at a very high level.
Last season with the Lakers, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. He then led the Lakers without Luka Doncic into the second round of the NBA Playoffs, where a stacked Oklahoma City Thunder team eliminated them in a sweep. James's health will certainly play a role in the upcoming 76ers season.
Still, even if he misses games to manage his health, Philadelphia appears to have enough talent to weather the storm, including Brown, a former NBA Finals MVP, and Embiid, a former NBA MVP. More news: Sophie Cunningham Calls Out A’ja Wilson Over Fan Altercation at Fever Game For more about the Philadelphia 76ers and NBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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