LeBron James injury update: What happened to newly minted Sixers star before NBA season opener

LeBron James is reportedly dealing with chronic arthritis in the left foot and a lower back issue. James is 41 and about to start a 24th NBA season after signing with Philadelphia as a free agent this summer. Reports from camp describe a daily maintenance routine around both problem areas, handled by longtime trainer Mike Mancias. The Sixers open the 2026-27 season on Oct. 20 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where James is expected to make his official team debut.What is the latest on LeBron James' foot and back injuries?ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that James has chronic arthritis in the left foot and a lower back that needs steady care. Sources told the outlet the team pays "special attention" to both areas. The back has the more recent history. Sciatica sidelined the forward for the first 14 games last season with the Lakers. James ended up with 60 appearances.James arrives at the facility at 7:45 a.m. after a helicopter ride from New York, where the Sixers forward will live during the season. Mancias then leads the 41-year-old through stretches and activations.James averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists in last spring's first-round series against the Rockets, playing through the arthritis as the Lakers advanced without Luka Doncic.How will the Sixers manage James' workload this season?Head coach Nick Nurse said at the start of camp that the team has talked about managing the workloads of James and Joel Embiid. The team intends to set a plan for back-to-backs. Philadelphia can spread the load. Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown, who arrived in an offseason trade with the Celtics, make up the rest of the core.James picked Philadelphia after reportedly weighing five teams. The first week of camp opened with Embiid, Brown, Maxey and James meeting as a foursome. They worked on two-man plays and on passing out of the post, since defenses are expected to trap all four. The new-look group was scheduled to play together for the first time in Monday's preseason game against the Knicks.James missed several games, but the veteran averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season as the Lakers reached the Western Conference semifinals.James logged 70 and 71 games in the two years before last season, and 55 and 56 before those. Every non-COVID season of his career has reached 55 or more.The training staff's goal is to have James at peak condition by playoff time. James is a big deal, and fans are very excited to see his Sixers debut during their season opener.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.