LeBron James manages chronic foot arthritis as 76ers sort out preseason roles

LeBron James is entering his first full season with the Philadelphia 76ers while managing chronic arthritis in his left foot and continued treatment on his lower back. A behind-the-scenes look at training camp from ESPN details that the 40-plus-year-old star is still receiving focused care on the area where a bout of sciatica sidelined him for the opening month of last season.

Early arrivals and intensive work to keep James ready

The report notes that James has been showing up at the 76ers’ practice facility more than three hours before each workout. Once there, he goes through an extended preparation routine with longtime trainer Mike Mancias, built around stretching and other exercises designed to get his body ready for the demands of camp and the long season ahead.

James, who maintains a home in New York City, has been commuting to Philadelphia by helicopter, taking roughly a 40-minute flight that lands on the roof of the team’s business offices next to the practice facility. Within the organization, those daily flights reportedly are not viewed as an issue, particularly since owner Josh Harris is also known to arrive by helicopter.

Nurse laid groundwork with LeBron before summer signing

ESPN also recounts how head coach Nick Nurse and James began mapping out a partnership weeks before the deal with Philadelphia became official. About two weeks prior to James committing in late July, Nurse stepped away mid-round during a golf outing after receiving a text from Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. Sitting in a cart on the course, Nurse and James talked through offensive and defensive concepts, revisiting how Nurse had game-planned against him since taking over the 76ers in 2023 and how those principles could be adapted with James now on his side.

Nurse came away convinced that James would slide cleanly into what the 76ers already do, providing exactly the type of playmaking and versatility the roster needs. That early dialogue helped frame expectations on both sides heading into camp.

Preseason to test star fit and settle depth chart questions

An intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday showcased the 76ers’ top-end talent, but it also underscored the challenge of blending multiple ball-dominant players and keeping the starting five healthy enough to build chemistry. Reporting from The Athletic suggests the starters are likely to log significant minutes in exhibition games to accelerate that process.

Jaylen Brown emphasized that clarity will be crucial, saying the group has to understand its roles and "hold each other accountable." Further down the depth chart, The Philly Voice outlines several key preseason questions, including which big man will emerge as the preferred backup centre, how first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. will be deployed, and who will win the competition for an open two-way contract. For Philadelphia, the coming weeks will be about more than managing James’ health — they will also define how the roster is structured around him once the regular season begins.