How LeBron Manages Arthritis, Back Injury Revealed in NBA Rumors amid Helicopter Commute to 76ers

As Philadelphia 76ers star forward LeBron James prepares to enter his 24th NBA season, he continues to try to make sure his body is prepared for the grind of a full season.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James' left foot and lower back get "special attention" after the injuries have been an issue in the past:

"And there is special attention paid to his left foot, which has chronic arthritis, sources told ESPN, and his lower back, which caused him to miss the first month of last season because of sciatica."

James was limited to 60 games in his last season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26, missing the first 14 games due to his lower back. It was his fourth time in the last six seasons playing in fewer than 65 games.

It was revealed late last month that James will be using a helicopter to commute between Philadelphia and New York—where he will live—during the season.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said at the start of training camp that the team has had discussions about managing the workloads of James and star center Joel Embiid during the regular season. The team intended to figure out a plan for back-to-backs.

Despite the injuries, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 2025-26 as he helped lead the Lakers to the Western Conference Semifinals.

After becoming a free agent, James joined a star-studded Sixers team that has a core including Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown, the latter of whom was acquired in an offseason trade with the Boston Celtics.

The Sixers will be focused on chasing an NBA championship, so they will be sure not to overwork the legend at this stage of his career.