James is dealing with chronic arthritis in his left foot as he prepares for his first season with the 76ers, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports.
Analysis:James' longtime trainer, Mike Mancias, is reportedly giving the 41-year-old's left foot special attention during his daily pre-practice routine, while also continuing to manage the lower-back issues that caused James to miss the first month of the 2025-26 regular season with sciatica. The arthritis isn't necessarily a new issue, as James appeared on injury reports with left foot arthritis last season, but Philadelphia has already discussed managing his workload and back-to-backs, making his availability worth monitoring throughout his 24th NBA campaign.