LeBron James faces a major challenge in his first season with Philadelphia as he battles through a health issue
The 2026-27 NBA season gets underway in just two weeks, with the reigning champion New York Knicks attempting to become the first back-to-back titleholders in the league since the 2018 Golden State Warriors .
The Knicks open their defense at home inside Madison Square Garden against a revamped Philadelphia 76ers squad that made waves this offseason by adding superstar LeBron James alongside Jaylen Brown .
Both New York and Philadelphia enter the campaign sharing the highest win total projection in the Eastern Conference , setting the stage for what many anticipate will be a titanic playoff showdown next May, though a grueling 82-game schedule stands between now and then.
LeBron James Enters Year 24 with Chronic Foot and Back Concerns
Without question, there is no more intriguing storyline in professional basketball than LeBron James embarking on the final chapter of his storied career in Philadelphia.
Turning 42 years old this season, James is set to log a record 24th NBA season , having inked a two-year, $7,946,884 veteran-minimum contract with the ultimate goal of capturing his fifth, or even sixth, ring like Michael Jordan .
However, the immense physical toll accumulated over two decades is presenting new hurdles; according to a recent ESPN report , James is managing chronic arthritis in his left foot alongside lingering issues with sciatica in his lower back, which forced him to miss the first month of the previous season.
To combat these physical demands, James has established a rigorous daily routine at Sixers training camp , arriving before 8:00 AM to work alongside longtime athletic trainer Mike Mancias on targeted stretching and activation before team practice.
While head coach Nick Nurse plans to carefully manage his workload alongside co-stars Joel Embiid , Tyrese Maxey , and Jaylen Brown , James made it clear during Media Day that anything short of advancing past the conference semifinals will be deemed a failure for this franchise.
