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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
LeBron James still takes flight at 41 as Maxey\u2019s alley-oop gives Sixers fans a taste of Year 24<\/p>\n
Both New York and Philadelphia enter the campaign sharing the highest win total projection<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n LeBron James Enters Year 24 with Chronic Foot and Back Concerns<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, the immense physical toll accumulated over two decades is presenting new hurdles; according to a recent ESPN report<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n