Entering his 24th season at the age of 41, LeBron James is being deliberately eased in by the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Nick Nurse as they look to protect the veteran's body. In his preseason debut against the Brooklyn Nets, James played just 18.1 minutes, yet still finished with 10 points on perfect shooting, along with five assists, four rebounds and a steal.
The team's focus is firmly on April, May and June. James is managing chronic arthritis in his left foot, back pain and sciatica in his right leg, which means Nurse will have to monitor his workload carefully. Ultimately, the Sixers' aim is to have James at his peak for the play-offs.
