The Cleveland Cavaliers have undergone a series of changes throughout a somewhat clouded NBA season, yet the only constant has been having LeBron James on the floor, who is in line to play all 82 games of the season.
It wasn’t long ago that James had dealt with back issues and needed two anti-inflammatory injections in his lower back during a 10-month span in 2015, injections that took him out for two weeks during the middle of the season and another that took him out during the preseason in 2016.
This opened up a can of worms, with the possibility that the Cavs star may need more shots to numb the pain.
James called in Donnie Raimon, a former Navy SEAL who specializes in the human movement who combines biology and physical mechanics — one who turned out to be the person responsible for making his back issues a thing of the past, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
At age 33, James has had to work arduously to take care of his body — something unnoticed by most and thought to be a miraculous fountain of youth that he’s found through the pinnacle of his playing career.
“It’s every day. Around the clock every single day, working on my body,” James said. “Either with treatment or working on my body in the weight room. Continuing just to build strength throughout the season when everybody else is kind of tearing down… not putting too much pounding on my legs when I’m on the court, but being very efficient. I’ve kind of figured that out in my 15th season.”
James was seen often laying on the court when taken out of games, bringing memories of other great talents like Larry Bird and Steve Nash, who suffered from similar injuries at the end of their respective careers.
The King has treated his body as an investment, putting more than seven figures per year into caring for his performance, with his own personal home gym outfitted with hot and cold tubs, as well as a hyperbaric chamber, which has proven to be the mana of athlete recovery this decade.
He also gets private treatments with liquid nitrogen to help reduce the inflammation, a routine often needed when playing 37 minutes per night and handling the bulk of the offense as the pillar of the Cavs.
James, in fact, has never played all 82 games during his career, coming mighty close in five of his first six seasons in the league; making that feat one of his most impressive yet; if achieved, given his 15-year service in the league.