Amid Rampant NBA Injuries, Stephen A. Smith Wants to Know 41-Year-Old LeBron James’ Secret

Around 15% of all NBA players are injured within approximately a week after the 2026-27 season started.

Amid Rampant NBA Injuries, Stephen A. Smith Wants to Know 41-Year-Old LeBron James’ Secret

NBA's oldest player LeBron James' health surprises Stephen A. Smith (Image via Polymarket Hoops/Raliye/X)

Nearly a couple of seasons ago, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dismissed the notion that the league’s schedule had anything to do with the myriad injuries star players suffered during the 2024-25 season.

Last season was a slightly better affair, as the league did not have to answer any more questions about soft-tissue injuries. Instead, they were mostly manageable, except for Luka Doncic‘s, which effectively cost the Lakers their season.

This season, it has been worse. From the get-go, returning star Ben Simmons ending his season without even playing a game threw fans into a frenzy. While some felt that it may have been because the Australian had not played competitive basketball for a while, the reality was going to get a lot worse.

Jalen Williams‘ injury was a freak accident. However, injuries to his teammate Cason Wallace, Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr., Kawhi Leonard, and others started to change the narrative.

Then, when Anthony Edwards joined the list, fans started to panic. After all, nearly 15% of the league was listed on injury reports. As the topic gained traction, Stephen A. Smith weighed in.

How is it that LeBron James is 42 years of age, in his 24th year, and he is healthier than most? Whatever he is doing to his body, dammit, could you tell us?

Stephen A. Smith said

The 59-year-old asked on his namesake show how LeBron James, as the oldest player in the league, manages to stay out of injury problems, but the rest suffer. Whatever the 76ers star does, Smith wants other NBA players to replicate it amidst all the rampant injuries.

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Charles Barkley believes NBA’s shortened preseason is to blame

While Stephen A. Smith focuses on what LeBron James is doing differently, Charles Barkley had this to say when the subject of NBA injuries was brought up on Inside the NBA.

We’ve made sports so easy now. In football, they don’t even play preseason games anymore… They don’t do two-a-days in basketball anymore, and guys really don’t play at all during the preseason.

Charles Barkley said

The Round Mound of Rebound was referring to how current-generation athletes don’t prepare their bodies hard enough before the season starts. Instead, they hope to get into shape in the first month.

Barkley added that the shortened NBA preseason and the general tendency to avoid sending in star players and instead field role players is to blame. They take it casually and end up heading into the season with their bodies still unprepared.

With so many notable injuries, the league might have to rethink its strategy. It cannot afford to have its young superstars sidelined for long stretches at a time. Not when the NBA is also preparing to move past the era dominated by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

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Tyrese Haliburton joins the NBA’s growing injury list

Until the NBA figures out what needs to change to avoid these early-season injuries, fans are now waiting with bated breath to know how their favorite stars are recovering. Amid this, another piece of news dropped.

Tyrese Haliburton again injured
Tyrese Haliburton again injured (Image via Pacers/X)

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has sustained a left hamstring strain and will miss time, sources tell ESPN. Pacers doctors and Haliburton are now gathering a clear timeline.

Shams Charania revealed on X

Reactions to this news were equally disheartening, considering that Tyrese Haliburton had just come back from the Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

After sitting out the entire 2025-26 season, the Pacers guard was proving again why he should not be dismissed as a flash-in-the-pan type of player. Reports indicate he will miss about two weeks as the team takes precautions this time.

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