Sources within the Miami Heat front office revealed yesterday that LeBron James battled severe hairline soreness during the team’s playoff run last season.
The injury was the result of a hairline fracture to his hairline that never properly healed.
“It’s just a testament to his focus and dogged determination,” a source within the organization tells The Bluffington Roach. “He put on one of the all-time great performances in NBA history — all while dealing with a near-crippling injury.”
It turns out that James has been bothered by the ailment since midway through his second season in the league. That’s when he initially hairline-fractured his hairline.
The troublesome injury became arthritic following the Heat’s championship run during the 2011-2012 season. The league played a condensed 66-game schedule that year. And, it appears that the physical demands of that season led to the rapid deterioration of the superstar’s hairline.
The team brought in a group of medical barbers from the Walker Clinic’s Urban Barber Intensive Care Unit to treat James’s ailing hairline throughout the 2012-2013 season.
James underwent exhaustive 45-minute shape-up sessions before and immediately following games. The sessions often left the area surrounding the hairline tender, burned, swollen, itchy, and irritated.
Nike scientists outfitted James with a custom-made double-headband brace in hopes of minimizing further damage. The thickness of the headband brace provides his hairline with enhanced protection from bright arena lights and HD cameras.
But, despite the added precautions and treatments, the injury continued to worsen last season. The severity of the injury became clear to many observers when James removed the protective headband during Game 6 of last year’s finals.
Sources say the hairline was so sore following the game that James couldn’t brush it for nearly 13 hours.
“It was tough,” the source says. “But, it comes with the territory. Everyone’s playing through injury — especially around playoff time. He just forced himself to keep his mind set on the ultimate goal.”
During the off-season, James and the Heat medical staff were seriously contemplating the possibility of removing the entire hairline. At a crossroads, James ultimately decided to rededicate himself to rehabbing his hairline. And, it appears that James made the right decision. His hairline looks better than it has in years this season.
James continues to push Nike to enhance its hairline technology, the source says. And, he continues to receive medical barber treatments on game days.
“Obviously he won’t be the same LeBron we saw at the beginning of his career. But, he looks and feels great this season.” the source says. “He’ll just have to continue to be smart and diligent in his approach to the injury.”
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