LeBron James finally addressed the helicopter. Asked Friday whether he has ever commuted to work by chopper, James kept it short: “I have done it before.” He then waved the whole thing off as “just another way of transportation, that is all.”
That was it. No defense, no walk-through of the arrangement. ESPN reported the exchange, which came after the 76ers 125-120 overtime preseason loss to Boston and marked James first public comment on his travel setup.
What the Arrangement Actually Is
Front Office Sports reported that James has access to Fanatics corporate aviation, helicopter included, as part of his endorsement deal with the company. TMZ Sports reported the same. A James spokesperson confirmed the deal “includes access to their corporate aviation” and described it as a standard feature of what Fanatics offers its biggest athletes.
The relationship dates to a multi-year trading card partnership James signed with Fanatics in January 2024. The spokesperson also said James splits time between New York and Philadelphia, which is why the commute exists at all. The flight runs an estimated 30 to 45 minutes, roughly half the drive.
So James is not paying for it, and that is the part generating noise. Michael Rubin owns Fanatics. Rubin also used to own a piece of the 76ers before selling his shares in 2022.
Where the Criticism Came From
This needs to be stated precisely, because the loose version floating around is unfair to everyone involved. Pablo Torre raised the questions on his show, saying league sources had wondered whether Rubin played a role in convincing James to sign with Philadelphia at Fanatics Fest in mid-July.
Torre explicitly said he was not alleging salary cap circumvention. He framed it as a notable series of coincidences. No league investigation has been reported, no rule violation has been alleged by the NBA, and nobody with a name attached has accused James or the Sixers of anything improper. Rubin’s current ownership stake in the team is zero.
That context matters because the easy version of this story writes itself and happens to be wrong. An endorsement perk from a company whose founder once owned the team is awkward optics. Awkward optics and a violation are different things.
Why the Shrug Was the Right Answer
James has spent 24 seasons learning which questions deserve an actual answer. This one did not.
Engaging would have handed the story another week of life and put him in the position of litigating his own endorsement portfolio at a preseason podium. A few words and a shrug accomplished more than a paragraph would have. There is no version of a detailed response that makes a helicopter look less like a helicopter.
The underlying context is worth noting too. James left the Lakers in free agency and signed with Philadelphia on a reported two-year, $8 million deal, which is a bargain by any measure for a player of his standing. He is entering his 24th NBA season, the most in league history. A man taking that kind of discount on his salary is not going to apologize for a ride to work.
The Sixers open Tuesday against the defending champion Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Within about ten minutes of tipoff, nobody will be discussing aviation.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.