LeBron James Is Commuting In A Fanatics Helicopter

LeBron James wasn't pretending. He really is taking daily helicopter rides from his home in New York City to the offices of his new employer, the Philadelphia 76ers. Since the start of October, the LeBron James Express (call sign N6FN) has made 18 trips between Northeast Philadelphia Airport and the Manhattan West 30th Street Heliport, plus a dozen or more shorter jaunts to and from Belmar, Teterboro, Wings Field Airport, and Philadelphia International. Because of the availability of realtime flight-tracking information, it has been possible for people on the ground to note that the helicopter shuttling James back and forth from work each day is plastered with graphics for the slap-dick but ever-expanding sports and e-commerce company Fanatics. Fanatics, which now runs an events operation, a video production studio, retail sportsbooks, and an online prediction market, was founded and is run by first-class celebrity hobnobber and would-be world-conqueror Michael Rubin, a native Philadelphian. Rubin was formerly a limited partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the sports and venue management company that owns the 76ers. Someone who works for LeBron told Front Office Sports on Monday that access to Fanatics' "corporate aviation" is part of a sponsorship deal. "It’s a feature in many of their deals with their largest athletes and we appreciate their partnership as LeBron splits his time between New York and Philadelphia," the person said. Because Rubin sold his shares of HBSE back in 2022, and because James signed his present sponsorship deal with Fanatics back in 2024, this particular benefit of playing for the 76ers is not considered circumvention of the salary cap. It is merely a benefit of being in business with Fanatics while working in Philadelphia, for the favorite team of a man who at one time or another has owned some or all of both enterprises.

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