Sports

LeBron James Uses Fanatics‑Sponsored Helicopter for Commute to Sixers

By Colin Salao, Daniel Roberts

LeBron James is not paying for his travel between New York City and Philadelphia while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. A Fanatics source told Front Office Sports that James has been using the company’s aviation as part of a broader partnership. James signed a multiyear trading‑card deal with Fanatics in January 2024, and he agreed to a contract with the Sixers in July. He will reportedly live in New York City while playing for the team. James has been seen taking a helicopter bearing multiple Fanatics logos to and from Philadelphia. “The deal we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation,” a spokesperson for James told FOS. “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.” A one‑way flight from New York City to Philadelphia costs roughly $4,000 to $10,000. The value of Fanatics’s deal with James is not disclosed. Flight records show the Fanatics helicopter used by James made a dozen round‑trips between Philadelphia and New York in the past week. A one‑way trip normally takes about 30 minutes, cutting the usual 90‑minute to two‑hour drive. James, who has earned nearly $600 million in his 24‑year NBA career, signed a two‑year, $8 million contract with the Sixers in July. He will earn a career‑low $3.87 million this season, but he is earning income from several endorsement deals, including with Fanatics and a recent Polymarket deal that Front Office Sports reported last month is worth about $15 million annually.