LeBron James isn’t shelling out a single cent for his commute to and from Philadelphia to play for the Sixers. That’s right, the King is reportedly flying high on someone else’s dime, and it’s all part of a seriously sweet deal.
Fanatics Is Footing the Bill for LeBron’s Wild Commute
So, how’s he pulling this off? A Fanatics source told Front Office Sports that James has been using the company’s private aviation as part of his broader agreement with them. He inked a multi-year trading card partnership with Fanatics way back in January 2024. Fast forward to July, he agrees to a deal with the Sixers, and get this: he’s reportedly living it up in New York City while playing down in Philly. Imagine that commute! But he’s been spotted hopping on a helicopter, multiple Fanatics logos plastered all over it, making those trips. And guess what? This isn’t just a LeBron perk; a few other big-name athletes are apparently getting access to Fanatics’ aviation through their deals too. A one-way chopper ride from New York City to Philadelphia? That’s typically gonna run you about $4,000 to $10,000. We don’t even know how much this Fanatics deal with James is actually worth, but you gotta figure it’s substantial to cover that kind of travel.
A Dozen Trips Last Week and a Career-Low Salary? Seriously?
This ain’t just a one-off thing either. Flight records show the Fanatics helicopter that James has been using made a *dozen* roundtrips between Philadelphia and New York in just the past week! Talk about frequent flyer miles! Each of those one-way trips takes about 30 minutes, which is a massive time-saver compared to the usual 90-minute to two-hour drive. And while his reps didn’t immediately comment, here’s the kicker: James, who’s already pulled in nearly $600 million over his incredible 24-year NBA career, signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Sixers in July. That means he’s earning a career-low $3.87 million this season. But don’t you dare feel bad for him. He’s absolutely making it back through a stack of endorsement deals, including the one with Fanatics, and a recent Polymarket deal that Front Office Sports reported last month is worth around $15 million annually. So yeah, that “career-low” NBA salary? He’s making bank elsewhere, and his commute is the epitome of luxury.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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