LeBron James is flying high, literally, as he suits up for the Philadelphia 76ers, but his chosen method of commute has stirred up a social media storm, leading none other than Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to jump to his defense. While James seems to be enjoying his time and the basketball’s been good for the 76ers, it’s this specific off-court story that’s taking over the conversation in Philly.
Commuting in Style: The Chopper Controversy
So, what’s the big deal? LeBron is regularly taking a helicopter to go from Philly to New York City. The dude’s reportedly settling in the Big Apple even while playing for the 76ers. This setup has caused a huge uproar across social media, with a lot of people feeling like he’s not fully committing to his new team or the city of Philadelphia. Think about it: flying to both practices and games. The flight itself is only about 30 to 45 minutes, which is a massive win compared to a drive in traffic that would easily double that time. Plus, it’s not like the 76ers are footing the bill. This is a corporate helicopter provided through his endorsement deal with Fanatics, having absolutely nothing to do with the team itself. Still, fans are definitely not on board with the move. Some are out there saying it shows a lack of commitment to the team and the city, and honestly, that’s a valid point people are making.
Draymond Green Goes Off: “Let That Man Fly In Peace!”
But here’s where it gets interesting: Draymond Green, known for speaking his mind, has officially come to LeBron James’ defense in this whole helicopter debacle. He went in on his podcast, making it clear what he thinks of all the fuss. “Number one, like, let that man fly in peace. Like, y’all recording this man every time he take off and land and he’s landing in the city and landing, leaving like, let that man fly in peace. Let that brother get to work. How he going to get to work and get home? How he going to get home,” Green passionately stated. And you know what? He’s got a point. What’s the guy supposed to do, sit in traffic for hours when there’s a more efficient option? The kicker here is the 76ers organization is allowing it, and his own teammates seem to not pay any mind to it. LeBron is clearly not like most players in this regard, and the team seems totally okay with him making the trip regularly. Since these helicopters are driven by professionals, it doesn’t look like James is going to get any pushback from his team.
So, while social media keeps buzzing about LeBron’s commute, it sounds like the 76ers and his teammates are totally on board. Maybe it’s time for everyone else to just accept it and focus on the basketball he’s bringing to Philly. After all, the man’s been finding his stride in preseason, and his unselfishness has been a standout, regardless of how he punches the clock.
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.
Leave a Reply