Pablo Torre, the same journalist and podcaster who just snagged a Pulitzer for his deep dive into the Los Angeles Clippers’ alleged salary cap shenanigans, is now reportedly “looking into” a wild contract detail for Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James. We’re talking about a Fanatics deal that apparently includes on-demand helicopter travel, folks. Yeah, you read that right: choppers.
Your Commute Ain’t Got Nothing on LeBron’s Ride
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin first dropped the scoop that James was using a helicopter to get around while he’s splitting his time between New York and Philly after signing with the Sixers this offseason. But then Front Office Sports’ Daniel Roberts and TMZ Sports came in last week with the kicker: it’s a Fanatics-branded helicopter. This isn’t just some random charter; it’s part of a “broad long term deal” James has with the company, one that reportedly even extends past his playing career. Think about that for a second. TMZ says these kinds of charter flights, the ones James is taking between New York and Philadelphia, can run anywhere from $6,000 to $9,000 *each way*. And get this: Roberts also reported that “a small handful of other athletes with big Fanatics deals get same access” to this kind of aviation. That’s some serious perk, isn’t it?
NBA Owners Are Already Hitting Torre’s DMs, and We Know Why
Here’s where it gets really interesting, and potentially a little spicy for the league. Torre told Roberts that he considers this whole situation “something of interest to the league.” And he’s not just guessing! Torre explicitly said, “We’re also getting tips from NBA owners, who are sending me your story, being like, ‘What is this?’” When NBA owners start asking questions about a superstar’s endorsement deal that involves high-value, on-demand travel, you know it’s not just locker room chatter. Remember Torre’s staff won that Pulitzer in May for their investigation into the Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention, which led to the NBA penalizing the team in September. The man and his team have a track record of digging up stuff that the league then acts on. Owners are seeing these luxury benefits tied to an endorsement deal, and they’re connecting the dots, especially with a guy like Torre on the case.
LeBron inked a two-year, $8 million deal with a second-year player option earlier this summer before hitting the court in preseason for the Sixers last Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is set to officially kick off his first regular season with the Sixers next Tuesday in a road game against the defending champion New York Knicks. It’s going to be a huge debut, but you can bet some eyes will be watching not just his jump shot, but also how this whole helicopter situation plays out with the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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