LeBron James on traveling by helicopter from NY to Philly: "It's just another means of transportation"

LeBron James has found a particular way to get to the practices and games of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026/27 season. The NBA star travels by helicopter from New York to Philadelphia, an alternative that allows him to considerably reduce the time of his commutes and manage his stay in both cities.

The player himself confirmed this situation after the last preseason game of the Sixers, played on Friday against the Boston Celtics. When asked about this mode of transportation, the four-time NBA champion acknowledged that he had resorted to it before.

"Yes, I've done it before," LeBron explained, as reported by Kris Rhim, an ESPN journalist. "It's just another form of transportation. Yes, that's all."

The veteran player's response was brief, downplaying a practice that has generated conversation in recent days. At 41 years old, James is preparing for his 24th season in the NBA, extending a historic record of longevity in the competition.

Fanatics, behind LeBron's helicopter travels

Although LeBron has just publicly spoken about his commutes, the situation had already been known earlier. According to Front Office Sports in early October, using the helicopter is part of the conditions of his commercial agreement with Fanatics, a platform specializing, among other businesses, in sports products and collectibles.

The relationship between both parties includes a multi-year agreement related to collectible cards, signed in January 2024. As part of that collaboration, the player has access to the company's corporate aviation services, an advantage also included in Fanatics' agreements with other top-tier athletes.

A spokesperson for James explained to Front Office Sports that the contract expressly includes this possibility. "The agreement we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation," said the representative, who also noted that this benefit is included in many of the company's contracts with its most important athletes.

The spokesperson added that both parties value the collaboration as LeBron divides his time between New York and Philadelphia.

A journey of 30 to 45 minutes

The main advantage of this system is the time it saves for the player. The helicopter trip between New York and Philadelphia is estimated to take about 30-45 minutes, a significantly shorter duration than what he would need to complete the same journey by road.

This alternative allows James to organize his professional commitments while maintaining his base of operations between the two cities. The trip also avoids much of the complications associated with traffic, although the exact times and frequency of his commutes have not been detailed.

The news has sparked interest due to the context in which it arrives. LeBron is facing a new phase in Philadelphia and continues to compete at the highest level in a career that has already surpassed two decades. Therefore, a transportation privilege linked to one of his commercial agreements has become a topic of conversation around the Sixers.

For now, the player has not provided further explanations about how these trips work. His stance, at least publicly, is simple: he sees the helicopter as another option for commuting between New York and Philadelphia while he prepares for a new season in the NBA.

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