LeBron James turned heads and stirred massive fan backlash after taking off in a private helicopter immediately following his first Philadelphia 76ers training camp practice.
While guard Anfernee Simons was addressing reporters outside the team’s Camden facility, a chopper was heard lifting off to ferry the 41-year-old superstar straight to New York City.
Fans quickly slammed the exit, questioning his commitment to Philadelphia after signing a two-year, $8 million contract for his 24th NBA season.
Splitting time between two cities
The 95-mile commute between Philadelphia and New York takes up to two hours by car but a flight slices that journey down to roughly 40 minutes. Reports confirmed that James plans to split his time between both cities throughout the 2026-27 season.
While the arrangement allows him to maintain his New York base, critics argue that commuting via private aircraft sets an unusual precedent for a player joining a new roster.
Tension builds ahead of matchup
Adding fuel to the fire, James previously admitted he once imagined finishing his legendary career with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Drama continues to build as Philadelphia prepares to host the defending champion Knicks in their preseason opener on October 5, before returning to New York for their regular-season opener on October 20.
Despite the off-court distraction, James remains focused on a title run, famously stating, “I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round.”
