Sports · Basketball · 2 hrs ago
Silver says LeBron James's Fanatics helicopter deal does not break NBA rules
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said LeBron James's Fanatics helicopter deal is allowed under league rules if it is only between James and the company.
James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, is living in New York and has used the helicopter to travel to the team's facility in Philadelphia.
The helicopter belongs to Fanatics, a sports merchandise and entertainment company owned by Michael Rubin, a former 76ers owner.
The arrangement drew attention because James signed with the 76ers for the veteran minimum, prompting questions about whether a brand deal could help bypass NBA salary rules.
Silver said no team can be involved for the arrangement to avoid a rules issue.
He said the league would need evidence that the 76ers helped arrange or pay for the deal to establish a violation.
The league has not cited evidence of that, and Silver said James is entitled to pursue a lucrative sponsorship deal.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said LeBron James’s use of a Fanatics helicopter does not violate league rules if the arrangement is only between James and the company.
James has used the helicopter to travel between his home in New York and the Philadelphia 76ers’ facility during training camp.
Fanatics is owned by Michael Rubin, a former 76ers owner, prompting questions about whether the arrangement involves the team.
Silver said there would need to be evidence of team involvement or financing to establish a rules violation.
James signed with the 76ers in free agency and is receiving a veteran minimum salary.
- Who
- LeBron James and NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Fanatics provides the helicopter.
- What
- Silver said James’s helicopter arrangement with Fanatics does not raise a rules issue if no team is involved.
- When
- Silver commented on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The helicopter has been used for travel between James’s home in New York and the 76ers’ facility in Philadelphia.
- Why
- Questions arose because Fanatics is owned by former 76ers owner Michael Rubin and James signed with Philadelphia for a veteran minimum salary.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
James chose to live in New York.
James used a Fanatics helicopter to travel between New York and the 76ers’ facility.
Silver said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the arrangement was appropriate if no team was involved.
James was scheduled to make his 76ers debut at Madison Square Garden.
- Team
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Helicopter provider
- Fanatics
- Fanatics owner
- Michael Rubin, a former 76ers owner
- James’s salary
- Veteran minimum
- Silver’s view
- No rules issue if the deal is only between Fanatics and James and no team is involved
3 sources
What people are saying
It's perfectly appropriate if part of his deal is they're going to supply a helicopter to him as long as it's just a deal between the Fanatics and LeBron and no team is involved; there's no rules issue there whatsoever.
as long as it's just a deal between the Fanatics and LeBron and no team is involved, there's no rules issue there whatsoever.
I've done it before; just another way of transportation.