LeBron James’ move to the Philadelphia 76ers has become one of the biggest stories of the NBA offseason, but his reported plans to land a job could be just as surprising.
James is considering living in the New York area instead of Philadelphia and traveling to games and practices by helicopter throughout the season.
The four-time NBA champion recently signed a two-year contract with the 76ers, extending his career to a 23rd NBA season after ending his long stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Although many expected James to move closer to his new team, but according to Shams Charania of ESPN, that may not be the case.
“Are you going to live in Philly? Are you going to live in New Jersey? Are you going to live in New York?” Charania said on ESPN. “Will he take a chopper and go back and forth? We don’t know those answers yet.
“But we know he’s going to the East Coast, and that’s a big change in James’ life at this point in his career.”
Since Charania’s first words, several reputable outlets have reported that Manhattan has emerged as James’ home destination, with helicopter travel considered the preferred method of travel to Philadelphia.
The trip is expected to take about 45 minutes each way, allowing James and his family to stay in New York while fulfilling his commitments with the 76ers.
Travel costs can be high. A round-trip helicopter flight between Manhattan and Philadelphia is about $11,500, meaning James could spend more than $1 million over the course of the season for workouts and all 41 home games.
However, for James, the cost won’t be much of a consideration. The NBA’s first active billionaire reportedly earns about $114 million annually from endorsements and ventures, making the projected travel fee a fraction of his annual off-court income.
James has yet to publicly confirm where he intends to stay during the season, but Charania’s comments have fueled widespread discussion about what could be one of the most unusual commutes in professional sports.
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