Months after LeBron James decided to sign a free agent contract with the 76ers, it’s starting to make more sense why he chose Philadelphia.
A new report from The Athletic detailed that LeBron’s deal with Polymarket, a prediction market platform that allows users to place contracts on the outcome of real-world events, including NBA games, is worth about $15 million annually.
While that didn’t violate NBA rules, the $15 million from the personal brand deal made it easier for LeBron to sign a veteran minimum contract with Philadelphia. The polymarket deal would pay LeBron more in one year than the Sixers would have paid in his two-year deal if he decides to stay in Philadelphia beyond the 2026-27 season.
He also goes to the games by helicopter.
You’ve probably heard about it because LeBron left on a pretty high note after his first practice with the Sixers.
He lives in New York City and admitted to ESPN that he would have signed with the Knicks in free agency had they not beaten the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA title in June.
“I had dreams of playing at the Garden and finishing my career at the Garden. One of the best places I’ve ever played. I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world for a basketball player,” James said. “But after they beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t. Y’all wouldn’t let me put it down.”
So instead of joining the Knicks and creating a super team with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron decided to create his own team where he would live in the Big Apple and take on New York while riding a helicopter to the games.
But it’s not even his helicopter.
Front Office Sports reports that LeBron is using the Fanatics helicopter as part of his partnership with the giant sportswear company.
So LeBron makes more through the Polymarket deal than he does in the NBA. His commute to and from New York is welcomed by Fanatics.
The Sixers got a pretty sweet deal as long as LeBron was engaged.
At media day, LeBron noted that he didn’t leave his family to lose in the second round of the NBA Playoffs in Los Angeles.
This is not a coincidence. It’s nothing LeBron ever said.
He expects the Sixers to make some serious noise in the NBA postseason. Joining forces with Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will undoubtedly make Philadelphia one of the best regular season teams in the Eastern Conference.
But LeBron expects more in the postseason, and it’s significant.
Not as important as his current living arrangements, which are coming together nicely for him ahead of his 24th NBA season. He just discovered chronic arthritis in his leg. But he will pay all his expenses with a projected market contract, and Fanatics will pay for the helicopter airfare.
He wouldn’t have that kind of setup with the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat, so the Sixers make the most of it.