Pablo Torre finds a ‘funny series of apparent coincidences’ while investigating LeBron James using Fanatics’ helicopter
Torre, who won a Pulitzer for his work on the Clippers' salary cap circumvention, makes the case that Michael Rubin and Fanatics may have known James was signing with the Sixers ahead of time.
Investigative journalist Pablo Torre recently told Front Office Sports that multiple NBA owners contacted him about LeBron James’ use of a helicopter owned by Fanatics. The apparel company is owned by Michael Rubin, who sold his shares of Sixers ownership in 2022. James has partnered with Fanatics for several years and has promoted the company numerous times.
Still, James’ use of the helicopter has raised some eyebrows due to a perceived conflict of interest. James signed with the Sixers this offseason to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Torre, who won a Pulitzer for his reporting on the Los Angeles Clippers’ circumvention of the NBA salary cap, examined James’ helicopter situation on a Thursday episode of his podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out. Much of the episode is speculative, with Torre joined by guests Domonique Foxworth and David Samson. They theorized how his Fanatics partnership could have led James to sign a team-friendly deal with the Sixers.
» READ MORE: LeBron James’ commute has drawn attention. Here’s what we know about the 76ers star’s helicopter trips from New York.
Torre presented evidence that suggests Rubin and Fanatics may have known that James would sign with the Sixers before the news was public. This is not a direct violation of any league rules.
On July 17, James said he wanted to go to a team that “trusts the process” on stage at Fanatics Fest. At the time, James claimed the phrase, synonymous with the Sixers, was not a hint that he was joining Philadelphia. However, Torre revealed, that same day the tail number of James’ soon-to-be helicopter was changed from an ambiguous combination of characters to “N6FN.” Torre pointed out that the “6” could be a nod to James’ former jersey number, while “FN” stands for Fanatics.
“I am just saying that on the same day that LeBron did this thing at a Fanatics Fest, Michael Rubin’s chopper got its new plates and eventually its new paint job,” Torre said. “And a week later, July 24, the Sixers had their new superstar.”
Another piece of evidence presented by Torre is that Topps, a sports trading card company owned by Fanatics, was the first to break the news of James signing with the Sixers. The company posted a promotional Sixers James card on X moments before ESPN’s Shams Charania shared the news.
“I have never seen a big announcement like this broken by a trading card company, but here it was,” Torre said on the podcast. “Trading card platform owned by Fanatics breaks the news of LeBron signing. I just got to point out that league sources have been wondering, I am told, if former Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin flipped LeBron, convinced him to sign with the Sixers at Fanatics Fest.”
“This is not me alleging there is cap circumvention,” Torre clarified. “It is though me pointing out this is pretty funny. It is a pretty funny series of apparent coincidences for a helicopter that lots of people have been asking questions about.”
In 2024, Rubin acknowledged he had multiple conflicts of interest as a minority owner of the Sixers. Speaking at the MIT Sloan Conference, Rubin said he was “violating every rule the NBA had,” including taking bets on the Sixers and having NBA players as Fanatics investors.
» READ MORE: Sixers receive good grades for offseason addition of LeBron, Jaylen Brown in NBA’s annual GM survey
”If you look through the rules of the leagues, it didn’t work for me to own part of a team,” Rubin said in 2024. “It was holding back Fanatics. It was a great privilege and honor to be a part of. … I learned a lot. I got a lot of great experience, and it was definitely time for me to move on.”
According to Torre, the helicopter is the same one that picked up Meek Mill after the Philadelphia rapper was released from prison in 2018. Immediately following his release, Mill was flown on Rubin’s helicopter from Chester to the Sixers’ arena to ring the bell before the team’s playoff matchup against the Miami Heat.
The episode has already garnered attention around the NBA world. NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, a friend of James, took issue with Torre’s investigation on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
“He’s not an owner anymore,” Anthony said. “[He] gave up all my rights to the 76ers. [He owns] the biggest sports memorabilia company in the world. [He has] a deal, a partnership with LeBron James. So, [in his] partnership, [his] partner can use the company plane to get back and forth to work. That’s all that is. I have no issue with it.”
After an exciting Sixers offseason highlighted by the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, join Inquirer beat writers Gina Mizell and Chris Hine for a preview of the season. Watch here.
Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Sixers Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
