Portnoy Claims LeBron James' 76ers Deal is 'Illegal' Side Deal

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has accused LeBron James of circumventing NBA salary cap rules with an alleged "illegal" side deal involving Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin to facilitate his move to the Philadelphia 76ers.

James signed a league-minimum contract with the 76ers this offseason, a surprising decision given his history of max contracts. Portnoy claims this move was influenced by a "side deal" with Rubin, who previously co-owned the 76ers and whose company, Fanatics, has reportedly provided James with access to private aviation. Portnoy stated on social media that James "basically took that contract (league minimum deal with the 76ers) because Rubin is doing a side deal with him. He flies in and out. It's illegal. It's basically what Kawhi did. But the NBA won’t look into LeBron."

Reports have indicated that James is allowed access to Fanatics Aviation as part of a contract with Rubin's company. James was recently observed using Fanatics' private helicopter to travel between New York City, where he is reportedly living, and Philadelphia for 76ers practices. This arrangement comes after Rubin sold his stake in the 76ers in 2022, citing that the growth of his Fanatics business created conflicts with his ownership responsibilities.

Portnoy's accusation draws parallels to the situation involving Kawhi Leonard, who faced scrutiny for alleged salary cap circumvention. The NBA previously penalized the Los Angeles Clippers with a significant loss of draft picks for reportedly funneling money to Leonard through means deemed illegal by the league. In Leonard's case, he allegedly received $7 million in cash and $5 million in stock annually from the company Aspiration.

While James is earning $3.87 million for his season with the 76ers, his income is reportedly supplemented by off-court partnerships, including a deal with Fanatics and another with Polymarket valued at $15 million per year.