LeBron James showed up for his first Philadelphia 76ers training camp and left the same way billionaires leave everything: by helicopter.
Tuesday in Camden, New Jersey, Anfernee Simons was in the middle of answering questions after the team’s first practice when the whirring started overhead. A helicopter was taking off from the facility’s complex, and it was loud enough to drown out the entire press conference.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin identified the aircraft. It was LeBron’s, taking him back to New York after practice. The commute did not come out of nowhere. On Monday, when ESPN asked James whether he would live in New York or Philadelphia this season, he said: “Both.” Then added: “Multiple residences.”
This is the LeBron Effect in full. More than 50 credentialed reporters packed the Sixers facility for day one of camp, so many that the team had to move its usual press setup to a roomier spot on the court. Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters things are going to be different this year. More people, more eyes, more stories, more national TV.
James is expected to suit up in the preseason on October 5 against the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with the real debut coming October 20 at Madison Square Garden.
Welcome to the LeBron Experience, Philadelphia. It is going to be loud.
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Photo: CavsFan45 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.