LeBron James traveled via helicopter for a forty-five-minute commute from the Philadelphia area to New York City following the 76ers’ public scrimmage on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The high-profile travel arrangements came on the heels of a sold-out exhibition at Xfinity Mobile Arena that drew roughly 10,000 fans.
Nearly 10,000 fans filled Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon as public address announcer Matt Cord returned to the microphone to introduce the team ahead of their annual Blue x White Scrimmage. The Philadelphia 76ers kicked off a new era for an internal exhibition, drawn by the presence of a revamped roster featuring new additions and established stars.
LeBron James took off via helicopter for the approximate 45-minute commute from the Philadelphia area to New York City. Following the scrimmage, attention quickly turned to how the newest superstar departed the arena. The aircraft was photographed during the flight, noting a commuting routine between the two cities that had already caught attention following a Tuesday practice earlier in the week.
Arena Draws Sold-Out Crowd For Public Scrimmage
Admission for the public practice was set at a $10 donation, raising more than $80,000 for the Sixers Youth Foundation alongside 5,000 tickets donated directly to local community groups and grantee partners. The move of the annual public scrimmage from the G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats’ facility in Wilmington to South Philadelphia was prompted by the intense offseason acquisitions, including the signing of James and a trade for Jaylen Brown.
Seats for the 100 level ahead of the home opener hovered around $1,000 on the secondary market while scrimmage tickets cost a mere $10. Demand on the secondary market reflected the soaring anticipation surrounding the franchise. Fans crowded aisles and stairways to catch a glimpse of the team, while vendors hawked the first pieces of merchandise bearing James’ new number.
Stars Debut On Floor In New Numbers
James took the floor wearing No. 9 because his traditional number 23 is retired in Philadelphia in honor of Julius Erving. Coach Nick Nurse deployed a starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James, and Joel Embiid against a reserve unit for the first of three 10-minute quarters.
An alley-oop dunk from a Maxey lob to James, a behind-the-back pass from James to Edgecombe in the corner, and a driving left-handed dunk by Embiid produced immediate highlights.
“It was a great first step in a direction we’re trying to go. And, like I said, it was great to hear some cheers.”
LeBron James, via Inquirer
Gansey praised the 41-year-old veteran for diving after loose balls and participating fully in every drill without restriction, setting a tone for the entire roster. Operations director Mike Gansey noted prior to the exhibition that James had established an immediate competitive benchmark since arriving at training camp.
Embiid Health Status Boosts Team Outlook
Embiid participated fully in camp after battling lingering knee issues during prior seasons, including the 2024 Paris Olympics where he and James first played together, which brought encouragement within the organization.
“The difference between ’24 and now, he’s just so much more healthier. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in damn near everything that we’ve done. Pretty much, they’ve had to sit him out at times, even when he wanted to keep going.”
LeBron James, via Heavy
Philadelphia opens its exhibition slate, with James expected to play in the first of four preseason games marking the start of his record 24th NBA campaign. The team travels to face the New York Knicks, setting up an immediate meeting given James’ split-city travel schedule and the looming regular season openers against both New York and his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.