Craig Carton believes Pablo Torre is chasing the wrong LeBron James story. In fact, the WFAN and Outkick personality called Torre’s latest probe a waste of investigative firepower.
What We Know: Earlier this week, Torre said he is looking into James’ business relationship with Fanatics. The arrangement reportedly gives the 76ers forward free helicopter rides between Philadelphia and New York. Additionally, Torre claimed multiple NBA owners have sent him tips about the deal.
Carton quickly pushed back. First, he disclosed that Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin is one of his closest friends. He then argued there’s nothing to uncover. According to Carton, Rubin sold his entire 76ers stake years ago. Moreover, he noted the Fanatics logo appears right on the side of the helicopter.
Carton also compared the perk to a routine contract negotiation. He recalled asking Fox to cover a car service when the network first hired him. However, Fox declined. Instead, Carton listed topics he believes deserve real scrutiny. They included past performance-enhancing drug rumors, a 2017 vandalism incident at James’ home and gambling cases tied to his inner circle.
What They Said: “Memo to Pablo Torre. Number one, it says Fanatics on the side of the helicopter. No one’s hiding anything. Let’s do a thorough investigation into LeBron James. That gets clicks, that gets views, but no one’s got the balls to do it.” – Craig Carton
What Remains Unclear: So far, Torre hasn’t published any findings on the Fanatics arrangement. The NBA also hasn’t publicly addressed the helicopter deal. Torre has yet to respond to Carton’s remarks.
What It Means: Pablo Torre’s reporting on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers earned him serious credibility. As a result, NBA owners now view him as a pressure point. Meanwhile, Carton deserves credit for disclosing his Rubin friendship upfront. Many hosts wouldn’t do that. Still, the dispute highlights a growing tension in sports media. Independent investigators chase accountability, while opinion hosts pursue reaction. Both sides know exactly which stories are driving traffic.
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