Do NBA teams fly on private planes?

With a hectic schedule that sees teams traveling from coast to coast, it might surprise you to know how teams get around in the NBA. Let’s take a look.

ERIC GAILLARD

Paul Rudder

A former soccer player who now lives and works in Barcelona, Paul has been living in Spain since 2011. Ten years later in 2021 is when he joined the Diario AS family and he's been churning out articles about sports ever since. When not working, Paul enjoys hanging with his friends or playing soccer with his team. Aside from those two, he's also a person who loves learning about history, culture, human behavior and the way in which it's affected by the other two. He continues to look for opportunities to grow both mentally and professionally.

Update: Oct 29th, 2024 23:04 EDT

Though there is no set rule as to how teams in the NBA travel around the nation during the season, it is interesting to note that some do in fact prefer the use of private planes rather than commercial airlines on which they must interact with other passengers.

What NBA teams have private planes?

To be clear, the ownership of private planes is actually not very common in the NBA. Indeed, most teams normally opt to charter private planes or rely on the use of commercial airlines to transport their players, coaches, and staff to games and events. To that end, it remains unclear as to how many teams own their own private planes, however, there are a handful that we can confirm.

NBA teams didn’t start flying private until the late 80s, early 90s, and that’s because owners were buying planes for their teams. Anyone that played in the 80s flew commercial flights. Which means Jordan, Barkley, Ewing, & other legends that played in my lifetime flew commercial
— QB Truther (@thmpsnii) March 28, 2021

Los Angeles Lakers

In truth, this should come as no surprise. With 17 championships and a slew of iconic players who have graced their roster, the Lakers are one of the most recognizable sports franchises on the planet, far less the NBA. From Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and of course, LeBron James, the Lakers are as star-studded as they come. With that in mind, the team has in fact had the use of a private plane in the past. Today, it appears to be a mixture of chartered private planes and commercial flights that the team uses, while James reportedly owns a Gulfstream on which he often travels separately from the team.

Shannon Sharpe: "What is with the vitriol of the older players towards LeBron [James]?"

Rich Paul: "It's corny... $100 million contract, Jay-Z sending a private jet when he was in high school... That develops envy." 👀

(via @ClubShayShay)pic.twitter.com/PyXR39w5S5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 28, 2023

Boston Celtics

'He needs to be a little bit fatter' - Nikola Jokic on Chet Holmgren

NBA

Harden could be at Tuesday's Clippers game vs Magic

As holder of the NBA record 18 championships, you can probably guess that the Celtics, like the Lakers, have the use of their very own plane. Unveiled in 2016, the Celtics’ customized Airbus A320, is named “Lucky Blue” and features the team’s iconic green color and Lucky the Leprechaun logo. Interestingly, the plane is the product of a business partnership between JetBlue and the Celtics and reportedly measures 123 feet 3 inches with a wingspan of 117 feet 5 inches.

Up close and personal with JetBlue's Boston Celtics Livery, also know as "Lucky Blue" 😍 pic.twitter.com/AMS3L2014W
— Grantley Adams International Airport (@gaiabarbados) June 1, 2022

Dallas Mavericks

While the team may not have the same prestigious history as the two above, the Mavericks do in fact have their very own plane. The result of owner Mark Cuban’s heavy investment, the Mavericks are known to travel in style on a customized Boeing 767-277. Among the various luxurious attributes of the aircraft are ample legroom, stylish interiors, comfortable seats, and a range of features, making it one of the most impressive private planes in professional used in professional sports today.