Hochul Takes a Shot at LeBron James
It seems Governor Kathy Hochul’s team got a bit ahead of themselves in jesting about LeBron James, especially with the idea of slapping him with a new tax targeting luxury homes in New York City. But perhaps they jumped the gun a little.
According to reports, James might be considering a move to the city, amid rumors of a new pied-à-terre tax aimed at high-end vacation properties. Hochul’s remark, initially made in a light-hearted post, carried a hint of seriousness.
The governor’s comment came in response to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, who mentioned that James might not stay with the Los Angeles Lakers but instead could find his way to New York, rather than Philadelphia.
Sidery said, “LeBron James will be living in New York City while playing for the Sixers.” He even added an intriguing detail about James possibly commuting daily from the city to Philadelphia, perhaps via helicopter.
Having recently signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia, fans hope James will present a challenge to the New York Knicks, who just celebrated their first championship in over five decades.
Hochul’s playful jab implied that James would face additional tax burdens if he opted for a second home in the city, making it clear that even the wealthy aren’t exempt from such regulations.
However, should James actually move to the city, it remains uncertain if he would be affected by the taxes typically levied on non-primary residences.
This contentious tax law was approved in the recent 2027 budget. It designates a 4% tax on condominiums and co-ops valued between $1 million and $3 million, a 5.25% tax on those worth between $3 million and $5 million, and a 6.5% tax on properties valued at $5 million or more.
The administration of Mayor Zoran Mamdani stirred some controversy on Monday by releasing a database listing properties that might be subject to these new taxes, raising eyebrows and criticism regarding privacy and transparency.
Moreover, Hochul’s quip about James aligns with a pattern of missteps in her public comments. Earlier, she attempted to challenge former President Trump’s claims about being a lifelong Knicks fan, but her sarcasm didn’t quite land as intended.
She had asked him to name the 1993 championship team lineup, seemingly forgetting that the Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973. Though they reached the NBA Finals in 1994, they lost to the Houston Rockets.
In fact, New York guard Tyler Kolek was recently spotted donning T-shirts from the victory parade for the 1993 team— a reminder of the long gap since their last championship.
