LeBron James and ESPN are reportedly close to a deal to produce a documentary like The Last Dance, about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, that was so popular in 2020.
According to one of the industry sources that The Athletic granted anonymity, who was not authorized to discuss the deal since it is not finalized, the talks are described as being at the “one-yard line.”
While ESPN and a representative for LeBron James declined to comment on the report, sources expect that a camera crew will follow him as he suits up for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, which many assume will be the final team of his illustrious career.
The documentary is also expected to feature footage from earlier in his career, since NBA crews have filmed LeBron James since he was a rookie way back in 2003, including what must be a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage.
Also, since he was one of the first high school athletes to garner massive national media attention, footage from his time at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron will surely be present within the series.
The inevitable comparisons to Michael Jordan and ‘The Last Dance’
While Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance covered the Chicago Bulls’ three-peat double, LeBron James route to NBA Championships came with three different teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. James won two titles with the Heat, and one each with the Cavs and Lakers.
The popularity of The Last Dance was also buoyed by the fact that it was the first of its kind among sports documentaries, and it aired when much of the nation was shut down due to the pandemic.
Also, while LeBron James was conspicuously absent from The Last Dance (a deliberate decision by director Jason Hehir to avoid inciting further arguments about who the NBA GOAT is), it will be interesting to see whether James gives MJ any credit for inspiring him to the heights he has achieved in his documentary, or if he will choose to go the same route as Hehir.
UPDATE: Maverick Carter disputes the report. Which, honestly, in the eyes of many fans, would be too bad.