LeBron James appears to be refuting reports that a documentary chronicling his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers will be filmed in the style of Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance."
Maverick Carter, James' longtime business manager and friend, dismissed comparisons to the 10-part ESPN series on Thursday, stating, “We are NOT doing anything like the ‘last dance.’ LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is.” James amplified this message by reposting Carter's statement to his social media.
The denial follows a report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, which indicated that James and ESPN were nearing an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series. The report suggested cameras would follow James during his time in Philadelphia, with negotiations described as being close to finalization.
Carter's statement did not explicitly rule out any filming but strongly rejected the notion that the project would document a predetermined farewell to the sport. The timeline of James' retirement remains uncertain.
James, 41, signed a two-year contract with the 76ers after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. His agent, Rich Paul, has suggested that James' career could extend beyond the upcoming season, telling ESPN, “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him. Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”
During his final season with the Lakers, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, shooting 51.5% from the field while taking on a more complementary role alongside teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
He now joins a 76ers roster that includes Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, alongside newly acquired player Jaylen Brown. The team aims for this group to end their championship drought and potentially secure James his fifth NBA title.
James' repost of Carter's denial signals that he does not view his first season in Philadelphia as his confirmed final NBA season. While cameras may capture elements of his upcoming tenure, his camp maintains that the end date of his career is not yet determined.