LeBron James reportedly closing in on 'The Last Dance' style documentary after signing with 76ers

This season could be LeBron James’ “last dance” in the NBA. Shortly after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, James is reportedly in talks to launch a “The Last Dance” style documentary series, according to The Athletic.

Negotiations between James and ESPN are at the “one-yard line,” per The Athletic. The financial details of a possible agreement are not known at this time. Both ESPN and a representative for James declined comment when reached by The Athletic.

If the deal reaches the finish line, a camera crew will follow James around during his next season with the 76ers. The documentary will also reportedly pull footage from all of James’ career. Since he was a phenom in high school, there should be plenty of clips to pull from, including some that have never been released publicly before, according to The Athletic.

There is, however, some uncertainty on when the documentary would air. While James said the 76ers were his “last decision,” the 41-year-old signed a two-year deal with his new franchise. It’s unclear if James will play both years with the 76ers or if he intends to retire after the 2026-27 NBA season. It would be an easy decision to make, as James has a player option at the end of the year.

Presumably, James’ decision would impact when the documentary airs. While it could be interesting to get an in-depth look at James’ first season in Philadelphia, it would be far more impactful to watch James’ final season in the NBA.

LeBron James following in Michael Jordan’s footsteps

For fans unaware, “The Last Dance” was a 10-part documentary that focused on Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. Though camera crews were given unprecedented access to Jordan during the season, the documentary didn’t come out until 2020.

The series got its title from the thought that this was the final season of the Bulls’ dynasty. It was their “last dance” together.

The documentary, which aired on ESPN, was extremely well-regarded. It didn’t just give sports fans something to watch during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also won an Emmy.

It certainly helped that Jordan and the Bulls managed to win yet another championship at the end of the 1997–98 season. Despite all the pressure, the Bulls pulled through.

And then, as the documentary made obvious, the Bulls split apart. Jordan retired for a second time, Scottie Pippen was traded away and Dennis Rodman was released. The Bulls haven’t won the NBA Finals since then.

James will be looking for a similar ending, though ideally without the 76ers completely falling apart at the end of the season. A championship is the reason James ultimately signed in Philadelphia. If the team can pull that off, and camera crews are around to document it all, James could have a hit on his hands once his version of “The Last Dance” is released.