LeBron James is the most famous basketball player in this current generation of players. Like some of the most popular players of the past, James is using his fame for his more commercial interests, not unlike his legendary predecessor Michael Jordan. But, James is getting involved in a much different sort of industry than just shoes.
Late yesterday, Warner Bros. Entertainment announced a partnership with James’ own entertainment company, SpringHill Entertainment, which is co-founded and managed by James’ business partner Maverick Carter.
The agreement sees SpringHill collaborating with Warner Bros. in all facets of content creation.
“The combination of LeBron’s global media presence and Warner Bros.’ unmatched production and distribution expertise is a big win for fans everywhere,” said Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Kevin Tsujihara. “We’re excited to welcome LeBron and Maverick to the Warner Bros. family and look forward to partnering on incredible projects that will connect with consumers across a variety of platforms.”
SpringHill is responsible for a number of different television projects, most notably the series “Becoming,” which highlights athletes’ stories before they made it big. Disney XD bought the series earlier this year.
SpringHill also has a few other credits since its founding in 2008, such as “Survivor’s Remorse” on Starz, online reality show “Uninterrupted” and an unreleased game show for NBC.
This deal will surely make James’ reach even greater in off-the-court endeavors. But, many people are wondering if this agreement spells the revival of hit movie “Space Jam,” starring Jordan. Fans are speculating that James could be working with Warner Bros. on a possible “Space Jam 2,” since Warner Bros. filed for three new Space Jam trademarks a month ago.
Whatever the case, James is following in the footsteps of Jordan, but instead of creating a shoe and clothing empire—James is focused on businesses in the digital age.