Maverick Carter: We are NOT doing anything like the “last dance” LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is
More on LeBron James: Recent HoopsHype Rumors
LeBron James and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series that will be similar to Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance,” according to industry sources granted anonymity as they were not authorized to talk about the deal that is not finalized. One of the sources described the talks as being at the “one-yard line,” with the expectation that James, 41, will have a camera crew documenting his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, who James signed with this month. The 76ers are expected to be the final home of his legendary career. — 7/30/2026 New York Times
For the James’ documentary, there is no
set date for when it would be completed and air. ESPN and a representative for James declined comment. James recently signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, looking to win his fifth championship in the NBA. — 7/30/2026 New York Times
They lobbied him on the Hall of Fame spectacle of linking up with Curry, their veteran-friendly environment, an ability to hike his salary up toward the $15.1 million nontaxpayer mid-level exception and the proximity to family. There was even a back-channel exploration from James, league sources said, about the feasibility of zipping back and forth to Southern California various times during the NBA calendar, as Green and Jimmy Butler occasionally do. — 7/30/2026 ESPN
But nobody within the Warriors' orbit believed they were strongly in the mix the past couple of weeks, team sources said. Their gathered intel and waning communication told them James was leaning in a different direction. — 7/30/2026 ESPN
Team sources said they believe part of James' hesitancy to ultimately join the Warriors is his history battling the franchise during the dynasty years and how the choice would be viewed from a legacy perspective. "I believe there's more appeal to playing with Steph Curry on a different franchise rather than that franchise," one league source said. — 7/30/2026 ESPN
During the 2026/27 league year, only one NBA player will have a formal no-trade clause in his contract. That player is Damian Lillard, who negotiated a no-trade clause into his deal with the Trail Blazers last summer. LeBron James and Bradley Beal had no-trade clauses in their respective contracts in recent years, but Beal gave his up when he agreed to a buyout with the Suns during the 2025 offseason, and James no longer has one after his contract with the Lakers expired this summer. LeBron would have been eligible for a no-trade clause if he had rejoined the Cavaliers or Heat in free agency, but since he hasn’t played for Philadelphia before, he couldn’t add one to his new contract with the Sixers. — 7/30/2026 Hoops Rumors
Fullcourtpass: Tyrese Maxey was “relentless” in convincing LeBron James to sign with the 76ers this offseason, per @ChrisBHaynes “Tyrese was constantly calling and texting LeBron James, making sure that if he had any questions, he would be there to answer.” (h/t @sixers_galaxy) — 7/29/2026 x.com
So LeBron chose the 76ers, and the Warriors are left to wonder what might have been. Should they have tried to trade Jimmy Butler and draft picks for Anthony Davis? At summer league in Las Vegas, a small contingent of Golden State’s front office pushed for that path, but AD’s injury history and desire for a new extension ultimately convinced team brass to stay put. — 7/29/2026 The Ringer
Shaquille O'Neal: "LeBron is a modest arrogant guy, for example. He's loving the fact that he's a number one scorer in the league. But guess what? I'm going to put this sh*t so far out of reach, nobody will ever do it. Like, I ain't going to lie, when I was playing, looking at that Kareem's number, I was like, 'Man, 36K, 38K, I'll never get to that.' I looked at the other day, LeBron's at 45. Still averaging 20, he going to mess around and be at 50,000 points." — 7/29/2026 YouTube
Rachel Nichols: "The biggest fallacy with that entire media thing is that LeBron was never going to do an introductory press conference. After the not one, not two, not three, not four, he trust me, I have spoken to his people, I have spoken to him, he will never do one again." — 7/29/2026 YouTube
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James' business partner, Maverick Carter, denies report of planned 'Last Dance'-style documentary for James
