Lakers Reportedly Working With "The Last Dance" Producer

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Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors - Game Five
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Is LeBron about to get the MJ treatment?

Netflix's The Last Dance was one of the hottest things on TV in 2020. The ten-episode documentary went behind the scenes of the Chicago Bulls' 1997-98 season. That title run would ultimately become the last of the Bulls' 90s dynasty and the series perfectly balanced archival footage with contemporary interviews. Of course, part of the show's appeal was that we the audience (and many of the players at the time) knew it was their "last dance".

However, another documentary may be in the works from the same production team. According to Lakers announcer John Ireland, Andy Thompson, who produced The Last Dance, has been spending a lot of time with the team this season. It has been a historic season for the Lakers, with LeBron surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Furthermore, the Lakers have been making a dominant run as a seven seed in the playoffs.

Is A LeBron-Centric "The Last Dance" In The Works?

“I hope I’m not talking out of school here. Andy Thompson, who is the guy who shot The Last Dance, Mychal Thompson’s younger brother, who has worked for the NBA for 30 years, has spent a ton of time with us this year,” Ireland told the Awful Announcing podcast. “So if LeBron ever wanted to go down this road, I think Andy is stockpiling that just so he has it and has the opportunity to tell the story.” It's an interesting concept, but it only really works if this is LeBron's last dance. LeBron has not expressed any clear intention to retire and has been very vocal about playing a few more years so he can share the court with Bronny.

“If we go on a magical run to the title, Andy, who was the driving force behind The Last Dance, most of the stuff you saw in those 10 episodes was shot by Andy Thompson. And Andy’s a smart guy, he’s already working on, potentially, a story about the end of LeBron’s run like he had one for the end of Jordan’s run," Ireland added. However, while the season has been historic for multiple reasons, it really needs a Championship-winning ending. The Lakers currently lead the Warriors 3-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals.

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About The Author
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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