LeBron James’ on-court skills and off-court fame might be on par for an equal battle. Two decades of a successful basketball career later, the Lakers player is also active in off-the-court ventures, most of which have to do with the entertainment industry. If one were to say that his 2018 move to the Lakers was because of their proximity to Hollywood, they would not be 100% correct. And yet, a large part of James’ earnings comes from his production house, SpringHill Company.

Founded in 2007 with partner Maverick Carter as SpringHill Entertainment, the current iteration of the company was formed in 2020, merging with Robot Company and Uninterrupted. Regarding his producing credits, IMDb now officially lists LeBron at 76, including 7 upcoming projects. According to The Numbers, 5 of those films have generated a worldwide aggregate of $152,529,584 in box office earnings.

Remember Space Jam: A New Legacy (Producer and Actor), House Party (Producer), and Black Ice (Executive Producer)? Next up, James has an in-production project titled the untitled “NBA Draft Imposter Project,” a basketball story to which the billionaire will certainly lend his expertise.

IMDb describes the storyline of the comedy film as follows: “A guy attends a frenzied media event for the NBA draft and tricks people into thinking he has been selected to play for a professional basketball team, where he gets to enjoy all of the benefits of being a real NBA star.” 

This project comes as LeBron continues to build his impressive financial portfolio. Out of his $1.2 billion net worth, he has earned $479 million from his basketball career in Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles, according to Spotrac. Additionally, endorsements and investments brought him over $900 million in 2022 alone, as reported by Forbes. Further bolstering his wealth is King James’ 2024 contract extension with the Lakers, valued at $101.35 million. He also holds the title of largest shareholder in SpringHill, with an estimated stake worth $300 million, according to Forbes.

The first active player to be a billionaire in the NBA certainly knows how to use his business savvy off the court, but does that mean he’s neglecting his main duties, aka being a basketball player?

“But I just came here to make movies though!” – When LeBron James took a shot at critics

For someone hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of the 21st century and approaching age 40, critics often point out LeBron James’ frequent team changes. However, his strategic decisions reflect his pursuit of what he believes to be the best opportunities for winning championships. He moved to Los Angeles in 2018 for this same reason. Despite starting his career in LA with an injury, he has not disappointed.

In late November last year, James addressed the narrative that had gained steam when he opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers to join the Lakers. After a win over the Portland Trail Blazers, he posted a screenshot of his statistics on an Instagram story, but it was the caption that grabbed attention.

 “But I just came here to make movies though! Ain’t that what y’all said right!?!?” King James wrote. The next day, he scored a season-high 37 points, in his fifth 30-point game that season and his fourth in his last seven. Addressing that story later on, James told The Guardian, “Sometimes you need to remind people. So that’s what it was.”

The Lakers star’s output has not decreased when he focuses on off-court projects, the majority of which are likely done in the NBA offseason. Whatever you say about his tactics, the man knows how to play ball and earn his paycheck at the same time.