Billionaire LeBron James Could Replace Shaq & Charles Barkley as America’s Favorite NBA Show

The NBA’s next TV rights deal has been a topic of discussion for quite a while now. Their previous broadcasting deal with ESPN and TNT is set to expire when the 2024-25 season concludes. Considering the popularity of the NBA, it comes as no surprise that several networks are lining up for the NBA’s next TV rights deal. However, one up-and-coming network would surely be an integral part of the NBA’s broadcasting future.

According to the Athletics’ Andrew Marchand, “the NBA and Amazon Prime Video have the framework of a deal that will make the streaming service one of the main homes for the league’s games.” But the entry of Amazon could likely mean that TNT may lose out on a broadcasting rights deal. TNT has been one of the mainstays of NBA broadcasting during the past decade. Furthermore, TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, has been among the most-watched shows.

Therefore, the TNT exit would be sorely missed by fans of the game. However, Amazon may pull a rabbit out of the hat, as they have registered interest in acquiring the services of a certain LeBron James. According to Andrew Marchand, “As far as analysts go, One name, if you want to think really big — and aggregators, hold your rewrites for now — is LeBron James, if he were to retire by 2025-26.” He also stated that Amazon may also be interested in Duke alum, JJ Redick.

Amazon already has a good working relationship with LeBron James, as Amazon has his “The Shop” as an alternate broadcast on “Thursday Night Football.” LeBron’s entry into the broadcasting landscape will entirely depend on his retirement. However, King James is already a major player in the basketball media industry.

LeBron James and the SpringHill Company

It’s safe to suggest that LeBron James is a trailblazing athlete whether it’s off the court or on it. He has led the athlete movement into the media industry. LeBron co-founded the SpringHill Company with childhood friend and business partner, Maverick Carter. In October 2021, they sold a minority stake to a series of investors including Nike, Epic Games, and Red Bird Capital Partners, which valued the company at $725 million.

LeBron James’ SpringHill Company has already produced some well received shows like The Shop, The Playbook, The Crossover and many more. They also co-produced Space Jam. The movie grossed $90.5 million in the United States, and $159.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $250.2 million.

Other superstar athletes have followed in LeBron’s footsteps and entered the media industry. Kevin Durant with Thirty5 ventures, Stephen Curry with Unanimous media and Tom Brady with 199 productions have all entered the industry. This move into the media industry gives star athletes unparalleled power, as they aren’t dependent on an external network. LeBron James’ entry into the industry has opened the floodgates, but could reach the same level of success?