LeBron James appears to be pushing back on reports that his move to the Philadelphia 76ers will be documented as the final chapter of his NBA career.
Maverick Carter, James’ longtime business manager and close friend, rejected comparisons between a potential project and Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance on Thursday.
“We are NOT doing anything like the ‘last dance,’” Carter wrote on X. “LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is.”
James then reposted Carter’s message to his own timeline, signaling his agreement without issuing a separate statement.
The response followed a report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand that James and ESPN were nearing an agreement on a behind-the-scenes documentary series. Negotiations were reportedly at the “one-yard line,” with cameras expected to follow James during his time in Philadelphia.
Marchand compared the possible project to The Last Dance, the 10-part ESPN series that chronicled Jordan’s final championship season with the Chicago Bulls. Carter’s message did not necessarily rule out cameras following James, but it firmly rejected the idea that the project would document a predetermined farewell.
That distinction matters because James’ retirement timeline remains unsettled.
The 41-year-old signed a two-year contract with the 76ers after spending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his age, those closest to LeBron have suggested that his career could continue beyond the upcoming season.
“I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” agent Rich Paul recently told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”
James remained productive during his final season in Los Angeles, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 51.5 percent from the field despite settling into a more complementary role with the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
He now joins a 76ers roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown. Philadelphia hopes the star-heavy group can end the franchise’s championship drought and give James a fifth title.
What LeBron’s retweet made clear is that he does not consider his first season in Philadelphia to be his confirmed last dance.
Cameras may be preparing to capture the next chapter. James’ camp insists nobody knows whether it will be the final one.
