Space Jam 2

It looks like the title for the Greatest Basketball Player of all time isn’t the only thing LeBron James and Michael Jordan are fighting for. After years of rumors and speculation, the classic 1996 film Space Jam will finally get its sequel and is set to air in the summer of 2021.

Space Jam 2, starring King James, officially hits theaters on July 16, 2021 (according to Pamela McClintock and Aaron Couch of the Hollywood Reporter) nearly 25 years after the original first aired. The Looney Tunes movie, in which the Loony Tune crew recruits Michael Jordan to help them win a game of basketball against aliens who have stolen then star NBA talent, plans to take advantage of modern day NBA players. It will be interesting to see which NBA players, if any, co-star with LeBron as Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Muggsy Bogues, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley did with Jordan. Many, including myself, would love to see the rookie Luka Doncic give acting a go. College sensation Zion Williamson, who will have most likely started his NBA career by the time the movie takes place, would be another fun pick.

We all knew a Space Jam 2 was likely to come out and star the best basketball player in the world. However, many had predicted it to come out after LBJ (No, not Lyndon B. Johnson) won his 3rd championship. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit in a best of 7 series in 2016, against the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers were, record-wise, the greatest basketball team of all time with a record 73-9. It would have been fitting because the Golden State Warriors represented the "Monsters" while the Cavaliers embodied the underdog Looney Tunes, with LeBron James in the place of Michael Jordan.

Filming is due to start this summer James said during All-Star Weekend. The timing of the announcement of the movie raises some interesting conspiracy theories considering LeBron just joined the Lakers this past summer. Was his motivation to be closer to Hollywood to pursue his dreams of acting? Why wait till now? Remember to take into account LeBron’s Lakers contract is a 4-year deal with a player option after the third year.

If James opts out of his contract after the third year, the decision is due fifteen days before the release date of the sequel. This means he could very well be a free agent when the movie premieres.

Either way, King James' should focus on leading the Lakers to the playoffs rather than his supposed acting career. Right now, the Lakers sit in the tenth seed with close to a 500% win percentage this season. With 23 games left to go, not only is LeBron's eight consecutive NBA Finals streak on the line, but he hasn’t missed the playoffs since his sophomore season back in the 2004-2005, during his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It's crazy to think I was only three years old then. For now, LeBron seems to need more talent around him in order for the team to succeed and make it to the Championships.