**LeBron James Considers Acting Path Following NBA Career**
LeBron James, widely celebrated as one of basketball’s greatest modern talents, has expressed a genuine interest in pursuing acting once he hangs up his boots from the sport he has dominated for over two decades. As the Los Angeles Lakers forward approaches the twilight of his illustrious playing career, the 40-year-old star has hinted that the silver screen could be calling his name next.
James’s cinematic experience is not entirely new territory. Audiences will remember his memorable appearances as a fictionalised version of himself in Judd Apatow’s 2015 comedy *Trainwreck*, as well as starring in *Space Jam: A New Legacy* in 2021. Alongside these live-action roles, LeBron has lent his distinctive voice to animated favourites such as *The Simpsons* and *SpongeBob SquarePants*. However, the prospect of stepping into roles beyond “LeBron James” seems to hold particular appeal for the basketball legend.
In a candid conversation with *The Hollywood Reporter*, James was asked whether he saw himself taking on new and different characters in future film or television projects. He responded thoughtfully, “I think that all will boil down to the creative writing and to the role. If the role is appropriate and I feel like I can nail it, then I wouldn’t mind doing that at all. I feel like I could turn and be someone else that’s not LeBron James.”
Reflecting on his previous work in the industry, James pointed out that, while he often plays caricatures of his public persona, he has already dipped his toes into acting roles with more fictional elements. “In *Trainwreck*, my name was not LeBron James. But it was a version of me, my typical self — just playing Bill Hader’s best friend during that movie.” It’s clear that his foray into Hollywood has thus far been closely tied to his identity as a top athlete, but he appears eager to challenge that casting.
For now, James’s primary focus remains his basketball career. “Post-career — I don’t mind looking at it and seeing if I can make it happen, for sure,” he explained regarding acting opportunities. He stressed that any pursuits in Hollywood would only start after his NBA journey reached its natural close. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm for creative outlets stands undiminished, and scripts enticing enough could tempt him further into the realm of acting.
LeBron’s passion for storytelling extends well beyond performance. Over recent years, he has developed a notable presence behind the scenes in Hollywood, particularly through his SpringHill Company. The content studio recently merged with Fulwell 73 to form the new entity, Fulfull Entertainment, significantly broadening James’s influence in the worlds of film and television production.
Despite the path taken by other sports stars who have transitioned to film, James states that he isn’t looking to model his next moves on any particular figure. “No, I don’t have a blueprint of someone I want to be like in [the] industry. I want to continue to do what we’ve been doing, and I want to continue to keep storytelling at the forefront of everything that we do,” he remarked. For LeBron, the power of narrative is key — something he believes connects families, friends, and fans across divides.
He elaborated, “Storytelling is the most incredible thing we can do, not only for ourselves, but for our fanbase and for our families. People can actually be in their households and watch certain documentaries or watch certain movies or listen to podcasts — storytelling really brings people together.”
There appears to be no grand timetable for LeBron’s aspirations post-retirement. Instead, his aim is to see his film and content ventures “just continue doing” what they started. “I’ve known I’ve always wanted to do that since I was younger, and I will continue to do that beyond my playing days,” he shared, revealing that this has long been a parallel ambition to his athletic career.
As James prepares for the next chapter, his commitment to creativity and connecting audiences remains steadfast. Whether delivering slam dunks or scripts, LeBron’s post-NBA future looks set to unfold on yet another grand stage.