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“King” LeBron Extends Presence in Hollywood

Guest contribution by loyal reader and current Q2 intern, Michael Goldman.

LeBron JamesSince entering the NBA, LeBron James has excelled both on and off the court, molding himself into a successful entrepreneur and mogul in the sports & entertainment industry.  His first venture, LRMR Marketing, has made several moves in the past few years.  The company’s first client for athlete representation was Dolphin’s receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who signed on for marketing endeavors.  Ginn’s stock as a marketable player has certainly risen as the Dolphins success this year has given the receiver considerable coverage.  The firm also represents Mike Flynt, who became the oldest college football player in history when he returned to Sul Ross State University at the age of 59.

Lately, LeBron has turned his attention to making his presence felt in Hollywood.  More Than a Game, a documentary that chronicles the story of James and his St. Vincent-St. Mary High School teammates, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September.  Lionsgate, the company responsible for releasing Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11”, has acquired the distribution rights and plans on having a fall 2009 release.  Besides being the focus of the film, both James and close friend and partner in LRMR, Maverick Carter (CEO of LRMR), served as executive producers on the project, and James’ newest venture, Spring Hill Productions, is one of three production companies that worked on the documentary.

The freshest news to come out of the LeBron James camp is that the hoops star and his Spring Hill Productions have teamed up with rapper/entertainment Ice Cube’s CubeVision to produce a pilot for ABC about James’ experiences as a high school phenom.  The two companies will oversee production for ABC, while the two act as executive producers and co-creators.  Assuming the network approves the pilot script, they are aiming to premier the show next fall.  In addition, James’ two companies are collaborating on Mike Flynt projects, including a two-book deal that is already underway.  Spring Hill Productions and producers Gordon Gray and Mark Ciardi have secured the rights of Flynt’s life to use in a film that is expected to have a $30 million budget, and has already considered actors like Tommy Lee Jones and Bruce Willis for the lead role.  Many athletes have tried and usually failed to become successful in Hollywood.  James’ star-power is seemingly a force to be reckoned with, and I can assume that his actions in the world of sports & entertainment will continue to expand and be successful.  Fans will just have to wait until next fall to see the “King’s” work hit the big and little screens.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on ““King” LeBron Extends Presence in Hollywood”

It’s refreshing to see an athlete take a proactive approach when it comes to their finances considering that many end up financially unstable just several years after retirement. With all his off-court endeavors, its easy to see why he is consistently ranked among the top 5 most marketable athletes in the world.

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