If you thought LeBron James’ return to Cleveland and his matchup next week against Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks was the only thing on his plate, you’re mistaken.
James and his business partner Maverick Carter are set to executive-produce ESPN Films’ new special “Becoming. A half-hour show that is dedicated to kids and families, profiles the inspirational journeys of today’s top athletes. The show will debut Sunday October 26 at 8 PM ET/PT on Disney XD.
According to James’ reps, the show’s will air Sunday and will tell the story of the NBA champion’s trajectory to the top and reflect the spirit of his accomplishments including some of the most defining and triumphant moments of his life.
“I’m really excited about helping develop ‘Becoming’ and bringing this kind of program to kids,” said James.
The show is produced in association with ESPN Films and LeBron James’ Springhill Production Company. The development for a regular series on Disney XD is in development for an ongoing series.
“This is a very exciting project for Springhill Production Company,” said Maverick Carter, co-founder and partner of Springhill Production Company.
“ESPN Films understands how to bring sports stories alive. We do a lot of work with different projects focusing on kids and the demand for programming like this is obvious.”
Filmed in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, the “Becoming” pilot takes a stroll down memory lane with James through rarely seen footage from his earliest days in sports including the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) where James played youth basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars, as well as his record-setting days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School where he garnered worldwide attention.
James, along with those close to him including lifelong friends, mentors, teammates and former coaches, will share candid memories with his young fans during the special.
“Sports and athletes were my inspiration growing up,” said James. “It was the stories about Michael Jordan, Deion Sanders, and Allen Iverson that kept me dreaming. When I learned that they had some of the same struggles and challenges I did, it made everything seem possible. That’s what ‘Becoming’ is all about.”
