Last week, ESPN dumped a bucket of cold water on rumors that ‘The Last Dance’ — a 10-part docuseries that has promised to tell the untold stories of Michael Jordan and the ’98 Bulls — would be released early.
The docuseries is currently scheduled to come out in June, but calls for an early release have crescendoed with live sports on hold for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until now, those calls have come predominantly from fans. But as of the most recent episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, LeBron James and Richard Jefferson have added their voices to the chorus:
“What they need to release is that Michael Jordan documentary,” Jefferson said.
“I’m telling you, if they released that thing right now, the views?” James said. “Listen, if I’m Michael Jordan, I’m going in there and I’m making a conference call and I’m like, OK, what’s the reason we gonna hold onto it until June now? Compared to now, when everybody is at home.”
I mean, agreed. The viewing public thought to have some clarity on the answer to that question when ESPN EVP of Programming Acquisitions and Scheduling Burke Magnus said last week that production on the film hadn’t been completed.
NBA
But the plot thickens…
“Because it’s (‘The Last Dance’) done,” James continued.
“It’s done, it’s been done,” Jefferson, who works for ESPN (!), interjected. “ESPN — I know I don’t want to get fired — but release that [expletive].”
“ESPN can’t fire you, RJ, you my friend,” James said with a chuckle.
And with that, the conversation ended.
For us, at least, that’s enough to hold out hope. Do the right thing, ESPN.
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