The debate continues to rage as to who is the GOAT of the NBA, Michael Jordan or LeBron James? And while there is a case to be made for the likes of Bill Russell and his 11 NBA world titles, Wilt Chamberlain and his 100-point game, the silky-smooth passing of Magic Johnson, or the sublime skills of Kobe Bryant, the two that are bandied about as the supreme ruler of the NBA’s Mount Olympus are Michael and LeBron. You don’t even need to use last names to know exactly who we’re talking about when it comes to hoops legends.
But off the court, Michael Jordan starred in the 1996 movie, Space Jam. Several of his contemporaries even made cameo appearances like Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing to name a few. Fast forward 25 years later and we see LeBron taking MJ’s lead role and becoming the cornerstone of Space Jam: A New Legacy.
In 1996, the Looney Tunes characters recruited Michael Jordan to win a basketball game against a villainous group of aliens called the Monstars, otherwise, they would be enslaved and exhibited as carnival attractions in a brand-new theme park. The movie was somewhat revolutionary in that it seamlessly blended animation with real characters.
The new version is expected to be much the same although the Tune Squad now has LB on their side to take on a new evil entity referred to as the Goon Squad. Reports are that this new version relies primarily on animation using contemporary stars like Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and the WNBA’s Nneka Ogwumike in digital form. LeBron is one of the few who maintains his human form which is a stark difference from the first iteration if the reports are true.
And if you had any doubts that the landslide of mainstream sports betting hasn’t taken hold, then be advised that some of the best online sportsbooks, like SportsInteraction, have already set a line on this fictional game before the movie is released to theaters or any other mediums. Yes, the Tune Squad is listed as -1 ½ point favourites and the total, if you are so inclined, is 155. Who sets these numbers and how are they derived? Who knows but they are out there and if you’ve got a hunch then bet a bunch!
LeBron Carries the Torch
LeBron has stated that he was familiar with the Looney Tunes characters and became even more so because of the original Space Jam. In a free-wheeling interview with Entertainment Weekly, LeBron spoke about his initial reaction to the Space Jam of 1996.
“There were a lot of films for me, but Space Jam was definitely up there. Just growing up and loving the NBA, and obviously loving Michael Jordan, and loving the Looney Tunes, it was an automatic and a very organic blend between the two worlds. And it was fun to see what MJ and Bugs and Taz and all those great toons were able to go through in that first movie. It was pretty cool, man, as a kid, wanting to see inspiration from movies and from people that you look up to, and people that you watch on a day-to-day basis. So, it definitely had a big part of my childhood.”
In an interesting angle, EW asked LeBron about the characters chosen to comprise the Goon Squad and if he was getting besieged with calls from his NBA colleagues and celebrities who might want to share the silver screen with him.
[Laughs] “Absolutely. The phone would ring, the texts would come in, and then on social media a lot of people were tweeting at me saying, “Hey, I’m available for Space Jam if you need me. LOL. Asking for a friend.” A lot of people my age or even younger just remember the classic. They remember Space Jam the original, and people want to be a part of it, because it’s something that lasts forever, something that’s timeless, and something that you can tell your kids and grandkids about.”
LeBron insists this isn’t a sequel but a new twist on an old plot. Although many of the elements sound similar LB is adamant that it’s a whole new ballgame if you will pardon the pun.
“This is not a sequel. The movie stands on its own. But, more importantly, this movie is going to surprise a lot of people, because it brings up a lot about family and the dynamic between a father and son. There are parents who want to push their kids to do certain things because this is what they do, but sometimes you have to look into a kid and be able to have an open mind and ear to help them become the thing they’ve dreamed of. There’s a lot of father-son moments that people are going to relate to, and I’m looking forward to people just getting the raw emotion out of it, and understanding and seeing what it’s all about. It’s a huge family movie, and I can’t wait for people to get together and have their popcorn and everything that comes with it. It’s going to be exciting.”
Space Jam: A New Legacy will be in movie theatres on July 16th and will also be available on HBO Max.
