Lakers star LeBron James lined up for shock career move... but NBA fans brand it a 'horrible choice'

Is LeBron James following in Michael Jordan’s footsteps once again?

With the Chicago Bulls great becoming a studio commentator for NBC when the network regains NBA media rights next season, his fellow Nike spokesman is now expected to be targeted by the league’s media partners for a similar role.

Specifically, Amazon seems to have the inside track after his humorous ad campaign for the corporation’s streaming platform in which the 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star teases his own retirement.

As sources told Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, this budding business relationship could very well lead Prime Video to hire James when he does eventually retire – something that won’t happen for at least another season. And even if it’s not Prime, ESPN or NBC could feel ‘compelled’ to talk about an analyst position with James, according to FOS.

Daily Mail has reached out to Amazon spokespeople for comment.  

James’ detractors responded to the report by hurling insults at the four-time NBA champion.

‘This would render the sport virtually unwatchable,’ one person wrote on X.

‘He's a great athlete but many fans dislike him because of his personality/racism/arrogance,’ another critic added without offering a basis for any of those arguments. ‘So a horrible choice for broadcaster. I'm sure they'll have to pay him a gazillion dollars, too.’

James has long been critical of NBA studio analysts, whom he views as being overly critical of today’s players. He’s famously feuded with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, leading to an on-court confrontation and a series of social media posts on the issue.

As he wrote on X in February, the NBA has ‘never been better’ thanks to ‘incredible young stars from all over the world and some older ones.’

But while James appears positioned to defend the current state of the NBA, Jordan may take a different approach when he joins NBC next season. According to Smith, Jordan will be a tough critic and players won’t be coddled.

'Let me tell you something about Michael Jordan,' Smith told his podcast audience. 'He's going to be brutally honest—I can assure you that. He's not going to be somebody who's going to be passive.'

The 62-year-old Jordan recently sold his majority stake of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets to investor Gabe Plotkin, while retaining a minority share in his home-state team. And with some more time on his hands, the six-time NBA champ and Chicago Bulls legend has since agreed to join NBC's NBA coverage when the network regains domestic media rights next season after a 23-year break.

Jordan has refrained from speaking about the current NBA these days, unlike his former friend and fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who remains the cornerstone of Inside the NBA as it transitions from TNT to ESPN next season.

But like Barkley, Jordan has the credibility to give his take with some genuine authority.

'The Michael Jordan I know, when talking basketball, he is as candid as it gets,' Smith said. 'He ain't trying to hurt nobody's feelings. He ain't trying to be insulting—but he's going to tell you what's going on.'

Of course, television isn't easy as both Brady and Gretzky have discovered.

Fans slammed Brady's in-game NFL analysis for a perceived unwillingness to express frustration about the league's current stars. Meanwhile, Gretzky has been criticized for having low energy and failing to show a genuine interest in the discussions on TNT.

According to Smith, that won't be Jordan's problem.

'I don't think he's going to be passive at all. I really, really don't, and I'm actually proud of him for doing it because, with the Jordan brand and him being worth over $2 billion, he don't need this,' Smith said.

And just in case Jordan gets bashful, he'll have his friend Smith reminding him to keep his foot on the gas.

'I don't think he's going to be shy about saying what he sees—at all,' Smith said. 'As a matter of fact, if he is, he's going to have to deal with me because I'm going to be in his ear telling him, "You're getting shy now. That's what we're doing? That ain't the MJ I know!"'

Jordan will be a 'special contributor' to NBC's NBA broadcasts next season, the league recently revealed during an upfront presentation to advertisers in New York last month.