*By Max Godnick* LeBron James is ready to add another title to his already gilded resume: Hollywood mogul. The three-time NBA champion and four-time MVP redrew the professional basketball landscape when he announced he will join the Los Angeles Lakers. The move allows him to work and live closer to his already impressive entertainment empire. His production company, SpringHill Entertainment, is based on the Warner Bros. lot, just a few miles up the 101 Freeway from his new primary office, the STAPLES Center. "The ease of him being in the heart of Hollywood is really setting up the next stage of what his professional career is going to be," said Sean O'Connell, the managing editor at Cinemablend, in an interview with Cheddar on Tuesday. James's slate of upcoming projects includes a remake of the 1990 comedy "House Party," multiple series and documentaries in the works at Netflix and HBO, and the long-rumored sequel to the Michael Jordan-Bugs Bunny collaboration, "Space Jam." He'll be physically much closer to their development, production, and marketing processes in Los Angeles than he was in Cleveland or Miami. The basketball star is still months away from suiting up as a Laker for the first time, but he's already drawing comparisons to some of the entertainment industry's biggest names. "I think he's primarily going to become a dominant producing force and maybe becomes like an Oprah-type person who launches his own channel, and it's loaded with content that speaks to his interests," said O'Connell. The current Hollywood landscape puts a premium on A-list talent with worldwide fan bases. The past few months have seen Winfrey ink a multi-year content partnership with Apple, while Barack and Michelle Obama signed a deal with Netflix. ESPN recently ranked James second on its [annual list](http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/WorldFame/espn-world-fame-100-2018#) of the most famous names in sports - only trailing international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. While he clearly doesn't need any help expanding the scope of his fame or influence, James's new home could allow his ambitions and portfolio to reach even higher heights. "LeBron is a household name and a household face before he even steps into the entertainment realm," said O'Connell. "He can become a true media mogul and make this transition." For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/lebron-james-brings-his-entertainment-empire-to-hollywood)

Share:
More In Sports
'Chalkboard' Debuts as First Social Messaging Platform for Sports Betting
Chalkboard is the first platform for sports bettors fueled by real betting data with a unique social platform that provides seamless real-time bet tracking, score updates, and social interaction between sports fans. Ted Mauze, co-founder & CEO of Chalkboard, and Saniyah Lawson, NBA sports betting influencer & Chalkboard NBA community manager, join Cheddar News.
Sports Streaming Services to Launch Betting Features
Sports streaming giants, such as Disney Plus and ESPN, have expressed interest and intent in adding sports betting features to their platform. As sports betting has increasingly become more mainstream, it's no surprise that businesses want to get in on the benefits these betting features have to offer. Alan Wolk, the co-founder of TVREV, joins Cheddar News.
MLB Owners Lock Out Players, 1st Work Stoppage Since 1995
Major League Baseball plunged into its first work stoppage in a quarter-century when the sport’s collective bargaining agreement expired and owners immediately locked out players in a move that threatens spring training and opening day.
Load More