LeBron James and Netflix Accused of Stealing Screenplay for Rez Ball

Filmmaker Rob Grabow has filed a 25-page lawsuit against LeBron James, his production company, and Netflix, alleging that they stole his screenplay for their basketball movie Rez Ball.

According to TMZ, Grabow claims that his original script, titled The Gift of the Game, shares striking similarities with Rez Ball, which released in September 2024.

Grabow’s script reportedly centers around a Native American high school basketball player determined to lead his team to a state championship. He described it as “a powerful basketball film that deals with issues of community, race relations, and poverty.” Grabow alleges that he shared the script with individuals connected to James, Netflix, and the production company, and that his story was ultimately repurposed without his consent.

The filmmaker points out specific parallels between his work and Rez Ball, including a climactic scene where the protagonist is fouled during a championship game. The lawsuit details, “There are numerous substantially and strikingly similar concrete and expressive elements in the two works’ plot, theme, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters, and sequence of events.”

He further argues that Rez Ball bears more resemblance to his screenplay than to the book it was supposedly based on. Grabow is suing for alleged copyright infringement, breach of contract, and more, seeking unspecified damages.

This lawsuit comes at a time when LeBron James is already facing legal challenges. Just last month, James and his son Bronny were sued for their alleged involvement in a 2022 car accident. The plaintiffs in that case claim the accident caused them injuries and vehicle damage, and they are also seeking unspecified damages.

As legal battles continue to mount for the NBA superstar and entertainment mogul, it remains to be seen how these cases will unfold.