Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Just hours after delivering a standout triple-double performance on the court, NBA star LeBron James finds himself in a different kind of spotlight.
Filmmaker and screenwriter Rob Grabow has filed a lawsuit against James, Netflix, and the SpringHill Company, accusing them of using key elements from his original screenplay, The Gift of the Game, to create the Netflix film Rez Ball, which premiered in September, according to TMZ.
The 25-page complaint, filed Thursday in a California federal court, alleges copyright infringement, breach of contract, and other violations.
Grabow, who wrote and directed the 2022 drama The Year of the Dog, claims his screenplay followed a Native American high schooler leading his basketball team to the state championship. He argues that Rez Ball shares striking similarities with his work — from characters and themes to specific plot sequences.
Although Rez Ball is said to be based on a separate book, Grabow’s lawsuit contends that the film mirrors his screenplay in several significant ways. He points out that both stories feature a nearly identical protagonist, major emotional beats, and a key moment in which the main character is fouled during a potential game-winning shot.
According to Grabow, both projects share themes of perseverance, teamwork, and cultural identity, along with similar dialogue, character arcs, and pacing.
He further claims that people associated with LeBron James and SpringHill had access to his script, which was designed to highlight Native American representation and the spirit of high school athletics.
Grabow is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged misuse of his screenplay.
The lawsuit arrives at a moment of continued success for both James and Netflix, especially with SpringHill’s growing influence in sports-driven storytelling. But Grabow’s complaint casts a shadow over Rez Ball’s origins, raising questions about the legal and ethical standards behind its production.
As of now, neither James nor Netflix has responded to the lawsuit. But the outcome could carry broader implications for creatives navigating ownership, inspiration, and intellectual property in today’s content-hungry entertainment industry.