Basketball fans have been going through withdrawals since the NBA has suspended its season because of the coronavirus, but they’ll get the next best thing. ESPN has announced that its Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance would be released in April instead of June.
The Last Dance, a ten-part series, will now begin on April 19. It tells the story of Jordan and the Bulls’ last championship season in 1997-1998, and includes never-before-seen footage from an NBA Entertainment crew that followed them around that year. ESPN also spoke to more than 100 people close to the team.
“As society navigates this time without live sports, viewers are still looking to the sports world to escape and enjoy a collective experience,” ESPN said in a statement. “We’ve heard the calls from fans asking us to move up the release date for this series, and we’re happy to announce that we’ve been able to accelerate the production schedule to do just that. This project celebrates one of the greatest players and dynasties ever, and we hope it can serve as a unifying entertainment experience to fill the role that sports often play in our lives, telling a story that will captivate everyone, not just sports fans.”
The NBA suspended its season after two-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert, of the Utah Jazz, tested positive for the coronavirus. Had the season not been suspended, fans would be preparing for the NBA’s playoff race. Other sports leagues followed suit after the NBA’s decision, and other athletes, including Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell and Brooklyn Nets Star Kevin Durant, have also tested positive. Mitchell and Gobert have since been cleared of the virus.
