Becoming began as a half-hour special executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter and filmed in Akron, Ohio, that recounts James' rise to stardom in the NBA. On February 10, 2015, Disney XD announced that Becoming had been greenlit for a full series, and James stated that it would focus on stories of professional athletes. On October 28, 2019, Disney+ picked up Becoming for ten episodes to be produced with SpringHill Entertainment, Spoke Studios, and ITV America. All ten episodes were released on Disney+ on September 18, 2020.