Magic vs. Bird, hip-hop narrates, and the NBA becomes must-see TV.
A look at the NBA and its players during the 1980s, including the introduction of the 3-point shot, the transformation of the Los Angeles Lakers into "Showtime," and the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Narrated by Fab 5 Freddy.
Direction
Zak Levitt weaves archival gold into cohesive narrative.
Sound
Fab 5 Freddy's narration is unexpectedly perfect casting.
Director
Zak Levitt
Fab 5 Freddy
Narrator (voice)
Bill Bellamy
Self
Larry Bird
Self (archive footage)
Michael Bivins
Self
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Self
Julius Erving
Self (archive footage)
Magic Johnson
Self (archive footage)
Steve Kerr
Self (archive footage)
Lisa Leslie
Self
Reggie Miller
Self
Pat O'Brien
Chris Webber
Charles Barkley
Self (archive footage)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fab 5 Freddy hosting signals the doc's thesis: the NBA's 80s explosion paralleled hip-hop's mainstream breakthrough. Both were Black cultural forces selling out arenas white America couldn't ignore.
Darryl Dawkins' interview footage captures him before his 2015 death; his Chocolate Thunder persona invented NBA showmanship that paved the way for every personality player since.
US
