NBA Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood is back in Metro Detroit and wants you to check out his new documentary “Full Court: The Spencer Haywood Story.”
The documentary details his legacy and will premiere at Detroit’s Royal Starr Film Festival on Friday, October 14th at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 15th at 5 p.m.
Spencer, a Michigan native, will be there immediately after Friday’s show, answering questions from the audience.
The documentary, narrated by rapper Chuck D, examines the untold story of a basketball legend who changed the face of professional basketball. This historic journey took Spencer Haywood from the cotton fields of Mississippi, all the way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It’s been brought to life through interviews with former NBA stars Charles Barkley, Kenny Wilkins and former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley among others as well as beautifully stylized footage and archival photographs.
See a clip here.
Haywood said, “It’s great to be coming home to premiere this movie for my hometown. This is where I went to high school, college. This is where I raised my kids. It’s really historic and I’m honored. It’s a beautiful thing.”
“Full Court: The Spencer Haywood Story” premiered world-wide at the Seattle International Film Festival in May.
Seattle is where the Detroit Pershing High School graduate landed in the NBA after a protracted journey, including earning an Olympic gold medal in 1968.
Haywood started his pro career in the American Basketball Association in 1969 and began his NBA career a year later with the Seattle Supersonics in 1970.
He led the team to their first-ever playoff berth. But when NBA lawyers tried to bar him from playing because he hadn’t completed four years of college, he began a long legal battle that would finally end up in the Supreme Court.
The documentary looks back at how Haywood’s court battle in the 1970’s led to years of backlash, fame, fortune, drug abuse, recovery and recognition.
For more info: http://www.RoyalStarr.org The film be shown at the Emagine Royal Oak Theatre 200 North Main Street, Royal Oak.