Ambassadors of Hoops
"Ambassadors of Hoops" is a one-hour, television documentary that details the history of American achievement in professional basketball leagues around the world over the last 40+ years. The documentary, produced and directed by Byron Hunter, showcases the great history of European basketball, it's legendary teams, such as Real Madrid, Milan, CSKA Moscow and Maccabi Tel Aviv,and highlights the historic achievements of American players, both men and women, in European competition from the 1960's to today. "Ambassadors of Hoops" also examines the long history of cooperation between the NBA and the Euroleague, and features many former basketball stars from Europe's top leagues that have made the successful transition to NBA stardom. The journey has taken hundreds of American ballers each year to Spain, Germany, Italy as well as Poland, Russia and Israel. American women are nearly as prominent as men in European leagues, now playing in Spain, Italy, Russia and beyond, usually earning higher salaries with their foreign teams than in the USA. “Ambassadors of Hoops” also takes viewers on a intriguing tour of basketball, visiting some of Europe’s great cities and experiencing the passion for basketball that thrives across Europe. Includes interviews with Bob McAdoo, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Walter Szczerbiak, David Rivers, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Michael Cooper, Brandon Jennings, Shimon Mizrahi (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Trajan Langdon, Tina Thompson, DeLisha Milton- Jones, Josh Childress, Thiago Splitter, Jannero Pargo, Mike Bantom, Lynn Greer, Becky Hammon, Sue Bird, Derrick Sharp, Swin Cash, Candice Dupree, Chamique Holdsclaw, Casey Jacobsen, Omar Cook, Terrell McIntyre, Darren Phillip, Mike Batiste, Eddie Johnson, Sylvia Fowles, Sophia Young, Jordi Bertomeu (CEO of Euroleague), Drew Nicholas, Morris Finley, Henry Domercant, Thomas Rigas, Adam Payton, Dominque Canty.
Starring
Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Brandon Jennings
Director
Byron Hunter