Executive producer Steph Curry
We have the best excuse for dinner and a movie since “Netflix and chill.” Here’s the next movie that you need to add to your list and the dinner recipes to complete a perfect night in.
*Pours a giant glass of wine and settles onto the couch,*
The Last Night’s Game Team
"Jump Shot" is an award-winning film that celebrates the true story of Kenny Sailors. Sailors is a forgotten basketball legend who changed the game of basketball as we know it by introducing the jump shot. But he was so much more than an NBA (National Basketball Association) pioneer. He revolutionized the sport for women, served as a U.S. marine in WWII and then faded into history.
We were lucky enough to catch an advance screening of the film. (Spoiler alert – you’ll laugh out loud and you’ll cry – it’s that good). We caught up with director Jacob Hamilton who proudly shared his labor of love that is “Jump Shot.” Here’s what we learned from our chat. Check out this week’s podcast for the full interview.
1. This movie has unbelievable star power. From interviews with executive producer Steph Curry to Kevin Durant to the hot-headed hall of fame basketball head coach himself Bobby Knight (who is hilarious by the way). It’s the who’s who of the sports world coming together to celebrate the OG legend, Kenny Sailors. Sailors is not yet in the hall of fame, but hopefully after hearing these hall of famers and future hall of famers talk about him, it creates a movement to give him the honor he deserves.
2. Hamilton had the idea for the film in 2011 after listening to a two-minute audio clip of Sailors talking about how he developed the jump shot because he was shorter than his brother. Going over him that was the only way Sailors could make a shot. It took Hamilton and his team, which included an archival producer to dig up nearly 90-year-old audio clips and 600+ archival assets (videos, etc), until 2019 when the final film premiered at SXSW. One factor of Sailors’ life that isn’t included? Interviews with his teammates from a Senior Olympics 3-on-3 basketball tournament that Sailors played in at the age of 87. There just wasn’t enough supporting video footage to include it.
3. After watching this movie, you’ll wish you could have adopted Sailors as your grandpa. He was a humble guy who loved a good dad joke as much as he loved his family. He felt his service to his country in WWII was one of the most important pieces of his storied life. But most of all he loved having breakfast with Hamilton when he would visit. Hamilton tells a story of when Sailors was watching March Madness with a friend and the friend asked who Sailors had in his final four (bracket). Sailors said “god, husband, father and Marine.”
4. Sailors played in the NBA before it was cool. It’s true, the league was subpar to college basketball with teams folding and other professional leagues disbanding. While playing in the NBA, Sailors, who was one of the most popular players in the league, landed an endorsement deal for…prune juice. As Kevin Durant put it in the film, “It must have been the Gatorade of the time.”
5. The movie is a love story intertwined with a story about a man who continues to reinvent himself. Kenny Sailors might have been the greatest basketball player in his time but he left two weeks after his team won the college basketball national championship to fight in WWII. He left behind his wife and child, not knowing if he’d return. He came back and proceeded to set records in the NBA. After his career, he retired to Alaska with his family because of his wife’s health. But he wasn’t done evolving yet. He became a hunting guide all the while changing the sport of women’s basketball as well. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of this story. We could go on for days.
The film is out for limited release on April 16 – 18. Here’s how to you can watch.
Dinner is served
Since “Jump Shot” is executive produced by Steph Curry, here are a few of our favorite recipes from his wife, chef and restaurateur, Ayesha Curry, to try on your night in. YUM
Make sure to tag us on Instagram @lastnightsgame and @jumpshotmovie in your pics from your dinner and a movie night.
The late, great Kenny Sailors
