Is HBO Sports going to be putting more of a focus on original documentaries with the addition of Bill Simmons? Perhaps, but that emphasis may have started before Simmons entered the fold. On November 3rd, HBO will be airing Kareem: Minority of One, a documentary focusing on the life and career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Kareem‘s producer is Deborah Morales (On the Shoulders of Giants) and its executive producer is Mike Tollin (Arli$$, the USFL 30 for 30).
More details from HBO…
The documentary on Abdul-Jabbar will spotlight an athlete who had unparalleled impact on and success in basketball, and has journeyed through many controversial and landmark moments over the past 50 years. The exclusive HBO presentation marks the first time Jabbar has participated in a documentary production telling his life story.
Among the various personalities interviewed are Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Jerry West, Billy Walton, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, and Billy Crystal. The documentary will be narrated by Liev Schreiber, and will also include archival footage of Abdul-Jabbar in addition to the stout supply of interviews.
I don’t think anyone is going to complain about more high quality sports documentaries being produced, so good on HBO for announcing this film. Hopefully it lives up to the expectations and they keep rolling out more similar quality documentaries.
