Per Showtime Release:
NEW YORK (April 21, 2015) SHOWTIME Sports will present IVERSON, a feature-length film on the legacy of NBA great Allen Iverson premiering on Saturday, May 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
The film, which debuted at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, is an in-depth look into 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson whoseaudacious rejection of conservative NBA convention and unapologetic embrace of hip-hop culture sent shockwaves throughout the league and influenced an entire generation.
The documentary from 214 Films is produced and directed by Zatella Beatty, producers Ted Faye and Stephen P. Perry with executive producers Mike Tollin and Gary D. Moore.
More than a transcendent athlete, Allen Iverson is a transcendent figure in American culture, said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. IVERSON is as raw and as honest as its subject. This is the quintessential addition to the growing collection of great sports documentaries on SHOWTIME.
Allens story has always been one I’ve wanted to tell, said Beatty. It goes beyond basketball and speaks directly to the human condition of strength, determination, heart and a relentless pursuit to fulfill one’s dream. The moment I met Allen we bonded over that perspective and I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell his story both on and off the court.
Told largely in Iversons own words, the documentary charts the career highs and lows of one of the most distinctive and accomplished figures to play in the NBA. The revealing film examines Iversons turbulent upbringing in Virginia and controversial imprisonment, his growth at Georgetown under John Thompson and his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Honest and authentic, IVERSON doesnt shy away from the superstars run-ins with the law and the trade from the 76ers that led to his unceremonious retirement from the NBA.
An immensely talented player and a fierce individualist, Iverson bridged the gap between hip hop and basketball and created a public persona that changed the culture of the NBA. Through in-depth interviews with Iverson, NBA superstar Dwyane Wade, television journalist Tom Brokaw, and Coaches Thompson and Larry Brown, viewers will come to understand one of the most complex figures in sports history and an incredible journey where spectacular success is no protection against demons from the past.
