Can Apple TV+ Capture The Realness Of Urban Basketball With Swagger?
Maybe, just maybe someone will get the story right. Apple TV+ has added the cast members to their new show Swagger that was inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant. While the cast does provide some great Hollywood talent, it’s the story and how it’s brought to life that fans are eager to see.
For some reason, basketball-based shows have not done so well for Primetime TV. One Tree Hill was a teen-based show with basketball supposedly as its focal point but drifted more towards family and sex in the later seasons. LeBron James tackled that subject in Survivor’s Remorse and now comes Kevin Durant and Apple TV+. Can they succeed?
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At first glance, that should be a yes. The cast is sound with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Oscar-nominated Quvenzhané Wallis are series regulars Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh (Don’t Let Go, Nostalgia, Bette and Coretta), Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire, 90210, The Secret Life of Bees), Caleel Harris (When They See Us), Tessa Ferrer (Grey’s Anatomy, Catch-22, Mr. Mercedes), Jason Rivera, Solomon Irama (Supergirl), Ozie Nzeribe (Shameless) and James Bingham.
Swagger will follow Hill, the main character as he navigates life on and off the basketball court. It’s different than what we’ve seen with past basketball dramas and this will hit all cylinders on the court and what’s it like for the players and their families off the court. Here is a brief synopsis of the show according to Deadline.
Hill will play Jace, a basketball phenomenon who is one of the top ranked youth basketball players in the country. Azoroh is Jenna, Jace’s mother who is determined to chart NBA success for her son. Wilds will portray Alonzo Powers, the grassroots division leader at a major shoe company. Harris will play Musa, the team’s glue and point guard. Ferrer will portray Meg Bailey, a former basketball player and coach for the rival team. Rivera will play Nick, a player from Puerto Rico with the drive to become the best player in the country. Irama is Phil Marksby, the enforcer for a rival team. Nzeribe will play Royale, a sub-par player with a wealthy dad. Bingham will portray Drew Murphy, a player from a much more affluent part of town
With AAU Ball so large in America, especially in the urban community, it’s time for Hollywood to shed some light on the up and downs of organized ball and the effects it has on our younger generation. Let’s just hope Apple TV+ does a great job of capturing the realness.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
