The Perfect Shot - Behind The Scenes Of “Jump Shot” The Movie

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

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"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

The 5 Things You Need To Know About The NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is upon us. It’s one of the few events in sports that hasn’t been postponed or cancelled due to coronavirus. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be “normal” and that’s why it’s something you’ll want to watch.

Different is good right?

The Last Night’s Game Team

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1. Months after the most invasive job interview in sports (the NFL Combine) comes the draft. As anyone who has been on a zoom call knows, anything can happen on a live stream, so let’s see what happens when a bunch of “old football guys” use modern day technology. Keep an eye out for last season’s Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Joe Burrows from LSU to be the No. 1 pick. The worst team in the league last season gets the first pick (unless they’ve negotiated otherwise). All signs point that he’ll go to the Cincinnati Bengals at the No. 1 spot. TIGER KING

2. Up until a few years ago, the draft had always been in New York. Since then the draft has moved to a different city each year. This year the draft was poised to take place in the newest home to an NFL team, Las Vegas. The city had pulled out all of the stops for the week, including a red carpet event on the famed Bellagio fountains. The glitz and glamour of Vegas won’t hold a candle to the dark and dingy basements people will now be conducting the draft from. VIVA LAS BASEMENT

3. It’s tradition for the fans at the draft to boo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell every time he walks out on the stage to announce a first round draft pick’s name. Since he’s doing the picks from his basement perhaps his family will jump on board the bandwagon? WHEN IN ROME

4. Since live streams are tough to control, the NFL has released guidelines on what the players can wear and what can be in view of the camera. Players are not expected to wear suits like they would if it was live but there’s certainly no room for any alcohol, nutrition or gambling references. Also a big no? Clothing with derogatory language toward the NFL (why would you bite the hand that feeds you?), references to movies that “contain or promote objectionable material or subject matter” or any logos outside of the NFL’s Official Licensed Partners; Nike, Adidas, UnderArmour, and New Era. BUT YOU CAN STILL WEAR YOGA PANTS

5. The NFL is doing everything it can to make sure there are no technology failures. Ideally teams will submit their picks via Microsoft Teams, the preferred method. As a backup, teams will also have access to a leaguewide conference call to submit their picks. As a backup to the backup plan, each team will have three individuals from each team that can submit picks. The NFL has learned its lesson when running the draft live – teams have missed their picks. Yes, it may be their team’s future on the line, but sometimes you have to pee. YOU HAVE ONE JOB

Bonus - The NFL sent 32 different team’s hats to the top 58 prospects because you never know which team is going to select them. Along with the hats, they sent out camera kits since everyone is in charge of their home TV studio. The kits include lighting along with two iPhones, one for an interview camera and one for the wide shot of their family. They’ve even labeled all of the cords to set them up for video success.

5 Sports Teams That Are Saving The Planet

Earth Day is around the corner. How about ditching the hot dogs for kale in an effort to save the planet?

Green is good,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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1. The Cleveland Indians (MLB – Major League Baseball) were the first MLB team to install a wind turbine to power their stadium. Their stadium is now 100 percent powered by renewable energy from wind power. BLOWN AWAY

2. The Forest Green Rovers, a soccer team from Western England, are leading the charge to go green. They claim the title as the only vegan football (i.e. soccer) club in the world. Since 2015, there have been no animal products for sale in the stadium. Some of the players eat non-vegan outside of the stadium (and there are paparazzi photos to prove it), but some have adopted the vegan lifestyle. The team is also the world’s first U.N. certified carbon-neutral sports club. NO MEAT PIES FOR YOU

3. Pocono Motor Speedway’s (NASCAR - National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) green efforts not only benefit the earth but you. The raceway runs completely on solar power and has sheep for lawn mowers but has an industry specific problem – what to do with as many as 600 used tires after a race? Answer – recycle. The recycled residue from old tires is used in everyday items such as portable speed bumps, the anti-fatigue mat in your kitchen or playgrounds. WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD

4. The Boston Red Sox (MLB) home field advantage is an urban farm. The rooftop farm generates 5,900 pounds of produce annually to be used in the stadium. BATTING FOR BROCCOLI

5. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL – National Football League) and Atlanta United (MLS – Major League Soccer), boasts 4,000 solar panels and features a 680,000 gallon cistern that collects rainwater to irrigate vegetation and helps prevent flooding. GREEN WITH ENVY

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN, BUT TALKING SPORTS IS. 

Let’s talk about the top three things happening in the sports world today including knocking up a wrestling legend, diversity in your lucky charms and pillow talk with a QB. READ