More Than A Game

More Than a Game

2008

Director: Kristopher Belman

Writer: Kristopher Belman and Brad Hogan

105 Minutes

LeBron James might have been the best high school basketball to ever play the game. He is one of the best professional players to step onto the court, regardless of the team he plays on.

But, there was a story before LeBron James was LeBron James. And that’s what More Than a Game is about. It’s about five teammates on their quest for the high school national basketball championship. But, they were friends first, brothers second, and they always stayed together.

LeBron James, surrounded by his teammates Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, and Willie McGee, were the stars.

And this journey starred back in 1999, when the boys were no older than fourteen, and they entered the AAU national championship game with limited money, resources, and support. But, they had heart. They had each other.

All packed into a mini van, their team drove from Akron to Florida to compete, though entering the stadium were teams with money, fans, and experience who looked to the Ohio Shooting Stars with doubt and questions. This team didn’t have a chance…until they started playing.

One by one, they eliminated each and every team that didn’t believe in them taking them all the way to the championship game facing the Southern California All Stars, the best team in the country.

The game came down to the fourth quarter when Ohio started coming back. And with four seconds left and down two points, LeBron James got the ball, which is the scene above. The inbounds pass comes into James as he rushes down the court, clock ticking down, and he fires up a three-point shot.

Even James says, “This is the one I always dreamed about…”

Cling. Miss. The buzzer sounds. Game over. Ohio lost.

But, this started a fire. This started a passion that this team was going to win, at all cost. Just win. And throughout their journey of conflicts, obstacles, and complications, that’s what they did. They all went to high school, played basketball, and stayed together.

They were met with criticism, negativity, and doubt, but they stayed together. There were egos and drama, but they all stayed together. And even when their star, LeBron James, was faced with controversy, they stayed together.

Consequently several years later, the met up with the Southern California All Stars again in a national championship game. And that time, it had a better outcome. These boys, now men, made sure of it.

From 5th grade on, this team of brothers had a dream to win a national championship. But, they were friends first. They always stayed together. And they were brothers to the end.

In life, is there anything better?