DETROIT (10/14/2016) -- True Productions is proud to announce that Full Court: The Spencer Haywood Story, the poignant and gritty new documentary about the legacy of former NBA superstar Spencer Haywood will make its Michigan premiere at Detroit's Royal Starr Film Festival on Friday, October 14th (7:00 pm & 9:30 pm) and Saturday, October 15th (5:00 pm). Haywood, a Michigan native, will be in attendance during Friday's show, answering questions from the audience.
The documentary, narrated by rapper Chuck D, examines the untold story of a basketball legend who changed the face of professional basketball forever. This historic journey took Spencer Haywood from the cotton fields of Mississippi all the way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It's been brought to life through interviews with former NBA stars Charles Barkley, Kenny Wilkins and former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley among others as well as beautifully stylized footage and archival photographs.
"We're thrilled to have the Michigan premiere of Spencer's story right here in his own backyard," said Film Festival President Larry Kantor.
"Full Court: The Spencer Haywood Story premiered worldwide at the Seattle International Film Festival in May. Seattle is where the Detroit Pershing High School graduate landed in the NBA after a protracted journey, including earning an Olympic gold medal in 1968.
Haywood started his pro career in the American Basketball Association in 1969 and began his NBA career a year later with the Seattle Supersonics in 1970. He led the team to their first-ever playoff berth. But when NBA lawyers tried to bar him from playing because he hadn't completed four years of college, he began the fight of his life, a long legal battle that would finally end up in the Supreme Court.
Back in January of 2016, Haywood's No. 45 was retired at Calihan Hall, just the sixth men's basketball player to have his jersey retired. He is a member of the Titan Hall of Fame and was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the fall of 2015.
His only year as a Titan is generally considered one of the greatest single-seasons ever in Titan basketball history as he still ranks first in scoring average (32.1), second in total points (771), rebounds (530) and free throws (195) and tied for second in total field goals (288).
He spent one year in a Titan uniform before turning pro, but he was one of the best players in the nation at the time as he posted a school-record 32.1 points and 22.1 rebounds per game during the 1968-69 season. The 32.1 points was fourth in the NCAA behind only "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Rick Mount and Calvin Murphy, while his 22.1 rebounds led the nation.
Before that, he was already a star on the hardwood and led Team USA to a gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico. He led that team with 16.1 points per game and set a USA field goal percentage record of .719.
He went on to a 13-year professional career in the ABA and NBA and scored 17,111 points, while grabbing 8,675 rebounds. During his pro career, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. In his first professional season in the ABA with the Denver Rockets, he was tabbed the ABA Rookie of the Year and the ABA MVP during the 1969-70 season and became the youngest ever recipient of the MVP at the age of 21 in leading the team to a division title.
In the NBA, he played five seasons for Seattle, averaging 24.9 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game and was selected to four NBA All-Star games, helping lead the team to their first playoff berth in 1975.
Haywood later played for the New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Bullets, earning a championship ring with the Lakers during the 1979–80 season.
