Fansided

Re-casting classic basketball movies for the modern day

ByBrandon Jefferson|
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: A Comic Con cosplayer dressed as Teen Wolf poses during the 2017 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: A Comic Con cosplayer dressed as Teen Wolf poses during the 2017 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: (L-R) Actor Glenndon Chatman, director Gina Prince-Bythewood and actors Dennis Haysbert, Kyla Pratt, Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodard and Omar Epps attend the ‘Love and Basketball’ screening during the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on June 13, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: (L-R) Actor Glenndon Chatman, director Gina Prince-Bythewood and actors Dennis Haysbert, Kyla Pratt, Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodard and Omar Epps attend the ‘Love and Basketball’ screening during the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on June 13, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage)

CAST

QUINCY MCCALL – KLAY THOMPSON

ZEKE MCCALL – MYCHAL THOMPSON

MONICA WRIGHT – SKYLAR DIGGINS

SYNOPSIS (VIA IMDB): In 1981 in L.A., Monica moves in next door to Quincy. They’re 11, and both want to play in the NBA, just like Quincy’s dad. Their love-hate relationship lasts into high school, with Monica’s edge and Quincy’s top-dog attitude separating them, except when Quincy’s parents argue and he climbs through Monica’s window to sleep on the floor. As high school ends, they come together as a couple, but within a year, with both of them playing ball at USC, Quincy’s relationship with his father takes an ugly turn, and it leads to a break up with Monica. Some years later, their pro careers at a crossroads, they meet again. It’s time for a final game of one-on-one with high stakes.

Love & Basketball features the most memorable set of one-on-one games in all of basketball. However, one of the accompanying storylines of the film is the idea that Zeke McCall is a poor role model for his son, Quincy, as he tries to reach his own dreams of making the NBA. Zeke was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Yet, to make a bigger splash in the age of streaming we get former Los Angeles Lakers great Mychal Thompson and his son, Klay to man the roles of Zeke and Quincy respectively.

The Thompson father-son relationship is nothing like the McCall one, but I’m sure each Thompson would be up for the part of acting out an alternate reality timeline for the movie. Also, Klay’s goatee is so 90’s it makes him a perfect Quincy.

The decision on who to play Monica Wright came down to three equal choices: Candace Paker, Maya Moore, and Skylar Diggins. While a phenomenal player, Parker’s height takes her out of the running leaving just Moore and Diggins to face off for this role. One of these two ladies is a two-time NCAA champion, a WNBA rookie of the year, a three-time WNBA champion, WNBA Finals MVP, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the other had her jersey worn by Drake during the ESPY’s. That made the choice of Diggins much easier (always go with Drake).

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