NBA Drama: Making Durant Cry, Locker Room Chaos, and Towering Wembanyama Moments

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Few individuals could claim they’ve been ejected from a locker room during the Olympics or brought tears to the eyes of NBA legend Kevin Durant, yet director Jake Rogal received exclusive access to the Paris Summer Olympic Games for Netflix’s basketball documentary titled “Court of Gold.

In a shift from his Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance,” Rogal, the producer, stepped back onto the basketball court, this time with a broader global perspective for the Olympics. Instead of focusing on Jordan, he spotlighted modern basketball icons such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Durant, along with international stars like Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. Over six episodes, “Court of Gold” chronicled the journeys of teams from countries like the U.S., France, Serbia, and Canada as they pursued Olympic gold in Paris during the previous summer.

Jason Hehir, director and producer for Words + Pictures, praised Jake’s exceptional ability to handle the intricate coordination of multiple elements in his work. This included not just our team, production companies, and the IOC, but also the four teams themselves, their diverse personalities, and the crews who tracked them. According to Hehir, this project was significantly more complex than “The Last Dance,” with a much tighter deadline for completion. In essence, Jake’s directorial prowess in managing this intricate web of elements is nothing short of remarkable.

Despite the fact that viewers are already aware that Team USA secured its fifth consecutive gold medal, the tension and anticipation remain high in “Court of Gold.” The U.S. no longer holds a guaranteed advantage at the Olympics, as basketball has evolved into a global sport. Every foreign team is now eager to seize their moment and dethrone the reigning champions.

Using EbMaster, Rogal analyzes his heartfelt conversation with Durant, dissecting it meticulously. This allows him to prepare for his upcoming interview with the towering seven-foot-three Wembanyama, seeking inspiration and motivation.

Could you explain the criteria for choosing the countries you monitor, and how were you granted entry to observe their activities and locker rooms?

In the same competition, each nation brings its unique approach. Many nations welcomed our idea since we presented it as a commemoration of a historic basketball moment for their organization and their country. Team USA stood out due to its star-studded lineup, with the narrative revolving around them regardless of the outcome. France was another strong contender, given they are the host nation and Victor Wembanyama is a standout talent. Canada also caught our attention as an underdog, with people speculating they could win the entire event and boasting a roster full of NBA players. Choosing the fourth team required careful consideration. Greece, Germany, and South Sudan were all possibilities. However, we decided on Serbia for two key reasons: their team was strong, and adding Nikola Jokic, who is currently the world’s best player, they could potentially make a significant impact. We also wanted to highlight each nation’s story, and Serbia’s history offers a compelling human element.

Did you have a backup plan if any of those teams had lost and exited the tournament early?

We frequently discussed the concept of pivoting, and held daily discussions about each team’s progress and intriguing plotlines. At a certain stage, France was facing difficulties while Germany was performing exceptionally well, so we decided to include Germany in our four teams, making it a group of four and a half teams. We then attended a German practice, spoke with the head coach, contacted some players to see if they were comfortable with this, and three days later, they lost and were eliminated from the tournament. This storyline was abandoned as France advanced to the gold medal game.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but reflect on an incredibly moving moment during your interview with Kevin Durant. When he started shedding tears as he spoke about the deep significance of basketball in his life, I found myself touched and curious – how did you manage to draw such raw emotion from him?

In the heat of someone’s emotional moment, my immediate response is one of respect. The thought of the show comes second, but only for a brief moment. You see, there’s a person standing before me who’s baring their soul, and it takes tremendous courage to do that in such a public setting, especially when it’s to someone they don’t know. My second thought is always, “This is fantastic for the show.” Authenticity and realness are powerful draws, making people want to watch. When an athlete reveals their true self, you can’t help but think, “At last!” I sense that beneath the surface, they’re holding back more, and I’m eagerly waiting for it to be revealed.

Our conversation veered towards Twitter. After the first Serbia game, he was engaging with people who didn’t have many followers. I found myself asking, “Why are you investing your time in that? Aren’t there better things to do as a global superstar in Paris?” His response was, “When I interact with them, my 28 million followers can see that I’m making a point based on what this person is saying. It’s because I love basketball so much, and it means everything to me – it’s shaped who I am.” Then he launched into an emotional monologue about the significance of basketball in his life, and it struck a chord with him. The question wasn’t particularly emotional, but it resonated deeply, evoking strong feelings within him.

Did your conversation with President Obama include moments beyond his jovial interaction with Team USA prior to the tournament? Was there anything else that was omitted?

Every amusing moment we experienced was included in the final cut, nothing was left behind. Specifically with President Obama, these NBA stars tend to be genuine and authentic, being themselves even when others are present. The interaction between Anthony Edwards and President Obama was an authentic one, a reflection of their true personalities. It was refreshing that our cameras were there to capture them being themselves. When the cameras were off, that’s what their conversations were like – candid and relaxed. Anthony is consistently genuine, regardless of who he’s with, and President Obama has a knack for making people feel at ease.

During a challenging match, the Serbian coach, Svetislav Pešić, ejected you from the locker room at one particularly tense point. Can you describe what that experience was like?

At the Olympics, we acquired the necessary permissions but coaches retained ultimate decision-making power regarding access. We approached each team, explaining our desire to be present in sensitive areas, emphasizing that their authority was supreme – they could eject us whenever they wanted, or inform us if we were becoming bothersome. Some coaches did indeed ask us to leave, such as Coach Pešić who managed his locker room in a specific manner and occasionally grew heated, leading to multiple requests for us to depart. This was acceptable and within his rights. The ejections never caused offense or upset, as he always discussed the reasons afterwards, usually unrelated to our presence. The instances of being expelled were included in our documentary to maintain authenticity – we never instructed anyone to act in a certain way. In reality, we spent most of our time inside those locker rooms, with only a few exceptions such as Serbia where we were asked to leave on several occasions.

Are you going to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to film another season?

I propose that the “Court of Gold” event be included in every Olympic Games across all sports. Observing diverse nations’ approaches to sports provides a unique lens into understanding their cultural dynamics. It can be challenging to grasp the intricacies of foreign cultures, but sports offer an effective avenue for this exploration. Therefore, I suggest that “Court of Gold” takes place in Milan and Los Angeles, with basketball being played in L.A., and it should carry on as a permanent fixture during the Olympics, held annually.

After making this show, is there a player whose career you’d want to follow closely?

It’s not uncommon to remark about Victor Wembanyama; his presence is captivating. At such a young age, his level of thoughtfulness, intelligence, and self-awareness stands out. He often pauses before responding to questions, indicating deep thought. This trait is indeed unusual. Beyond his remarkable basketball skills, it’s clear he possesses that special quality – the one that sets him apart. He’s approachable, friendly, considerate, and intelligent. Despite the immense pressure he faced during the Olympics, where he was everywhere, he handled it gracefully. Internationally, we are eagerly anticipating his unprecedented rise to fame.

How do you interview a player like Wemby, who’s 7’3”?

Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, I aim to select identical seating arrangements for an even line of sight during interactions. However, in our session with Wemby, he chose a standard chair while I opted for a barstool, resulting in us having the same eye level, which was rather embarrassing for me. The photographs captured by the crew from that incident, which they continue to tease me about, are stored on my phone. This situation was particularly difficult because Wemby is extraordinarily tall. Typically, I can adjust my position to be roughly at the same height as others, but Kevin had a slightly lower stance, and Victor’s immense size required me to sit on a barstool even when he opted for a regular chair, making me appear shorter compared to him.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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2025-02-19 03:17