Swagger (2021) s01e01 Episode Script
NBA
1
Easy.
Nah, little man, not this one.
It's gonna be hard.
When I get back in town, you should be finished though.
[KISSES.]
- You're full of shit, Grant.
- I'll call you.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[PANTING.]
["ONLY GOD KNOWS" PLAYING.]
[SONG STOPS.]
- [PANTING.]
- Push-ups.
I'm too tired.
Too tired.
Tired can beat you, or you can beat tired.
You're the number one player in the area code.
What do you think the haters want my baby to be? Tired.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
[SONG RESUMES.]
All right, everybody.
Jace Carson.
[PANTS.]
Come on.
Push.
Good job, baby.
I'm proud of you.
Go, Jace Carson! ["DAY ONES" PLAYING.]
[WHIRRING.]
[PHONE CHIMES.]
Ma! No phones at the table, please.
- Ma! - What? Overtime just liked my push-up post! What? "You have been on our radar.
Are you our next Rising Phenom?" [GASPS.]
Oh, my God.
They wanna come see you play.
What's the big deal? If they name me their Rising Phenom? That's national exposure.
I mean, my social's gonna explode.
Everyone's gonna know my name! D-1 coaches will know your name.
Ma, I gotta get a new team.
Didn't you just chuck deuces at your old one? - Looks like you're gonna be crawling back.
- That's not happening.
[SCOFFS.]
- Is that happening? - I got my eyes on a new squad.
If Overtime wants to audition my baby, we gonna give 'em a hell of a show.
Trust your mama.
- Hey, Drew, how do I look? [CHUCKLES.]
- Like you're rocking my headband.
You left it at practice yesterday, and I was about to burn this corny shit.
Yo, was Allen Iverson corny when he wore it? - Uh, no.
- Yeah, what about LeBron, bro? What about you? Hell yeah.
Okay, just make sure to bring it with you, okay? You know Jace Carson did a hundred push-ups today? Yo, five days before the season starts, and he still hasn't got a team.
I'm trying to tell you, we gotta get Jace Carson to hoop with us.
He'll bring our team from bottom of the pack to the top like this.
How are we supposed to pull that off? I mean, I could blow him up on IG.
You gonna recruit Jace Carson over Instagram? Yes.
You know me.
I got mad communication skills.
- We gonna get him.
- Mus, Mus, Mus.
You're crazy.
You are crazy.
- Yo, Drew, I gotta go.
- All right, man.
Peace.
[CHUCKLES.]
Headband? Oh, no.
No, no.
This this is just This is my [CLEARS THROAT.]
my friend's.
[RADIO HOST.]
This is your man, Selene, and you're listening to 93.
9, serving it up for the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.
That's right.
This next joint goes out to all the beautiful people in the DMV.
["SHINE" PLAYING.]
["QUARTERTHING" PLAYING ON RADIO.]
What's up, li'l homey? - You stayin' focused? - Always.
Aight.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Yo, the guy Overtime featured two years ago for Rising Phenom just committed to Kentucky, and he's only in the tenth grade.
You gotta get a new team.
I know.
My mom's on it.
You really think Overtime's gonna name you Rising Phenom? Your dumbass crazier than I thought.
Phil, why you always gotta come with the hate? Nothin' but love for you, Crystal.
The movement would not have been a movement without young people challenging perspectives, taking it upon themselves to create change.
Whatever it is, don't just think of these tributes as people who changed the world.
Think of them as people in your community.
Think of them as your parents.
Think of them as you.
Let's have a look.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING.]
["BOOTY CALL" PLAYING ON RADIO.]
This damn toilet flapper you sold me don't work.
All damn day my toilet's been running.
You know, I ain't got time to keep coming down here.
- Excuse me.
- Uh, one minute.
Let me Y'all know how much water bills cost these days, huh? - This doesn't seem to be damaged.
- What do you mean by that? Maybe it was installed incorrectly? It's my fault? Is that what you're sayin'? Yes.
That's what he's saying.
Now get your drunk ass a plumber and leave this man alone.
[SIGHS.]
What can I help you with? Truth, justice, and the American way, home-repair Clark Kent.
- What? - I know your real identity.
Isaac Kennedy Edwards, aka Ike, aka Icon.
State Champion MVP.
Thirty points a game your senior year.
One year in Georgetown, two years overseas.
I mean, you were small, but you could you could lock anybody down.
Okay, my name's Isaac, and I can't talk about basketball at my job.
[WOMAN.]
I watched your club team play.
They're not great, but they're good.
You know what you're doin', and my son needs a coach like you.
That's what this is about? Coaching? The team I yanked him off of, they never played up-tempo.
They only wanted my boy pounding the ball with his back to the hoop.
You know that's right.
Now, he gonna play guard for the pros.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah? Hmm.
And he needs someone to teach him guard skills.
This is Coach Ike.
Say hello.
What's up? Now, he'll take your team from good to "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God" is right.
Excuse me? Look, sis, it's nice meeting you and your boy, but I can't do this right now.
And plus, I don't coach high school kids.
All my kids is eighth grade, 14U.
Good, because Jace turned 14 yesterday.
You Jace Carson? Real superheroes don't wear capes.
Oh, damn.
You actually got him to come.
I tried to tell you I wasn't playin'.
I got mad recruitin' skills, bro.
Hey.
You still wanna call this a tryout? Scouting reports say he's an NBA prospect.
Scouting reports on 14-year-olds are bullshit.
[MAN CHUCKLES.]
Yo, let me see that real quick.
- [YOUNG MAN.]
Whoa! - [YOUNG MAN 2.]
What? What? Aight.
I'm warmed up.
[LAUGHING, EXCLAIMING.]
Yo, you believe this dude? - [MAN.]
Come on, Mus.
Play! Play! - [DREW.]
Ambush, Mus.
- [MAN.]
Let's go, Mus.
- [DREW.]
Yo, right here.
- [SPECTATORS.]
Yo! - [SCREAMS.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Lazy defense.
I blocked his shot.
You're standing too tall.
A quicker player will blow right by you.
Move your feet.
Run it again.
- [MUSA.]
Come on, Drew.
Let's get it! - Let's get it right there, aight.
- [WHISTLE BLOWS.]
- [MUSA.]
Yeah! What, you don't hear so good? Nah, but I ball good.
A lot of kids can ball.
Can you get better? Can you learn? [SCOFFS.]
Look, Coach.
If I want to learn about toilet seats, I'll hit you up.
- [SPECTATORS.]
Oh! - [MUSA.]
Oh! Other than that, I just need PT.
You can't get playing time on my team if you uncoachable and can't defend.
Ain't no one in here I can't defend.
[SIGHS.]
- Here we go.
- Check.
[PLAYERS LAUGHING, EXCLAIMING.]
- [PLAYER.]
Coach, come on.
- [CHATTERING.]
[MAN.]
All right.
Make him work! [MAN.]
There you go.
[PLAYERS EXCLAIM.]
- That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
- Yeah! Yeah! - That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
- Come on.
- My turn.
Check.
- [IKE.]
Show me something.
That's how you want me to defend? [CHUCKLES.]
'Bout to lock your ass up.
Learn some fundamentals or get the hell off my court.
[MAN.]
Let's go! [GRUNTS.]
What's up? I'm with you.
Gimme something.
Gimme something.
- [GRUNTING.]
- [PLAYERS EXCLAIM.]
Your court, huh? - [LAUGHS.]
- That's all right.
That's all right, baby.
That's good work.
It's not important.
Make your take.
[PLAYER.]
Oh, yeah.
[PLAYER 2.]
The jacket came off.
[CHATTERING.]
[IKE.]
Right here.
Right here.
[YELPS.]
- [SPECTATORS ROAR.]
- Oh, my God! I'm in! I'm in! That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
[IKE.]
Somebody better come get him.
You mad at me? Oh, you mad at me.
Come on, baby.
[GRUNTING.]
[JACE GRUNTS.]
[MUSA.]
That's an easy lay.
[IKE.]
Want that? - [MAN.]
Whose house you in? - [DREW.]
Come on, Jace.
Give me that shit.
- [MAN.]
Whose house you in? Let's go.
- [MUSA.]
Let's go, Coach.
[MAN.]
Three! [SPECTATORS ROARING.]
- Come on! - Iconic, baby.
Take a picture of me.
Take a picture of me.
Take a picture of me.
Get in here.
Get in here.
- [ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [SPECTATORS CHEERING.]
- Yeah.
Yeah.
- Come on! What the hell? Come on, Jace.
Come on, baby.
- That's what I'm talking about! - Stay with me now.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah.
- [GRUNTING.]
- Let's go.
Man up! Okay, let's go, baby.
Come on.
[WOMAN.]
Do you want this? Do you want this, Jace? Goddamn! - [CHEERING.]
- That's what I'm talking about! That's what I'm talking about.
Yeah.
[IKE.]
Yeah.
All right.
All right.
- All right.
- Let's go, Ike! - Shut him down, baby! - You know this is game point, right? [WOMAN.]
Stay on him.
Don't let him go.
Hands out.
[SPECTATORS.]
Ooh! [PLAYER.]
Aw, wow.
- Look, I'm not playing for him.
- The hell you not.
You told me it was just an experiment.
I know you lost, but this is one of the best games I've seen you play.
Then I must suck, 'cause he didn't make the NBA.
He didn't beat you because he's better.
He beat you because he's smarter.
[SIGHS.]
Look, Ma, you said if I didn't like him, I could go somewhere else, right? - Right.
- I don't like him.
Hey.
Pasta's almost ready.
Why is she making dinner? Don't eat it then.
I won't shed any tears.
Trust.
Both of you stop.
Jackie's making dinner because I have a meeting with my sales folks in half an hour.
Why is that hoodie still there? Get it picked up.
After dinner, scrape plates, take out the trash, and jump into homework.
What about me finding a new team? Right now, no drama.
Can you handle that? [JACE SIGHS.]
You trying to make our baby an orphan? An orphan? You lucky you didn't end up in the ER.
- Baby, I'm sore as hell, not old as hell.
- [GIGGLES.]
I don't know.
There's a whole lot of mileage on that body.
- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.
You could put a little bit more mileage on this body.
- [WOMAN.]
Just a little bit? - A lot of bit.
[GIGGLES.]
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Look like you need the ice more than me.
- I had three welfare check-ins today.
- Ooh.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Rough.
- Hard saving the world.
- True.
- How's your back? - Mmm.
Your baby's been good to me today.
- Oh.
That's good.
That's nice.
- [GIGGLES.]
What do you think about Elise Kathryn? Both our mothers' names.
- What did you have in mind? - [LAUGHS.]
Uh Hmm, Serena? You do know there's a chance our daughter won't be an athlete? - I don't know if I believe that.
- [LAUGHS.]
All right.
It's your turn.
- Please.
Come on.
Please.
- [SIGHS.]
Mmm.
So how good is he? Who? Jace Carson.
- I You're killing the vibe here.
- I just want to know.
[SIGHS.]
Can't shoot a three to save his life, treats defense like it's some time to relax, and explosive as hell.
Special.
He got it.
And if he comes back, it'd be a hell of a season for us.
"If"? [EXHALES.]
Jace got a little bent out of shape after I beat his ass in front of the whole team.
[SIGHS.]
A lot of bent out of shape.
[EXHALES.]
Okay.
Okay.
[EXHALES.]
Maybe you should call him.
Or call his mama.
Maybe.
Baby, look.
Right now, you just breaking even.
But a player like that can attract more players.
Get your program recognition and become a moneymaker.
Right? Right.
[SIGHS.]
But you still won't call him.
I can't, baby.
Why not? I don't chase.
So, how did we all do last week? I picked up two new customers.
- Okay! I'm scared of you.
- That's good.
Oh.
Mike didn't give me any help with the baby.
I was too busy and tired.
I'm sorry, Jenna.
That's understandable.
But you gotta remember, even when you're tired, you gotta look your best when you sell cosmetics.
I've been trying for a week to get my daughter to wear the mineral powder and the lip gloss.
But she don't want to be like Mommy, so [LAUGHS.]
Why does Mom always have to have those meetings? She recruited those women.
If they generate enough sales, she gets to buy herself a lavender Lexus.
When I go pro, I can buy her three of those.
What about me? I'm gonna send you to cooking school.
Man, whatever.
[JACE.]
Jack, look at this.
[EXHALES.]
[JACKIE.]
One of those mazes you used to draw.
Our father drew this one.
What? Ten years ago today.
Then how come you still have it? I don't know.
Just do.
[SIGHS.]
I think I may have found him.
How? I did another search, and it looks like he works in Florida.
If I get an address, maybe we could find a way to see him.
Or talk to him.
Nah.
I don't want to talk to him.
I just want him to know how good I am.
[CELL PHONE DINGS.]
[SIREN WAILING.]
[OFFICER 1.]
Hands up! Let me see your hands! - For what? I didn't do nothin'.
- On the ground.
- What is this for? - On the ground.
What do they call you? Jace.
- Your other name.
- Carson.
- Your gang name, asshole.
- I'm not in a gang.
[OFFICER 1.]
Yeah? What you got? [OFFICER 2.]
Come on.
Get up on your knees.
Get up! - [OFFICER 1.]
Let's go.
Get up.
- [OFFICER 2.]
Get up! [OFFICER 1.]
Have a seat.
[OFFICER 2.]
Cross your legs.
Tighter.
I seen you at the precinct before.
- You haven't.
- I have.
Where's your ID? Upstairs, man.
Tell me what you know about a car being jacked.
- I don't know nothin'.
- Bullshit! Maybe a drive around the block will jog your memory.
Hey, you leave my son alone.
He didn't do a damn thing.
- Back up.
Stay there! - Don't you hurt him.
I swear to God! - My brother was just emptying the trash.
- He fits the description of a carjacker.
A carjacker? He's 14 years old.
He doesn't know how to drive.
[OFFICER 2.]
Why's he out so late? Emptying the trash ain't the same as hanging out.
His name is Jace Carson.
He is an eighth-grade honor student at Seat Pleasant Middle School.
So help me God, - if you don't take those cuffs off my son - Ma'am! I will have your badge! All right, stay right here.
I need to talk to you a second.
I think I know this kid.
He's got videos all over the Internet.
I showed you one, remember? Fourteen-year-old basketball player.
Slam dunk contest.
Shit.
Take the cuffs off him.
[GRUNTS.]
Stand up.
[SIGHS.]
Baby, it's okay.
[GRUNTS.]
You all right? You okay? [OFFICER 1.]
Next time you're outside late, have some ID on you.
What, he needs ID to take out the trash? Are you out your damn mind? And you a Black man.
You gonna let your partner say that shit to my boy? [SIREN BLARES.]
Heard you playing on the Grind.
Can't believe everything.
I can't blame you if your overrated ass chickens out.
We're gonna bust their asses this weekend whether you play or not.
- You know what'd be crazy? - What? If this season, you actually average more points than fouls.
[SCOFFS.]
Hey, scrub.
What's up with you not hitting me back last night? Didn't feel like talking.
Have anything to do with your ass getting spanked? What are you talking about? - [CHEERING.]
- Damn.
Dropped this morning, and only 12,008 hits so far.
Now, see, you could have played NBA 2K with me instead.
You still would have got your ass beat, but at least the whole world wouldn't know it.
Cops put cuffs on me last night.
Wait, what? Yeah.
They thought I jacked a car.
That's crazy.
You all right? Whole time I was thinking I don't want to end up in no museum because of something like that.
I wanna be in there because I'm great.
You got one job, scrub.
Get on a killer team and show out in front of Overtime this weekend.
And when everyone across the country watches you ball out, it'll start the NBA conversation.
Like, for real.
You won't even care about those cops or the haters.
What about you? When are you back on the court? Still can't put pressure on it.
Doctor says a week or two.
Got any more of that vegan brownie crap you make? [LAUGHS.]
Let me tell ya [CHUCKLES.]
I been at this so long, some of you played for me back in the day.
That's right.
My youngest daughter's in college now, and it's still my livelihood.
But some of your business practices have been sloppy.
And I don't want your greedy asses messing it up for me.
If the FBI can turn the NCAA upside-down, imagine what it can do to us.
[MAN 1.]
Are you telling us to not make money? Coach Max, no disrespect.
You were one of the first coaches to really get paid in the game.
Whether I was compensated or not ain't your business, or the damn point.
Whoa, Coach, I don't think my man meant that as a slight.
- No, not at all.
- Nah, not a Come on, you are a role model to most of us.
- Right? Yeah.
- For sure.
We're role models for these kids.
Keeping 'em off the streets and helping 'em get into college is what we do.
Joey, if a sneaker company offers you a $100,000 donation because they think your players positively reflect their brand, that's not illegal.
Eddie, if you want to write off that big-ass Escalade as a business expense [ALL CHUCKLE.]
so you can drive your players around, that's not illegal.
But telling a school program that you can help them get a player if they break you off a little somethin'? That ain't a game for sloppy-ass individuals.
Know what you're doin' and what you're risking at all times.
What you're risking? You got something to say, Ike? You talking about what you're risking.
What about what the kids are risking by letting us coach 'em? Y'all in here trying to fatten y'all pockets.
And a role model wouldn't kick a kid to the curb once his career didn't pan out, right, Coach? [MAN 2.]
Hey, oh, I I got a question for Mr.
Moral High Ground here.
So, stealing other coaches' players, that's all good with you? I didn't steal Jace from you.
He and his mother came to me.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, right.
Well, it's all good.
'Cause you just a pit stop anyway.
Icon.
- Oh! - Oh! Bitch, say something else! What you want to say about it? No, no, no! What you trying to say about it? Talking about I'm poaching kids! You really know how to liven things up.
Just calling y'all out on your bullshit.
- So you're the only purist? - I don't know.
Am I? You're not the only one who played D-1.
But yeah, I got two coaches on my payroll.
I'm about the purity and the cash.
I gotta put my business degree to good use.
- So what you play? The one or the two? - Point.
If you ever want to go up against someone grown, I'll hurt your feelings.
[CHUCKLES.]
You shouldn't let those guys piss you off.
They're just mad you got Jace.
They act like I won the lotto.
He's a kid.
Yeah.
He's a kid who got Overtime coming to the game.
It's a big stage.
It's a bigger distraction.
Don't act like you don't know Carson's about to skyrocket your program.
Too bad I'm gonna have to take you down before liftoff.
[IKE LAUGHS.]
That was weak.
You just think of that? See you on the court.
Don't be mad when we win.
- You just jinxed yourself.
- We'll see.
[JACE.]
Yo, Earl, where you at? What are y'all doing here? - Where them jerseys you wanted to show me? - Sorry, dog.
I'ma be straight with you.
I lied.
There are no jerseys.
Look, Jace.
We came here to talk about your intentions.
With what? With us.
With the squad.
[DREW.]
Yo, Jace.
His school's too far away, but he still wanted to be here.
Y'all crazy.
Our first game is on Sunday, and we know you're thinking about leaving the team.
What makes you say that? All of us tried to DM you.
You ain't hit us back.
Plus, that video of Coach beating your ass must be humiliating.
Forty-four thousand views Whatever, man.
- [MUSA.]
Jace, c - Come on.
Jace, just hear us out.
All right? Just hear us out.
That's all we asking.
Please.
What? Look, I mean, you got a point guard who can get you the ball.
- We've got shooters.
- We got rebounders.
And more importantly, if you're SP Grind, yo, we got your back.
On and off the court.
Here, we family.
I already got a family.
Jace, you need us as much as we need you.
- [SCOFFS.]
Yeah, aight.
- [BOY 2.]
Uh No, Jace.
Jace.
Jace.
I can't let you do that.
- Really? - No, really.
Sorry, big homey.
But till we get this straightened out, ain't nobody going nowhere.
[GROANS.]
All right, y'all.
I didn't see that coming.
[MUMBLES.]
- [BOY 1.]
Man, come on.
- [BOY 2 GROANS.]
[SIGHS.]
[LO-FI HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
[SIGHS.]
Oh, this is [CHIMES.]
[SIGHS.]
Get it! Lead 'em, Musa! Lead them.
- [MUSA.]
Come on, y'all.
- [IKE.]
Come on, Drew! [MUSA.]
Hey, yo, Drew, get in the corner.
Sorry I'm late, Coach.
You late, we all run.
[MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[IKE.]
Everybody on the line.
- There you go.
- [IKE.]
Everybody on the line.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[MAN.]
Wanna see hustle! [MUSIC ENDS.]
Godfather of the DMV.
This is a surprise.
[COACH MAX.]
With all this Rising Phenom hype, just thought I'd offer you my congrats.
I'm more interested in Jace's long game than being the flavor of the month.
Which is exactly why we should talk.
Whether it's bad coaching or the players around him aren't next level, if they rack up Ls, Jace will be perceived as a player who can't get it done.
Or if they get Ws this season, he'll be perceived as someone who can carry his team.
[SCOFFS.]
If there's a team to carry.
Excuse me? You have to ask yourself if a has-been with a crumbling program can get Jace to the next level.
"Crumbling"? With all due respect, how 'bout you stop implying shit and just say the shit? He can barely cover his tournament fees and practice facilities.
By the middle of the season, it'll be rest in peace, Seat Pleasant Grind.
I know you did your homework, and I respect that.
But if you'd let me talk to you sooner, I could've saved you a lot of trouble.
Your son is on a sinking ship.
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you.
[IKE.]
Everybody bring it in.
Great work today.
Be proud of yourselves.
- SP Grind on three.
One, two, three! - [PLAYERS.]
SP Grind! Good work.
Good work today.
You better make sure that you Yo, Lou.
Can you give me a minute? Yeah.
[MUTTERS.]
You ready, son? - The question is, you ready, Pops? - Am I ready? - Yeah.
You ain't ready.
- That's what we doing? You, uh, still ain't paid Vince's dues.
Damn.
My bad, brother.
I was juggling a couple things.
You think I can get it to you next week? [SIGHS.]
Next week? Next week.
- All right.
- All right, man.
Good looking.
Yo, Coach, um, my mom's running late.
Could I put up some free throws? Bet.
I watched some of your old games online.
Oh, yeah? Glad you fixed that haircut.
Back then y'all didn't have clippers? [CHUCKLING.]
Okay.
No, we didn't.
So what's your excuse for that up top? [SMACKS LIPS.]
Jokes.
[JACE LAUGHS.]
Mind if I ask you about that state championship team? If you have to.
You were the leading scorer.
But one of your teammates made it to the NBA, and not you.
That's not a question.
I'm just wondering how come.
Your height? [CHUCKLES.]
I never used my height as an excuse.
Ever.
Then what? Uh, too much outside noise.
What does that mean? If you get good enough, you'll find out.
Well, when I get to the NBA, I got your back.
I'll pull some strings.
Get you on that coaching staff.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, yeah? I can take that to the bank, huh? You know it.
- [LAUGHS.]
- I'll be the greatest of all time.
Kendrick Lamar of basketball.
Stop! So, you saying in the history of hip-hop, Kendrick the GOAT? "King Kunta.
" Yo, Jay-Z been doing it for three decades.
Kendrick been here for 30 seconds, and he the GOAT? And raised the bar.
- What you talking about? - [CHUCKLES.]
You disrespectful.
We gonna work on that.
I promise you, we gonna work on that.
Coach, if we win the DMV tournament, are we going to Florida for nationals? [SIGHS.]
We'll be eligible.
Florida tournament costs money.
You know what? If we win the DMV, I'll find some sponsors.
I'll I'll figure it out.
We goin'.
- For real? - Yeah.
- [CHUCKLES.]
That's what's up.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Mom.
- Sorry I'm late.
No problem.
His game is lookin' aight.
But we gonna have to expand on that hip-hop repertoire.
Ike, I need to tell you something.
Jace, give us a couple minutes.
A lot of people have been telling me about your program.
"People"? They say that it might fold.
That it may not survive this season.
Is that true? I'm not folding.
They say the best thing for Jace is to play on another team with other top players, so he'll get more exposure.
Jenna, people are always gonna have something to say, all right? But y'all shouldn't be stressing about his exposure.
You should be stressing about his improvement.
I gotta make sure I'm making the right moves for my boy.
- I understand that - No, you don't! Jace's father's a piece of shit.
Jace has gotta watch his back from thugs and police in our neighborhood.
I have to get this right.
[SIGHS.]
Look, we'll see how this weekend goes.
But out of respect, I just wanted to let you know there are other teams on the table.
Let's go.
- All right, man.
- All right, Coach.
First you won't let me leave the Grind, now you're saying I gotta go? [SIGHS.]
Decisions like this are life-and-death.
- Then I should have a say, shouldn't I? - Get in the car! [GROANS.]
Mom, that wasn't the first time the cops rolled up on me.
What? You don't think I know? When most people look at me, the first thing they think is, that's a big n [SIGHS.]
That's a big N-word.
I'm gonna be dealing with that kind of stuff my entire life.
Even when I make it.
It's not just talented people who make it.
It's talented people who make the right decisions.
Oh, uh, excuse me.
O Okay.
All right.
- Tamika? - Yes? My name is, uh, is Musa Rahaim.
I sit two rows behind you in math class, to your left.
I mean I mean to your right.
[CHUCKLES.]
Anyway, you're new to our school.
I also hear that you're from the Bay.
You know, Oakland? What do you want? I figured you might need a Seat Pleasant tour guide.
My cousin's been showing me around.
- Oh.
- And he has a car.
Okay, c No, it's That's cool.
Well, if his car breaks down or anything, you ju you let me know, all right? Just Musa Rahaim, at your service.
Ah, damn, my game sucks.
What up, Overtime family? It's your boy, Overtime Larry.
Tomorrow, I'll be heading down to Seat Pleasant, Maryland to watch the boys at SP Grind versus Team All Day.
Let's see if the DMV can give us that next Rising Phenom.
Big O, better stop playing with me.
Ay! [JENNA.]
Game day is a blessing.
Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity that you have bestowed upon your faithful servant, Jace.
Sinning is doing less than what we are capable of doing.
So we ask you on this day [SNIFFS.]
that you guide him and give him the strength and energy it takes for him not to sin.
[JENNA.]
We praise you, O Lord, for this dream that you have placed in his heart.
A dream that says, "I'm not just here to take up space.
I'm here to be special and to serve you to the highest.
" [SIGHS.]
[JENNA.]
We welcome the obstacles.
We know the mountains are not there so he can retreat.
[DOOR BANGS.]
[JENNA.]
We know, O Lord, that the mountains are just a test.
They are a test of determination and will.
And so we say to those mountains, no matter what form they come, whether it is a spiritual mountain, an opposing coach, or a self-inflicted mountain.
In the name of our Lord and savior, we say, "Mountain, be moved.
" [DREW.]
Ah.
Yeah.
Yo.
Okay.
Hey, we the Grind How we rock, we gonna take a dub Hit 'em hard, molly wop We don't show no love I dish it out to Drew He gonna hit the shot I lob it up to Jace He gonna dunk the rock Ay, Team All Day We 'bout to kill 'em all We finna stomp on their squad 'Cause they all soft Got the claws out Yeah, we see the prey Hit it from far out And from close range Yeah, we the Grind Let's get it, what, what Hey, we the Grind Let's kill it, what, what Go, Jace.
Go, Jace.
Go, Coach.
- Go, Coach.
- No.
Stop.
- [PLAYERS.]
Go, Coach.
- Y'all, no.
Go, Coach.
Go, Coach.
Go, Coach Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Ah! [APPLAUSE.]
- [MUSA.]
Yo! - Bring it in! - [IKE.]
How y'all feeling? - [ALL.]
Good.
- How y'all feeling? - Good! Good.
All right.
Hold each other accountable today.
Feel me? Run the offense.
Lock down defense.
Show up not just for yourselves, but for each other.
Mus, my brother.
Take us out! [PLAYER.]
Come on.
Let's go! Execute on three! Execute on me! One, two, three! - [TOGETHER.]
Execute! - Let's go! - [OVERLAPPING CHEERS.]
- Let's go! Let's go! - Go! - Go, go, go! [WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Go, go.
Come on.
Watch it.
- Go, go! - Take it! Slam dunk.
- [JENNA.]
Whoo! - [IKE.]
Let's go.
That's him.
- [MAN.]
Let's roll! - Here we go.
Come on.
[MAN.]
Nice! There you go, baby.
Yeah! That's right! That's right! Come on, y'all.
Talk to each other! Good D, good D, good D.
That's my boy! You better play! - It was - [IKE.]
Okay, move.
Pump it! [JENNA.]
Hustle! Hustle! Good job, there, Jace! - My bad.
- [REFEREE.]
Break this up.
Let's go! Lock it! That's all you! [GASPS.]
Let's go! Booyah! - Let's go! - [BUZZER SOUNDS.]
Y'all play like y'all got no heart.
Like y'all scared.
- Like a bunch of little bitches! - Coach.
[SCOFFS.]
Show me something, fellas.
Get your shit together and show me something.
Come on, y'all.
We got this.
Let's go.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Get his grill! Get his grill! - It's all you, Phil.
- [GRUNTS.]
Oh, yeah! I see you, scrub.
Move! Move! [ALL DAY COACH.]
Back up.
He's got no jump.
He's overrated.
Back up! His jump is weak.
Overrated.
He's got no jump, so back up.
Let him shoot.
Overrated.
Overrated.
Overrated! Air ball.
Rebound.
Rebound.
There we go.
Keep shooting for me, gunslinger.
Fast break! Fast break! [ALL DAY COACH.]
Move! Move! Move! You watching the same game I'm watching? Overrated, boy.
Now we playing, baby! Let's go, baby.
Let's go.
There we go.
Now we playing.
Let's go, Jace.
Time-out! Time-out! Time-out! Hey, what's up? Come on.
- You need to tone it down.
- What? Did you not hear me? You have to tone it down.
The game is 90% mental.
You want this victory, don't you? I want you to stop being a jackass more.
Hate me now.
Love me when we win.
Open up, fellas.
Check this out.
You g Jace.
You gotta play your game.
If they can't get in your head, they can't win.
Period.
You feel me? Don't let 'em do it to you.
And the rest of y'all, this is basketball.
Have some fun with it, baby! ["LONELY" PLAYING.]
- [IKE.]
Finish strong on three.
- Fun.
- SP Grind! Let's go! - [ALL DAY COACH.]
Let's go! Defense, defense, defense! Overrated.
You can't let him talk like that the whole game.
Come on.
He's drawing out the whole game.
[FEMALE SPECTATOR.]
Rebound! [MALE SPECTATOR.]
Come on, Jace! Get us all the way.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Yeah! Yeah! [MALE SPECTATOR.]
I thought this kid was special.
[REFEREE.]
Four ticks left in the game, let's go! [MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Two shots! Overrated.
Haters are gonna hate.
Come on, Jace.
You've got this! - [ALL DAY COACH.]
Overrated.
- Shut the hell up.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Overrated.
Shut the hell up.
[MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Come on.
We ain't got all day.
Stand up.
Let's go, let's go.
Shake that off.
First step to Florida right here.
You got it.
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[CRIES, GRUNTS.]
- Come on.
- [MURMURING.]
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Yeah.
Good job, fellas.
Good win, fellas.
Good win, fellas.
Way to show me what you got.
- Don't worry about it, bro.
- It's just a game.
You cry every damn time you lose? My father would tell me that I had to learn what it is to lose before I learn what it is to win.
To me, that sounded like learning to suffocate before I learned how to breathe.
Yo, Coach.
Please don't give me that "It's not about whether we win or lose, it's about how we play the game" bullshit.
All right, well, I'm gonna tell you the truth.
You was afraid of that moment, Jace.
You could have won us the game at the line, and you didn't.
This feeling you have right now, that fire use it.
Carry it with you to practice, your next game.
Do something about it.
The longer you wait to redeem yourself the harder it becomes.
And I don't care what team you on.
Win or lose you walk on that court with swagger, you walk off with swagger.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
Overrated.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
That's how you feel.
That's what I'm saying.
Everybody get a high-five.
Everybody get a high-five.
Everybody get a high-five.
That's how we ball out.
[GRUNTS.]
Ay, next game we We good.
We gonna figure out what she wants to know.
We gonna figure out what she wants to be Hey, it don't matter.
[MUTTERS.]
- Hey, move the ball - Can I talk to you for a minute? I'll be back.
Figure out what y'all wanna eat.
[TEAM ALL DAY PLAYER.]
All right.
[IKE SNIFFS.]
Good game, man.
You really made us earn that one.
I appreciate it.
- You know they're just kids, right? - Huh? Jace is a kid.
We don't need to be tearing young brothers down.
We should be building them up.
Is that why you were too mentally weak to make it? Don't make it personal.
Mmm.
Listen, man, if I destroyed your prima donna, then so be it.
Better find out now than later, huh? As a matter of fact, now I think about it, I just did his mama, you, and his little bitch ass a favor.
[GRUNTS.]
[PANTING.]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[MOODY POP SONG PLAYING.]
Nah, little man, not this one.
It's gonna be hard.
When I get back in town, you should be finished though.
[KISSES.]
- You're full of shit, Grant.
- I'll call you.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[PANTING.]
["ONLY GOD KNOWS" PLAYING.]
[SONG STOPS.]
- [PANTING.]
- Push-ups.
I'm too tired.
Too tired.
Tired can beat you, or you can beat tired.
You're the number one player in the area code.
What do you think the haters want my baby to be? Tired.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
[SONG RESUMES.]
All right, everybody.
Jace Carson.
[PANTS.]
Come on.
Push.
Good job, baby.
I'm proud of you.
Go, Jace Carson! ["DAY ONES" PLAYING.]
[WHIRRING.]
[PHONE CHIMES.]
Ma! No phones at the table, please.
- Ma! - What? Overtime just liked my push-up post! What? "You have been on our radar.
Are you our next Rising Phenom?" [GASPS.]
Oh, my God.
They wanna come see you play.
What's the big deal? If they name me their Rising Phenom? That's national exposure.
I mean, my social's gonna explode.
Everyone's gonna know my name! D-1 coaches will know your name.
Ma, I gotta get a new team.
Didn't you just chuck deuces at your old one? - Looks like you're gonna be crawling back.
- That's not happening.
[SCOFFS.]
- Is that happening? - I got my eyes on a new squad.
If Overtime wants to audition my baby, we gonna give 'em a hell of a show.
Trust your mama.
- Hey, Drew, how do I look? [CHUCKLES.]
- Like you're rocking my headband.
You left it at practice yesterday, and I was about to burn this corny shit.
Yo, was Allen Iverson corny when he wore it? - Uh, no.
- Yeah, what about LeBron, bro? What about you? Hell yeah.
Okay, just make sure to bring it with you, okay? You know Jace Carson did a hundred push-ups today? Yo, five days before the season starts, and he still hasn't got a team.
I'm trying to tell you, we gotta get Jace Carson to hoop with us.
He'll bring our team from bottom of the pack to the top like this.
How are we supposed to pull that off? I mean, I could blow him up on IG.
You gonna recruit Jace Carson over Instagram? Yes.
You know me.
I got mad communication skills.
- We gonna get him.
- Mus, Mus, Mus.
You're crazy.
You are crazy.
- Yo, Drew, I gotta go.
- All right, man.
Peace.
[CHUCKLES.]
Headband? Oh, no.
No, no.
This this is just This is my [CLEARS THROAT.]
my friend's.
[RADIO HOST.]
This is your man, Selene, and you're listening to 93.
9, serving it up for the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.
That's right.
This next joint goes out to all the beautiful people in the DMV.
["SHINE" PLAYING.]
["QUARTERTHING" PLAYING ON RADIO.]
What's up, li'l homey? - You stayin' focused? - Always.
Aight.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Yo, the guy Overtime featured two years ago for Rising Phenom just committed to Kentucky, and he's only in the tenth grade.
You gotta get a new team.
I know.
My mom's on it.
You really think Overtime's gonna name you Rising Phenom? Your dumbass crazier than I thought.
Phil, why you always gotta come with the hate? Nothin' but love for you, Crystal.
The movement would not have been a movement without young people challenging perspectives, taking it upon themselves to create change.
Whatever it is, don't just think of these tributes as people who changed the world.
Think of them as people in your community.
Think of them as your parents.
Think of them as you.
Let's have a look.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING.]
["BOOTY CALL" PLAYING ON RADIO.]
This damn toilet flapper you sold me don't work.
All damn day my toilet's been running.
You know, I ain't got time to keep coming down here.
- Excuse me.
- Uh, one minute.
Let me Y'all know how much water bills cost these days, huh? - This doesn't seem to be damaged.
- What do you mean by that? Maybe it was installed incorrectly? It's my fault? Is that what you're sayin'? Yes.
That's what he's saying.
Now get your drunk ass a plumber and leave this man alone.
[SIGHS.]
What can I help you with? Truth, justice, and the American way, home-repair Clark Kent.
- What? - I know your real identity.
Isaac Kennedy Edwards, aka Ike, aka Icon.
State Champion MVP.
Thirty points a game your senior year.
One year in Georgetown, two years overseas.
I mean, you were small, but you could you could lock anybody down.
Okay, my name's Isaac, and I can't talk about basketball at my job.
[WOMAN.]
I watched your club team play.
They're not great, but they're good.
You know what you're doin', and my son needs a coach like you.
That's what this is about? Coaching? The team I yanked him off of, they never played up-tempo.
They only wanted my boy pounding the ball with his back to the hoop.
You know that's right.
Now, he gonna play guard for the pros.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah? Hmm.
And he needs someone to teach him guard skills.
This is Coach Ike.
Say hello.
What's up? Now, he'll take your team from good to "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God" is right.
Excuse me? Look, sis, it's nice meeting you and your boy, but I can't do this right now.
And plus, I don't coach high school kids.
All my kids is eighth grade, 14U.
Good, because Jace turned 14 yesterday.
You Jace Carson? Real superheroes don't wear capes.
Oh, damn.
You actually got him to come.
I tried to tell you I wasn't playin'.
I got mad recruitin' skills, bro.
Hey.
You still wanna call this a tryout? Scouting reports say he's an NBA prospect.
Scouting reports on 14-year-olds are bullshit.
[MAN CHUCKLES.]
Yo, let me see that real quick.
- [YOUNG MAN.]
Whoa! - [YOUNG MAN 2.]
What? What? Aight.
I'm warmed up.
[LAUGHING, EXCLAIMING.]
Yo, you believe this dude? - [MAN.]
Come on, Mus.
Play! Play! - [DREW.]
Ambush, Mus.
- [MAN.]
Let's go, Mus.
- [DREW.]
Yo, right here.
- [SPECTATORS.]
Yo! - [SCREAMS.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Lazy defense.
I blocked his shot.
You're standing too tall.
A quicker player will blow right by you.
Move your feet.
Run it again.
- [MUSA.]
Come on, Drew.
Let's get it! - Let's get it right there, aight.
- [WHISTLE BLOWS.]
- [MUSA.]
Yeah! What, you don't hear so good? Nah, but I ball good.
A lot of kids can ball.
Can you get better? Can you learn? [SCOFFS.]
Look, Coach.
If I want to learn about toilet seats, I'll hit you up.
- [SPECTATORS.]
Oh! - [MUSA.]
Oh! Other than that, I just need PT.
You can't get playing time on my team if you uncoachable and can't defend.
Ain't no one in here I can't defend.
[SIGHS.]
- Here we go.
- Check.
[PLAYERS LAUGHING, EXCLAIMING.]
- [PLAYER.]
Coach, come on.
- [CHATTERING.]
[MAN.]
All right.
Make him work! [MAN.]
There you go.
[PLAYERS EXCLAIM.]
- That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
- Yeah! Yeah! - That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
- Come on.
- My turn.
Check.
- [IKE.]
Show me something.
That's how you want me to defend? [CHUCKLES.]
'Bout to lock your ass up.
Learn some fundamentals or get the hell off my court.
[MAN.]
Let's go! [GRUNTS.]
What's up? I'm with you.
Gimme something.
Gimme something.
- [GRUNTING.]
- [PLAYERS EXCLAIM.]
Your court, huh? - [LAUGHS.]
- That's all right.
That's all right, baby.
That's good work.
It's not important.
Make your take.
[PLAYER.]
Oh, yeah.
[PLAYER 2.]
The jacket came off.
[CHATTERING.]
[IKE.]
Right here.
Right here.
[YELPS.]
- [SPECTATORS ROAR.]
- Oh, my God! I'm in! I'm in! That's what I'm talking about, Coach.
[IKE.]
Somebody better come get him.
You mad at me? Oh, you mad at me.
Come on, baby.
[GRUNTING.]
[JACE GRUNTS.]
[MUSA.]
That's an easy lay.
[IKE.]
Want that? - [MAN.]
Whose house you in? - [DREW.]
Come on, Jace.
Give me that shit.
- [MAN.]
Whose house you in? Let's go.
- [MUSA.]
Let's go, Coach.
[MAN.]
Three! [SPECTATORS ROARING.]
- Come on! - Iconic, baby.
Take a picture of me.
Take a picture of me.
Take a picture of me.
Get in here.
Get in here.
- [ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [SPECTATORS CHEERING.]
- Yeah.
Yeah.
- Come on! What the hell? Come on, Jace.
Come on, baby.
- That's what I'm talking about! - Stay with me now.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah.
- [GRUNTING.]
- Let's go.
Man up! Okay, let's go, baby.
Come on.
[WOMAN.]
Do you want this? Do you want this, Jace? Goddamn! - [CHEERING.]
- That's what I'm talking about! That's what I'm talking about.
Yeah.
[IKE.]
Yeah.
All right.
All right.
- All right.
- Let's go, Ike! - Shut him down, baby! - You know this is game point, right? [WOMAN.]
Stay on him.
Don't let him go.
Hands out.
[SPECTATORS.]
Ooh! [PLAYER.]
Aw, wow.
- Look, I'm not playing for him.
- The hell you not.
You told me it was just an experiment.
I know you lost, but this is one of the best games I've seen you play.
Then I must suck, 'cause he didn't make the NBA.
He didn't beat you because he's better.
He beat you because he's smarter.
[SIGHS.]
Look, Ma, you said if I didn't like him, I could go somewhere else, right? - Right.
- I don't like him.
Hey.
Pasta's almost ready.
Why is she making dinner? Don't eat it then.
I won't shed any tears.
Trust.
Both of you stop.
Jackie's making dinner because I have a meeting with my sales folks in half an hour.
Why is that hoodie still there? Get it picked up.
After dinner, scrape plates, take out the trash, and jump into homework.
What about me finding a new team? Right now, no drama.
Can you handle that? [JACE SIGHS.]
You trying to make our baby an orphan? An orphan? You lucky you didn't end up in the ER.
- Baby, I'm sore as hell, not old as hell.
- [GIGGLES.]
I don't know.
There's a whole lot of mileage on that body.
- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.
You could put a little bit more mileage on this body.
- [WOMAN.]
Just a little bit? - A lot of bit.
[GIGGLES.]
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Look like you need the ice more than me.
- I had three welfare check-ins today.
- Ooh.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Rough.
- Hard saving the world.
- True.
- How's your back? - Mmm.
Your baby's been good to me today.
- Oh.
That's good.
That's nice.
- [GIGGLES.]
What do you think about Elise Kathryn? Both our mothers' names.
- What did you have in mind? - [LAUGHS.]
Uh Hmm, Serena? You do know there's a chance our daughter won't be an athlete? - I don't know if I believe that.
- [LAUGHS.]
All right.
It's your turn.
- Please.
Come on.
Please.
- [SIGHS.]
Mmm.
So how good is he? Who? Jace Carson.
- I You're killing the vibe here.
- I just want to know.
[SIGHS.]
Can't shoot a three to save his life, treats defense like it's some time to relax, and explosive as hell.
Special.
He got it.
And if he comes back, it'd be a hell of a season for us.
"If"? [EXHALES.]
Jace got a little bent out of shape after I beat his ass in front of the whole team.
[SIGHS.]
A lot of bent out of shape.
[EXHALES.]
Okay.
Okay.
[EXHALES.]
Maybe you should call him.
Or call his mama.
Maybe.
Baby, look.
Right now, you just breaking even.
But a player like that can attract more players.
Get your program recognition and become a moneymaker.
Right? Right.
[SIGHS.]
But you still won't call him.
I can't, baby.
Why not? I don't chase.
So, how did we all do last week? I picked up two new customers.
- Okay! I'm scared of you.
- That's good.
Oh.
Mike didn't give me any help with the baby.
I was too busy and tired.
I'm sorry, Jenna.
That's understandable.
But you gotta remember, even when you're tired, you gotta look your best when you sell cosmetics.
I've been trying for a week to get my daughter to wear the mineral powder and the lip gloss.
But she don't want to be like Mommy, so [LAUGHS.]
Why does Mom always have to have those meetings? She recruited those women.
If they generate enough sales, she gets to buy herself a lavender Lexus.
When I go pro, I can buy her three of those.
What about me? I'm gonna send you to cooking school.
Man, whatever.
[JACE.]
Jack, look at this.
[EXHALES.]
[JACKIE.]
One of those mazes you used to draw.
Our father drew this one.
What? Ten years ago today.
Then how come you still have it? I don't know.
Just do.
[SIGHS.]
I think I may have found him.
How? I did another search, and it looks like he works in Florida.
If I get an address, maybe we could find a way to see him.
Or talk to him.
Nah.
I don't want to talk to him.
I just want him to know how good I am.
[CELL PHONE DINGS.]
[SIREN WAILING.]
[OFFICER 1.]
Hands up! Let me see your hands! - For what? I didn't do nothin'.
- On the ground.
- What is this for? - On the ground.
What do they call you? Jace.
- Your other name.
- Carson.
- Your gang name, asshole.
- I'm not in a gang.
[OFFICER 1.]
Yeah? What you got? [OFFICER 2.]
Come on.
Get up on your knees.
Get up! - [OFFICER 1.]
Let's go.
Get up.
- [OFFICER 2.]
Get up! [OFFICER 1.]
Have a seat.
[OFFICER 2.]
Cross your legs.
Tighter.
I seen you at the precinct before.
- You haven't.
- I have.
Where's your ID? Upstairs, man.
Tell me what you know about a car being jacked.
- I don't know nothin'.
- Bullshit! Maybe a drive around the block will jog your memory.
Hey, you leave my son alone.
He didn't do a damn thing.
- Back up.
Stay there! - Don't you hurt him.
I swear to God! - My brother was just emptying the trash.
- He fits the description of a carjacker.
A carjacker? He's 14 years old.
He doesn't know how to drive.
[OFFICER 2.]
Why's he out so late? Emptying the trash ain't the same as hanging out.
His name is Jace Carson.
He is an eighth-grade honor student at Seat Pleasant Middle School.
So help me God, - if you don't take those cuffs off my son - Ma'am! I will have your badge! All right, stay right here.
I need to talk to you a second.
I think I know this kid.
He's got videos all over the Internet.
I showed you one, remember? Fourteen-year-old basketball player.
Slam dunk contest.
Shit.
Take the cuffs off him.
[GRUNTS.]
Stand up.
[SIGHS.]
Baby, it's okay.
[GRUNTS.]
You all right? You okay? [OFFICER 1.]
Next time you're outside late, have some ID on you.
What, he needs ID to take out the trash? Are you out your damn mind? And you a Black man.
You gonna let your partner say that shit to my boy? [SIREN BLARES.]
Heard you playing on the Grind.
Can't believe everything.
I can't blame you if your overrated ass chickens out.
We're gonna bust their asses this weekend whether you play or not.
- You know what'd be crazy? - What? If this season, you actually average more points than fouls.
[SCOFFS.]
Hey, scrub.
What's up with you not hitting me back last night? Didn't feel like talking.
Have anything to do with your ass getting spanked? What are you talking about? - [CHEERING.]
- Damn.
Dropped this morning, and only 12,008 hits so far.
Now, see, you could have played NBA 2K with me instead.
You still would have got your ass beat, but at least the whole world wouldn't know it.
Cops put cuffs on me last night.
Wait, what? Yeah.
They thought I jacked a car.
That's crazy.
You all right? Whole time I was thinking I don't want to end up in no museum because of something like that.
I wanna be in there because I'm great.
You got one job, scrub.
Get on a killer team and show out in front of Overtime this weekend.
And when everyone across the country watches you ball out, it'll start the NBA conversation.
Like, for real.
You won't even care about those cops or the haters.
What about you? When are you back on the court? Still can't put pressure on it.
Doctor says a week or two.
Got any more of that vegan brownie crap you make? [LAUGHS.]
Let me tell ya [CHUCKLES.]
I been at this so long, some of you played for me back in the day.
That's right.
My youngest daughter's in college now, and it's still my livelihood.
But some of your business practices have been sloppy.
And I don't want your greedy asses messing it up for me.
If the FBI can turn the NCAA upside-down, imagine what it can do to us.
[MAN 1.]
Are you telling us to not make money? Coach Max, no disrespect.
You were one of the first coaches to really get paid in the game.
Whether I was compensated or not ain't your business, or the damn point.
Whoa, Coach, I don't think my man meant that as a slight.
- No, not at all.
- Nah, not a Come on, you are a role model to most of us.
- Right? Yeah.
- For sure.
We're role models for these kids.
Keeping 'em off the streets and helping 'em get into college is what we do.
Joey, if a sneaker company offers you a $100,000 donation because they think your players positively reflect their brand, that's not illegal.
Eddie, if you want to write off that big-ass Escalade as a business expense [ALL CHUCKLE.]
so you can drive your players around, that's not illegal.
But telling a school program that you can help them get a player if they break you off a little somethin'? That ain't a game for sloppy-ass individuals.
Know what you're doin' and what you're risking at all times.
What you're risking? You got something to say, Ike? You talking about what you're risking.
What about what the kids are risking by letting us coach 'em? Y'all in here trying to fatten y'all pockets.
And a role model wouldn't kick a kid to the curb once his career didn't pan out, right, Coach? [MAN 2.]
Hey, oh, I I got a question for Mr.
Moral High Ground here.
So, stealing other coaches' players, that's all good with you? I didn't steal Jace from you.
He and his mother came to me.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, right.
Well, it's all good.
'Cause you just a pit stop anyway.
Icon.
- Oh! - Oh! Bitch, say something else! What you want to say about it? No, no, no! What you trying to say about it? Talking about I'm poaching kids! You really know how to liven things up.
Just calling y'all out on your bullshit.
- So you're the only purist? - I don't know.
Am I? You're not the only one who played D-1.
But yeah, I got two coaches on my payroll.
I'm about the purity and the cash.
I gotta put my business degree to good use.
- So what you play? The one or the two? - Point.
If you ever want to go up against someone grown, I'll hurt your feelings.
[CHUCKLES.]
You shouldn't let those guys piss you off.
They're just mad you got Jace.
They act like I won the lotto.
He's a kid.
Yeah.
He's a kid who got Overtime coming to the game.
It's a big stage.
It's a bigger distraction.
Don't act like you don't know Carson's about to skyrocket your program.
Too bad I'm gonna have to take you down before liftoff.
[IKE LAUGHS.]
That was weak.
You just think of that? See you on the court.
Don't be mad when we win.
- You just jinxed yourself.
- We'll see.
[JACE.]
Yo, Earl, where you at? What are y'all doing here? - Where them jerseys you wanted to show me? - Sorry, dog.
I'ma be straight with you.
I lied.
There are no jerseys.
Look, Jace.
We came here to talk about your intentions.
With what? With us.
With the squad.
[DREW.]
Yo, Jace.
His school's too far away, but he still wanted to be here.
Y'all crazy.
Our first game is on Sunday, and we know you're thinking about leaving the team.
What makes you say that? All of us tried to DM you.
You ain't hit us back.
Plus, that video of Coach beating your ass must be humiliating.
Forty-four thousand views Whatever, man.
- [MUSA.]
Jace, c - Come on.
Jace, just hear us out.
All right? Just hear us out.
That's all we asking.
Please.
What? Look, I mean, you got a point guard who can get you the ball.
- We've got shooters.
- We got rebounders.
And more importantly, if you're SP Grind, yo, we got your back.
On and off the court.
Here, we family.
I already got a family.
Jace, you need us as much as we need you.
- [SCOFFS.]
Yeah, aight.
- [BOY 2.]
Uh No, Jace.
Jace.
Jace.
I can't let you do that.
- Really? - No, really.
Sorry, big homey.
But till we get this straightened out, ain't nobody going nowhere.
[GROANS.]
All right, y'all.
I didn't see that coming.
[MUMBLES.]
- [BOY 1.]
Man, come on.
- [BOY 2 GROANS.]
[SIGHS.]
[LO-FI HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
[SIGHS.]
Oh, this is [CHIMES.]
[SIGHS.]
Get it! Lead 'em, Musa! Lead them.
- [MUSA.]
Come on, y'all.
- [IKE.]
Come on, Drew! [MUSA.]
Hey, yo, Drew, get in the corner.
Sorry I'm late, Coach.
You late, we all run.
[MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[IKE.]
Everybody on the line.
- There you go.
- [IKE.]
Everybody on the line.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[MAN.]
Wanna see hustle! [MUSIC ENDS.]
Godfather of the DMV.
This is a surprise.
[COACH MAX.]
With all this Rising Phenom hype, just thought I'd offer you my congrats.
I'm more interested in Jace's long game than being the flavor of the month.
Which is exactly why we should talk.
Whether it's bad coaching or the players around him aren't next level, if they rack up Ls, Jace will be perceived as a player who can't get it done.
Or if they get Ws this season, he'll be perceived as someone who can carry his team.
[SCOFFS.]
If there's a team to carry.
Excuse me? You have to ask yourself if a has-been with a crumbling program can get Jace to the next level.
"Crumbling"? With all due respect, how 'bout you stop implying shit and just say the shit? He can barely cover his tournament fees and practice facilities.
By the middle of the season, it'll be rest in peace, Seat Pleasant Grind.
I know you did your homework, and I respect that.
But if you'd let me talk to you sooner, I could've saved you a lot of trouble.
Your son is on a sinking ship.
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you.
[IKE.]
Everybody bring it in.
Great work today.
Be proud of yourselves.
- SP Grind on three.
One, two, three! - [PLAYERS.]
SP Grind! Good work.
Good work today.
You better make sure that you Yo, Lou.
Can you give me a minute? Yeah.
[MUTTERS.]
You ready, son? - The question is, you ready, Pops? - Am I ready? - Yeah.
You ain't ready.
- That's what we doing? You, uh, still ain't paid Vince's dues.
Damn.
My bad, brother.
I was juggling a couple things.
You think I can get it to you next week? [SIGHS.]
Next week? Next week.
- All right.
- All right, man.
Good looking.
Yo, Coach, um, my mom's running late.
Could I put up some free throws? Bet.
I watched some of your old games online.
Oh, yeah? Glad you fixed that haircut.
Back then y'all didn't have clippers? [CHUCKLING.]
Okay.
No, we didn't.
So what's your excuse for that up top? [SMACKS LIPS.]
Jokes.
[JACE LAUGHS.]
Mind if I ask you about that state championship team? If you have to.
You were the leading scorer.
But one of your teammates made it to the NBA, and not you.
That's not a question.
I'm just wondering how come.
Your height? [CHUCKLES.]
I never used my height as an excuse.
Ever.
Then what? Uh, too much outside noise.
What does that mean? If you get good enough, you'll find out.
Well, when I get to the NBA, I got your back.
I'll pull some strings.
Get you on that coaching staff.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, yeah? I can take that to the bank, huh? You know it.
- [LAUGHS.]
- I'll be the greatest of all time.
Kendrick Lamar of basketball.
Stop! So, you saying in the history of hip-hop, Kendrick the GOAT? "King Kunta.
" Yo, Jay-Z been doing it for three decades.
Kendrick been here for 30 seconds, and he the GOAT? And raised the bar.
- What you talking about? - [CHUCKLES.]
You disrespectful.
We gonna work on that.
I promise you, we gonna work on that.
Coach, if we win the DMV tournament, are we going to Florida for nationals? [SIGHS.]
We'll be eligible.
Florida tournament costs money.
You know what? If we win the DMV, I'll find some sponsors.
I'll I'll figure it out.
We goin'.
- For real? - Yeah.
- [CHUCKLES.]
That's what's up.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Mom.
- Sorry I'm late.
No problem.
His game is lookin' aight.
But we gonna have to expand on that hip-hop repertoire.
Ike, I need to tell you something.
Jace, give us a couple minutes.
A lot of people have been telling me about your program.
"People"? They say that it might fold.
That it may not survive this season.
Is that true? I'm not folding.
They say the best thing for Jace is to play on another team with other top players, so he'll get more exposure.
Jenna, people are always gonna have something to say, all right? But y'all shouldn't be stressing about his exposure.
You should be stressing about his improvement.
I gotta make sure I'm making the right moves for my boy.
- I understand that - No, you don't! Jace's father's a piece of shit.
Jace has gotta watch his back from thugs and police in our neighborhood.
I have to get this right.
[SIGHS.]
Look, we'll see how this weekend goes.
But out of respect, I just wanted to let you know there are other teams on the table.
Let's go.
- All right, man.
- All right, Coach.
First you won't let me leave the Grind, now you're saying I gotta go? [SIGHS.]
Decisions like this are life-and-death.
- Then I should have a say, shouldn't I? - Get in the car! [GROANS.]
Mom, that wasn't the first time the cops rolled up on me.
What? You don't think I know? When most people look at me, the first thing they think is, that's a big n [SIGHS.]
That's a big N-word.
I'm gonna be dealing with that kind of stuff my entire life.
Even when I make it.
It's not just talented people who make it.
It's talented people who make the right decisions.
Oh, uh, excuse me.
O Okay.
All right.
- Tamika? - Yes? My name is, uh, is Musa Rahaim.
I sit two rows behind you in math class, to your left.
I mean I mean to your right.
[CHUCKLES.]
Anyway, you're new to our school.
I also hear that you're from the Bay.
You know, Oakland? What do you want? I figured you might need a Seat Pleasant tour guide.
My cousin's been showing me around.
- Oh.
- And he has a car.
Okay, c No, it's That's cool.
Well, if his car breaks down or anything, you ju you let me know, all right? Just Musa Rahaim, at your service.
Ah, damn, my game sucks.
What up, Overtime family? It's your boy, Overtime Larry.
Tomorrow, I'll be heading down to Seat Pleasant, Maryland to watch the boys at SP Grind versus Team All Day.
Let's see if the DMV can give us that next Rising Phenom.
Big O, better stop playing with me.
Ay! [JENNA.]
Game day is a blessing.
Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity that you have bestowed upon your faithful servant, Jace.
Sinning is doing less than what we are capable of doing.
So we ask you on this day [SNIFFS.]
that you guide him and give him the strength and energy it takes for him not to sin.
[JENNA.]
We praise you, O Lord, for this dream that you have placed in his heart.
A dream that says, "I'm not just here to take up space.
I'm here to be special and to serve you to the highest.
" [SIGHS.]
[JENNA.]
We welcome the obstacles.
We know the mountains are not there so he can retreat.
[DOOR BANGS.]
[JENNA.]
We know, O Lord, that the mountains are just a test.
They are a test of determination and will.
And so we say to those mountains, no matter what form they come, whether it is a spiritual mountain, an opposing coach, or a self-inflicted mountain.
In the name of our Lord and savior, we say, "Mountain, be moved.
" [DREW.]
Ah.
Yeah.
Yo.
Okay.
Hey, we the Grind How we rock, we gonna take a dub Hit 'em hard, molly wop We don't show no love I dish it out to Drew He gonna hit the shot I lob it up to Jace He gonna dunk the rock Ay, Team All Day We 'bout to kill 'em all We finna stomp on their squad 'Cause they all soft Got the claws out Yeah, we see the prey Hit it from far out And from close range Yeah, we the Grind Let's get it, what, what Hey, we the Grind Let's kill it, what, what Go, Jace.
Go, Jace.
Go, Coach.
- Go, Coach.
- No.
Stop.
- [PLAYERS.]
Go, Coach.
- Y'all, no.
Go, Coach.
Go, Coach.
Go, Coach Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Ah! [APPLAUSE.]
- [MUSA.]
Yo! - Bring it in! - [IKE.]
How y'all feeling? - [ALL.]
Good.
- How y'all feeling? - Good! Good.
All right.
Hold each other accountable today.
Feel me? Run the offense.
Lock down defense.
Show up not just for yourselves, but for each other.
Mus, my brother.
Take us out! [PLAYER.]
Come on.
Let's go! Execute on three! Execute on me! One, two, three! - [TOGETHER.]
Execute! - Let's go! - [OVERLAPPING CHEERS.]
- Let's go! Let's go! - Go! - Go, go, go! [WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Go, go.
Come on.
Watch it.
- Go, go! - Take it! Slam dunk.
- [JENNA.]
Whoo! - [IKE.]
Let's go.
That's him.
- [MAN.]
Let's roll! - Here we go.
Come on.
[MAN.]
Nice! There you go, baby.
Yeah! That's right! That's right! Come on, y'all.
Talk to each other! Good D, good D, good D.
That's my boy! You better play! - It was - [IKE.]
Okay, move.
Pump it! [JENNA.]
Hustle! Hustle! Good job, there, Jace! - My bad.
- [REFEREE.]
Break this up.
Let's go! Lock it! That's all you! [GASPS.]
Let's go! Booyah! - Let's go! - [BUZZER SOUNDS.]
Y'all play like y'all got no heart.
Like y'all scared.
- Like a bunch of little bitches! - Coach.
[SCOFFS.]
Show me something, fellas.
Get your shit together and show me something.
Come on, y'all.
We got this.
Let's go.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Get his grill! Get his grill! - It's all you, Phil.
- [GRUNTS.]
Oh, yeah! I see you, scrub.
Move! Move! [ALL DAY COACH.]
Back up.
He's got no jump.
He's overrated.
Back up! His jump is weak.
Overrated.
He's got no jump, so back up.
Let him shoot.
Overrated.
Overrated.
Overrated! Air ball.
Rebound.
Rebound.
There we go.
Keep shooting for me, gunslinger.
Fast break! Fast break! [ALL DAY COACH.]
Move! Move! Move! You watching the same game I'm watching? Overrated, boy.
Now we playing, baby! Let's go, baby.
Let's go.
There we go.
Now we playing.
Let's go, Jace.
Time-out! Time-out! Time-out! Hey, what's up? Come on.
- You need to tone it down.
- What? Did you not hear me? You have to tone it down.
The game is 90% mental.
You want this victory, don't you? I want you to stop being a jackass more.
Hate me now.
Love me when we win.
Open up, fellas.
Check this out.
You g Jace.
You gotta play your game.
If they can't get in your head, they can't win.
Period.
You feel me? Don't let 'em do it to you.
And the rest of y'all, this is basketball.
Have some fun with it, baby! ["LONELY" PLAYING.]
- [IKE.]
Finish strong on three.
- Fun.
- SP Grind! Let's go! - [ALL DAY COACH.]
Let's go! Defense, defense, defense! Overrated.
You can't let him talk like that the whole game.
Come on.
He's drawing out the whole game.
[FEMALE SPECTATOR.]
Rebound! [MALE SPECTATOR.]
Come on, Jace! Get us all the way.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Yeah! Yeah! [MALE SPECTATOR.]
I thought this kid was special.
[REFEREE.]
Four ticks left in the game, let's go! [MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
Two shots! Overrated.
Haters are gonna hate.
Come on, Jace.
You've got this! - [ALL DAY COACH.]
Overrated.
- Shut the hell up.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Overrated.
Shut the hell up.
[MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Come on.
We ain't got all day.
Stand up.
Let's go, let's go.
Shake that off.
First step to Florida right here.
You got it.
[BUZZER SOUNDS.]
[CRIES, GRUNTS.]
- Come on.
- [MURMURING.]
[ALL DAY COACH.]
Yeah.
Good job, fellas.
Good win, fellas.
Good win, fellas.
Way to show me what you got.
- Don't worry about it, bro.
- It's just a game.
You cry every damn time you lose? My father would tell me that I had to learn what it is to lose before I learn what it is to win.
To me, that sounded like learning to suffocate before I learned how to breathe.
Yo, Coach.
Please don't give me that "It's not about whether we win or lose, it's about how we play the game" bullshit.
All right, well, I'm gonna tell you the truth.
You was afraid of that moment, Jace.
You could have won us the game at the line, and you didn't.
This feeling you have right now, that fire use it.
Carry it with you to practice, your next game.
Do something about it.
The longer you wait to redeem yourself the harder it becomes.
And I don't care what team you on.
Win or lose you walk on that court with swagger, you walk off with swagger.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
Overrated.
[ALL DAY COACH.]
That's how you feel.
That's what I'm saying.
Everybody get a high-five.
Everybody get a high-five.
Everybody get a high-five.
That's how we ball out.
[GRUNTS.]
Ay, next game we We good.
We gonna figure out what she wants to know.
We gonna figure out what she wants to be Hey, it don't matter.
[MUTTERS.]
- Hey, move the ball - Can I talk to you for a minute? I'll be back.
Figure out what y'all wanna eat.
[TEAM ALL DAY PLAYER.]
All right.
[IKE SNIFFS.]
Good game, man.
You really made us earn that one.
I appreciate it.
- You know they're just kids, right? - Huh? Jace is a kid.
We don't need to be tearing young brothers down.
We should be building them up.
Is that why you were too mentally weak to make it? Don't make it personal.
Mmm.
Listen, man, if I destroyed your prima donna, then so be it.
Better find out now than later, huh? As a matter of fact, now I think about it, I just did his mama, you, and his little bitch ass a favor.
[GRUNTS.]
[PANTING.]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[MOODY POP SONG PLAYING.]