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Deep Dive: Lenny Cooke (2013)

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Lenny Cooke
Lenny Cooke is a documentary that chronicles the life of Lenny Cooke, a highly ranked high school basketball player in 2001 who anticipated being selected in the 2002 NBA draft but ultimately went unselected. The film captures his rise in the basketball world and his subsequent decline, detailing his experiences in minor leagues before he quits basketball altogether. By 2013, Cooke resides near Emporia, Virginia with his fiancée and son, reflecting on his past and the choices he made. Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, the film was inspired by the documentary Hoop Dreams and features a mix of raw footage from 2001 and polished HD visuals from later years. The Safdies spent nearly three years filming Cooke after initially being brought onto the project by Adam Shopkorn, who had lost touch with Cooke after following him in 2001. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18, 2013, and was released in limited theaters in the U.S. on December 6, 2013.

Why Watch

  • •See Lenny Cooke's rise and fall in basketball.
  • •Follow the unique production journey of this documentary.
  • •Meet notable figures like Joakim Noah and Carmelo Anthony.

Did You Know

•Lenny Cooke was one of the top ranked high school players in 2001.
•The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18, 2013.
•Cooke expected to be selected in the 2002 NBA draft but went unselected.
•The Safdies filmed Cooke for nearly three years for this documentary.

Perfect For

Basketball fansDocumentary enthusiastsSports history buffs