Streetball: The Untold Stories of Basketball Stars, a new four-part documentary series from director Janine Sides and Ballislife, will premiere July 17 at the NBA Summer League Film Festival in Las Vegas.
The series debuts with a 40-minute screening of its first episode Thursday at 3 p.m. local time under the documentary feature category. Following its March premiere at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, Streetball is seeking broader distribution and is also scheduled to be shown at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival in September.
Streetball the documentary is about more than a rivalry between the East and West coasts. It’s about talented basketball players who often were their own obstacle yet found a home playing on the pavement.
The film follows former pros, college standouts and viral icons who turned personal setbacks into opportunity on the blacktop. Through high-energy storytelling and firsthand accounts, Streetball captures how players forged influence and identity in a space beyond traditional basketball paths.
“We follow ex-pros, college stars, and semi-pros who’ve turned setbacks into street fame — and brand power,” doc director Janine Sides said. “The challenges that pushed them away from their professional dreams have, for some, become profound life lessons. For others, these challenges and decisions continue to shadow their journey, complicating their quest for success. Their stories are unfiltered, their journeys unfinished. And now, the world is watching.”
The documentary includes commentary from longtime streetball standout Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, who said, “Some of the most talented players never make the league… not because they can’t hoop, but because life off the court holds them back.”
Sides, a former collegiate basketball player, brings both personal and professional experience to the project. She holds an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild. Her work as a director and cinematographer spans film, television and commercial projects for clients including Apple TV, HBO, Amazon, Nike and Paramount Pictures.
Ballislife, the production partner on the series, has become a digital force in basketball media, generating more than 35 billion views across platforms. Known for covering youth and high school basketball, the company has helped document the early careers of numerous future NBA players.
The project is produced in association with Kevin Garnett and Content Cartel. More information on the screening is available at vegassummerleagueevents.com/film-festival.
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