The NBA added another Oscar award to its showcase. Just as it happened to Kobe Bryant four years ago, this Sunday, “The Queen of Basketball” (“The Queen of Basketball”) won the award for best documentary in the glamorous night of the movies, which was not free from controversy or moments of tension.
Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry are two of the producers of the film that tells the story of Luisa Harristhe only woman officially selected in an NBA Draft and who scored the first basket in the history of Olympic women’s basketball.
“If there’s anyone out there who’s still wondering if there’s an audience for female athletes and wondering if their stories are worthwhile, entertaining or important, let the Academy Award provide the answer.”said Ben Proudfoot, the director of the film, after the award ceremony in Los Angeles.
Director Ben Proudfoot received the Oscar for best documentary for “The Queen of Basketball.” Photo: Reuters (Mario Anzuoni)
The four-time NBA champion and Golden State Warriors star’s commitment was key to getting Harris’ story out there. In fact, days ago Curry wore sneakers with the legend “Queen Lucy”.
Steph is paying homage to Lusia Harris tonight, known by many as the ‘Queen of Basketball’.
A true pioneer of the game and one of women’s basketball’s most accomplished players, Harris became the first woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team in 1977.#WHM pic.twitter.com/ecGQMk8Dm3
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 17, 2022
Harris, who died last January at age 66, earned a place in the NBA Hall of Fame after a career that included three national championships in the 1970s, as well as a silver medal with the United States in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, while the following year she was selected in the draft by the New Orleans Jazz, although she did not stay on the team because she was pregnant. Now, she added an Oscar to her enormous career.
