The first woman drafted to the NBA tells her truly inspirational story
By: Jillian Gonzales
The Queen of Basketball ‘s documentary thumbnail on YouTube.
There is no getting around the fact that this year’s Academy Awards nominations are filled with exceptional films and talent, especially in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category. Within this category, The Queen of Basketball, directed by Halifax-born Ben Proudfoot, has been rightfully nominated.
The short film focuses on the late great Lusia ‘Lucy’ Harris and how she became the first woman drafted to the NBA. Using interview clips of Lucy in the present and basketball highlights from her career, the short documentary brings us along on Lucy’s basketball journey and is passionately told by Lucy herself. Even though she did not play in the NBA, making history and doing what she loved to do was how she found her joy.
The creation of The Queen of Basketball is all thanks to Ben Proudfoot’s exquisite taste and vision. He was able to tell such a touching and inspiring story with the use of interview clips, archive footage and a beautiful score.
The Academy had previously recognized Ben Proudfoot’s work when he was nominated for the same category in 2021 for his short film documentary, Concerto is a Conversation. He was also named on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2020 for founding Breakwater Studios. Being so young and thriving is outstanding, but devoting your craft to telling real and emotional stories is even more remarkable.
When watching The Queen of Basketball, it is essential to keep in mind the mastermind behind the Oscar-nominated film and his goal of using film as a storytelling medium.
The Queen of Basketball is much more than just a film about basketball; it is about resilience and the story of a Black woman prevailing through obstacles to become a celebrated name and figure for Black women in basketball.
The film has gotten attention and praise from notable figures of all kinds in the basketball community, including executive producers Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry, who have expressed their fondness for Lucy’s story.
The documentary is captivating as it acts as a time machine. The archive footage of Lucy’s basketball highlights and the narration of her experiences transport us back to her time and put her emotions into perspective. These segments provide historical context about the time she lived in, when Black people were heavily segregated. Being recognized was much more challenging.
In addition, the film's score is so significant in the telling of Lucy’s story and establishing the mood and atmosphere for audiences.
The lively music to introduce Lucy sets the tone for her inspiring journey. The soft, melancholy music when she talks about her upbringing conveys how tough her childhood was, as she grew up poor. The score later softens as Lucy talks about the sense of community that basketball brought the children around her. The moments of celebration demonstrated through archive footage are accompanied by lively crescendo music while Lucy speaks proudly and passionately to her cheerful moments, so much so that intense positive energy oozes through the screen.
Film sound is a very technical practice. With such an emotional story like Lucy’s, utilizing fitting sounds and music truly adds emotional depth, making it a much more personal experience.
Lucy as a senior at Delta State University in the 1976-77 season. (Wikimedia Commons)
The short documentary makes it evident that Lucy has many accomplishments in her career. No matter your knowledge of basketball, they are very impressive. She won high school and college championships, took home the silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics, became the first woman drafted by the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
After the Olympics, Lucy touches on her desire to pursue a basketball career past the intercollegiate level, but there was no place to go from there as a woman in the sport. However, when Lucy was drafted into the NBA, we find out that she chose not to play and instead, fulfilled her love of basketball by coaching her former high school’s basketball team while raising her family.
A big reason why she chose to go in this direction was because of her mental health. Lucy speaks briefly on being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and how her feelings of helplessness took a toll on her.
It took her some time to come to terms with the place she was at in her life. Ultimately, it was the recognition and personal belief that she could be mentioned alongside professionals that allowed her to reject the offer to play in the NBA. Even so, this was not an easy choice, but having that peace of mind let her excel in other aspects, as she moved on to inspire others.
At the beginning of the film, she speaks about her fascination with watching her favourite players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, the latter being “[her] absolute favourite.” A lovely moment included in the documentary is when she is escorted by Oscar Robertson during her induction to the Hall of Fame — living out her childhood dreams.
Lucy’s passion for life and competing goes beyond the game of basketball. Her love of her family shines in the documentary. She speaks lovingly about her children and their accomplishments, showing her present and personal nature.
However, it would have been lovely to hear what her family has to say about Lucy after the cooldown of her career and how it impacts them. In addition, including some of the high schoolers she coached might have brought insight into her love for basketball from a different perspective and emphasized her ability to inspire others.
Lucy’s ability to advance in the basketball world was all due to her motivation and drive to prove she had the talent. Her being inducted into the Hall of Fame recognizes her journey as a Black woman in sports and her capability to defy the odds.
To have a successful modern-day Canadian director like Ben Proudfoot conceptualize the story of a Black woman succeeding in a male-dominated industry speaks to the growing legacy of Canadian film.
Lusia ‘Lucy’ Harris will be remembered as an inspiring firecracker of a woman. Sadly, she passed away in January 2022 and did not see her documentary receive recognition at the Oscars, but her legacy will live on.
Ben Proudfoot’s The Queen of Basketball is an easy watch and even if you are not a basketball fan, it is very touching. As a sports film, many athletes can relate to the feeling of wanting to succeed at the highest level. It also speaks to the sacrifices many people have to make to better their mental health and family.
In addition, it speaks to marginalized groups — those like Lucy who are put into boxes and have many external obstacles get in the way of their dreams. There is no glamourization in Lucy’s story, choosing instead to showcase her raw authentic self and how her journey to the top was not an easy one. The cinematography and editing bring liveliness to Lucy’s story and emphasize her genuine nature.
Lucy’s story goes beyond her accolades; it speaks to the will needed to fulfill one's dreams, follow your passions and stay motivated to achieve more. This is a theme shared so often in life and film, but seeing how it turned out for Lucy, with so many obstacles in her way, shows that nothing is impossible and that with the right kind of ambition, so much can be accomplished.
The Queen of Basketball is available to watch on YouTube.
RATING: 3.5/5