By Nigerian director, Akin Omotoso has revealed why he decided to tell the story of basketball star of Nigerian descent, Giannis Antetokounmpo in the sports biopic, “Rise”.
The Disney Studios-produced film, which is currently streaming on Disney Plus, tells the emotional story of the Antetokounmpo family, their emigration from Nigeria to Greece and how their passion for basketball produced the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league — two-time MVP Giannis and his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas. It captures their struggle, resilience, sacrifice and eventual triumph.
Speaking during his recent appearance on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”, Omotoso who directed the film revealed that he was inspired by Giannis’ journey into the NBA and knew he had to tell his story.
He said, “Well, I’ve always been a big basketball fan, and then I became obsessed with African players in the NBA. Every time there’s a draft, I would check the names that resemble the ones that we recognise and what their stories are to get the draft. When Giannis was drafted, and I read his story in 2013, he hadn’t bounced a ball at all. This was before being a two-time MVP and all this stuff. I read his story, and I said, “If ever I make a basketball movie, it’s this gentleman’s story I want to tell.”
The award-winning director also spoke on why “Rise” was filmed at the actual locations where Giannis grew up.
“For me, authenticity was important. In the movie, the basketball court where they’re on, that’s the basketball court he started playing on. When he’s sleeping in the gym, that’s the gym he slept in. Where they are selling, that’s where they sold. That authenticity, for me, was just important,” he said.
