Image via Apple TV+
On Friday, Oct. 29, Apple TV+ will premiere Swagger, the Kevin Durant-produced series inspired by his life story. Swagger takes a look at the massive world of youth basketball, highlighting many of the pitfalls and problems many young ballers face. It’s a fully-formed world that understands the talented Jace (Isaiah Hill) has the world at his fingertips, and how the people in his corner, like his coach Ike (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and friend Crystal (Quvenzhané Wallis), both help him navigate and support his choices.
Along the way, the perils of the industry abound. A kid this talented? The exclusive deals and rich investors are coming from all corners, looking to entice future stars before they’ve even graduated high school. The fire within many hoop dreams is real, though; anything can happen.
After diving into Swagger, we learned some dope lessons that can be used, whether you’re a baller or not. Today, here are four things we learned from Apple TV+’s Swagger. Be sure to stream it starting on Friday, Oct. 29.
Build a strong foundation
This one starts out simple enough; when it comes to life-altering decisions, athletes—especially young ones—need to have a team in place that have their best interests at heart. It’s dope to see Jace’s mother so involved; she makes sure he’s playing with the right teams and taking care of himself so he can build towards his future. Ike is a coach who has been there before, and can help show him the way. Even Jace’s good friend Crystal is a supportive ear, and as a baller herself, she can relate to what Jace is going through when it comes to juggling everything he has going on in life.
That said, it is easy to fall into traps. Having a good support system is one thing, but it’s tough when people are swayed by IG likes or sponsorship deals that promise young athletes the world. Hell, even those we hold close can be wolves in sheep’s clothing. It’s one thing to hone your skills and make yourself the best you can be; you also need to make sure you aren’t neglecting the formation of the right team. Start out with a group who have your best interests at heart, and work with them to build your career while staying focused.
Team work makes the dream work
You’ve heard this one before, but it’s a huge part of Jace’s situation when we first meet him. He’s already seen as a top prospect; he just can’t find the right team. We all go through that—we can all align ourselves with people, but do they have our best interests in mind? How much do your strengths and weaknesses gel with theirs? What kind of asset can you be to the team, and vice versa? Jace isn’t thinking about all of that—he’s mostly thinking about himself. The problem? Without showing the team he’s working with proper respect, we may see that Jace’s aspirations will crumble due to the cracks in the newly-formed foundation.
In life, we all have to be a part of a team at one point or another. How much of a team player you are—even if you still have your eyes on your individual goals—could determine if you can even meet said goals. When teams work together with a common focus, everyone can eat. You can be a fantastic baller and be a great team player, and truth be told, it's better that way.
Success takes sacrifice
You can have it all, but it will take time. If you know where you want to be and apply yourself, beautiful things can happen. That said, success doesn’t happen overnight, and you can’t be successful without making some kind of sacrifice. Maybe you have to suffer playing on a weaker team, or realize that your time really isn’t your time anymore if you’ve got practice or other things to do to build your repertoire.
Think about how we learn; most of it isn’t by just reading the information, but it’s in the application. Repetition breeds rememberance. Think of how long it would take to perfect a jump shot, or nailing a crossover. To perfect your form, you may need to miss the new Black Panther film and hit the gym (or at least watch it when you’re free). Once you become that success, you can take some time off. Until you reach your goals, be ready to do less of what you want to do. It’ll be worth it.
Everybody's watching
These days, this isn’t a shock, but as these young athletes are navigating the world (while still growing mentally and physically), they will need to maintain a level of calm/cool out in the world. Any hint of frustration or anger could have a potential investor, coach, or teammates looking at you differently. And this isn’t just about playing basketball; we should all strive to be the best version of ourselves. Think about how many people get caught out there tweeting nonsense (or worse) and mess their bag up. Striving to be a genuine human being shouldn’t be difficult, and it can start with how you act (and react) in difficult times.
That said, Jace’s situation can feel more claustrophobic. His mother, coach, teammates, opponents, fans, critics, investors, and a host of others wake up with his name on their tongue. One false move and you can lose a teammate, or crush a deal. All of that hard work could be for nothing. If you can prevent unnecessary frustration by keeping your nose clean and your eyes on the prize? It’s a small price to pay for what could be a potential financial windfall.
Can Jace learn these things (and more) on Swagger? Start to find out on Oct. 29, only on Apple TV+.