There is no rivalry more famous or storied in North American sports than the one between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Between them, they have 33 league championships and have had many battles in the NBA Finals.
Now, that rivalry will be brought to a whole new generation. According to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated, ESPN is in the midst of recording a new 30 for 30 documentary on that rivalry.
With the 30-year anniversary of the 1987 NBA Finals coming up—that series was the third time in four years the Lakers and Celtics met for the title—ESPN Films has commissioned a two-part documentary to examine the famed rivalry. The film will be executive produced by Jonathan Hock, a multiple Emmy Award winning producer and director whose previous 30 for 30s include “The Best That Never Was” (2010), “Unguarded” (2011), “Survive and Advance” (2013) and “Of Miracles and Men” (2015). Hock recently signed a two-year first-look deal with ESPN for all his non-fiction sports-related programming ideas from Hock Films. That means ESPN has the first option for Hock’s work. It’s a great move for both entities given Hock has produced some of the best work in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
Hock said the Celtics-Lakers documentary will air in two parts on ESPN, running either at 90 or 120 minutes per episode. The film will likely air next June around the time of the NBA Finals.
This is fantastic news. There are so many amazing moments and memorable players involved in this cross-conference rivalry that can make this documentary one of the best ESPN has made. According to SI, Danny Ainge and Cedric Maxwell have already been interviewed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scheduled for later this month.
This should be another great project from the minds at 30 for 30.
