19 for 19: An ESPN Documentary Series

[Merv]

The folks down at ESPN were discussing in a recent production meeting the lack of content focused around SLN these days. In honor of the 19th season of the league, noted Page 2 writer and occasional ESPN the Ocho host, Sill Bimmons, along with fellow ESPN the Ocho host, Pepper Brooks, pitched and developed a new series of documentaries and behind the scenes projects to honor the Sim League Nirvana. Below is the upcoming content schedule with some short descriptions of the projects…

7 Games of Hell
What if I told you, you could win 4 straight game 7s. In 2008, the Toronto Raptors, led by SLN legend, Kevin Garnett, conquered 4 consecutive game 7s on their way to the only title in franchise history. Featuring a backcourt of newcomer Lou Williams and noted champion, Jamal Crawford, this Raptor Big 3 would persevere over insurmountable odds on their way to a title before swiftly being broken up in the offseason. Join us as noted director Barry Levinson takes North through 7 games of He’ll.

SwampKnocks
Through a series of found footage, game film, and practice tape, Liev Schreiber narrates the Swamp-era of the New Jersey Nets. Beginning in the early 2000s under Steven’s ownership, the Nets franchise has descended into pure Jersey chaos now known…as the Swamp.

Finding Magic Down Under
A glimpse into the miraculous 2010 Orlando Magic season. After a horrendous start and the jettisoning of many franchise stalwarts leftover from the ZW era, the Magic found chemistry and culture behind Andrew Bogut’s trips to Outback Steakhouse. A wild turnaround that spawned a mini renaissance in Orlando which led to a much debated and highly contested, probably rigged executive of the year award. The year vibes took over.

Inside Heat
The original Inside offense. Shaq and the Admiral powered the 7th seeded Heat on a miraculous run through Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and Michael Jordan’s LA Clippers en route to the most surprising championship in league history. Dwayne the Rock Johnson takes you into this historic Heat run.

Houston, We Have Liftoff
In 2009, the Houston Rockets ascended into the clouds. Following the acquisition of Tracy McGrady and their decision to make him an Inside PF, the Rockets went on the longest winning streak in league history. This documentary takes you inside the streak. Counted out, forgotten about, and left for dead. The Rockets would cruise to 62 wins.

Where are They?
Who were these former owners not built for SLN? What happened to them? Why have they gone? John Walsh asks these hard hitting questions and chases down long forgotten owners. John travels to Cal in search of a man named Grant. We catch up with Mitchell, ZW, Avu, Calvin, Jayant, Prad, and more.

The Celtics Year
What if I told you, it was the Celtics year? Matt Damon and Ben Affleck take us through the one and only time it’s ever been the Celtics year as they praise Manu Ginobili for delivering them from Kobe’s inability to win a title.

Matt Luck
What if I told you, Matt did have good luck? After one of the most dominant runs FBB has ever seen, Tony Parker did deliver Matt to the promised land. ZeroTimeChamp no more! Eddie Griffin added a zany character to the fold and was just enough to put the Bulls on top. Kanye West directs this unique look into the Bulls season, focusing in on Matt’s tremendous amount of luck by having prepared for 10 seasons and finally seizing the opportunity.

Kyrie Runs
What if I told you, you could step away for 20 days and still go to the finals? In 2014, Kyrie Irving took a sabbatical from the Pistons to reconnect with his inner spirit while meditating with the Sioux tribe in South Dakota. After finding himself, Kyrie reached an inner calm that would take the league by storm.

Escape from Philadelphia
The great free agency of 2008. A day that still has ripple effects in SLN today. Coming off an MVP season and finals run, Shaun Livingston and Dwight Howard hightailed it out of the Coty if Brotherly Love in the dead of night. Livingston to Houston, Dwight to Portland. The most exhilarating FA the league has ever had…

Slavic Corner
Our Serbian correspondent dives into the Eastern Bloc of Park City, Utah. A noted hotbed of Slavic food and culture, Park City has enabled the Utah Jazz to attract some of Eastern Europe’s most talented players. We dive into the second home of Darko, Mirza, Korolev, Gladyr, Teodosic, and sort of Andrew Bogut

Bear of a Time
What if I told you, you can actually do it if you set your mind to it? The Vancouver Grizzlies were the bridesmaid but never the bride with 3 finals losses in the Wade era and two bitter game 7 SLN finals defeats. But in 2010, the Grizz finally made it over the hump. We go back through the agony of those losses to the triumph of victory.

Linsanity
20 days with Jeremy Lin. Find out what it’s like to be…Linsane

2003
Some may say this was the biggest draft in league history. It had an all time powerful stip. The best player in SLN. Dwayne Wade. Chris Bosh. Carmelo Anthony. A pick that jump from 13 to 1, odds you wouldn’t believe. The longest of shots, that brough LeBron to Philly. Relive that fateful evening.

Yaozer
Tencent in partnership with ESPN and the CCP, take you behind the scenes to the few bits of footage the CCP actually approve. Yao, Primoz, and Gilbert were back to back champions and a dynasty that could’ve been. We look into Yao’s dominance and what happened that caused the Hornets to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory ending what could’ve been a dynasty.

Let There be Life
What if I told you, it all began from one draft? Sill Bimmons looks back at the original creation draft. Some GMs are mocked, some are applauded. Did some players go too high or too low?

The NDL
Inside the wild minor league that is the NDL. Founded in the 1997-1998 season, we go inside all of the wackiness that is NDL. From the 905 factory pumping out future SLNers like Marko Jaric, Malik Allen, and Antonio Daniels to JJ Redick’s dominance to all things Boban, we have you covered. Roberto Sura, NDL record book Isaac Fontaine, Stan Swift, and Miles Mariotti give ESPN an all access look at life in the minors.

Real GMs of Atlanta
Tony Scrony and Dick Hertz give ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap unprecedented access behind the scenes of the HawkleHeimers. A peek behind the curtain to see Russdiculous and his ever changing cast of characters. Dick and Tony provide some of the most blunt interviews we’ve ever taped during their time at Magic City eating some Lemon Pepper wings.

A Nick Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Through a series of exclusive interviews with several GMs, we take the audience through the horror that is owning the Seattle SuperSonics picks. It all begins with the elation at having four potentially great first rounds picks until a monkey paw curls and two weeks later Nick is incessantly texting your phone at all hours of the day offering trades for players he doesn’t even have in an effort to regain his picks to tank. Unfortunately, he’s more likely to find another unwitting GM to sucker into a deal and pester into oblivion.

[Clinton]

What if told you that the Warriors gave up on a winner too soon. One of the worst ran franchises in SLN history have had some of the premier players in the league. Yet instead of building winners, owners stricken by poverty have built losers. A peek behind the curtains on how the Warriors gave up before their window was even opened.

[Jesse]

A+ idea

[Jesse]

Still...not enough Boban talk.

[Jordo]

catch new episodes of Real GMs of Atlanta every Thursday on Bravo, streaming next day on Peacock

[GrundleSauce]

Same vein, long-time Yazz legend Joe Smith and his wife take you inside their tumultuous world.

Now streaming on Peacock.

[GrundleSauce]

Peacock is the king of trash mountain lol

[Joe]

I love this

[Joe]

There are some inspiring fucking stories in our leagues history

[nolan]

"and sort of Andrew Bogut" got me good