The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to support Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his film entitled On the Shoulders of Giants. This documentary honors the legacy of a group of basketball pioneers that have paved the way for so many of today’s athletes. This amazing story illustrates the struggle during the time of the Harlem Renaissance, for many greats such as West Indies native, Bob Douglas. Douglas’ and his team the Harlem Rens experienced extreme racism and through it all, their unwavering determination prevailed.

The story of the greatest team you have never heard of was made as a labor of love; the documentary is compiled of archival footage, innovative 3D graphics and reenactments, along with interviews with celebrities and sports legends. We need your support as we tell the story of young men, who remind us that we are all standing On the Shoulders of Giants. The documentary is on Showtime this month. And is also available for purchase at http://store.kareemabduljabbar.com/.

“It’s easy to say that a film like this should be shown to schoolchildren and budding athletes—as it should—but I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t respond to such a fascinating topic, presented in such appealing fashion. If this reads like a rave review, it’s because On the Shoulders of Giants knocked me out. I hope it finds the audience it so richly deserves.”
—Leonard Maltin, Film Critic

“On the Shoulders of Giants (is) one of the most inspirational, entertaining and enlightening sports documentaries I’ve ever seen.”
—Richard Roeper, Film Critic Chicago Sun-Times

Click on the OSG Poster above for more info

For those of you who have SHOWTIME, the documentary ‘On The Shoulders of Giants’, produced by Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, will be airing on the network’s various channels over the next couple of weeks, beginning tonight. Below is a synopsis of the film. This is one worth watching.

Six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar presents this documentary that relates the history of “the greatest basketball team you never heard of,” the Harlem Rens. Formed during the Harlem Renaissance that also produced some of America’s greatest jazz musicians, the extraordinary all-black team regularly trounced white teams in the years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional sports, going 112-7 in 1932-33, winning the World Basketball Tournament in Chicago in 1939, and inspiring a generation of Harlem-born athletes.

June 27th, 2011

NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Producer/Director Deborah Morales sat down with CNN to discuss their documentary on The Harlem Rens’ impact on civil rights

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Check out never-before-seen footage from the cutting room floor of the film, On the Shoulders of Giants! Watch as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Jerry West, Jerry Reinsdorf and Marques Haynes discuss the different arenas they played in over the years, and how each arena has its own personality!

On the Shoulders of Giants Widescreen DVD contains over 40 minutes of Bonus Material.

Available only as a set in our store now – Hardcover Book, Widescreen DVD & FREE CD Sountrack.

Ships within 48 hours on receipt of order.

(DVD not sold separately)

View History of Arenas

By Los Angeles WAVE STAFF

EAST LOS ANGELES — Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar paid a vist to Garfield High School here Wednesday morning to discuss the new film he produced.

“On the Shoulders of Giants (The Story of the Greatest Team You Never Heard of)” is a feature-length documentary about the New York Renaissance Big Five that became affectionately known as the Harlem Rens, a basketball team from Harlem in the 1920s and 30s that did as much to integrate the sport of basketball as any other team.

The film includes interviews with civil rights leaders and basketball greats as well as musicians and film makers of today.

The story finds its footing in the rhythms of jazz, its roots in the Harlem Renaissance … and its voice in a group of players much too talented to be ignored.

The film is now available on Netflix.