Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
An Original Documentary by @thenbastoryteller
Leroy Smith’s life was forever altered when Michael Jordan co-opted his identity to craft a legendary sports narrative. This documentary, directed by Emio Tomeoni, also known by The NBA Storyteller, follows his six-year journey to uncover the real Leroy and understand his struggle to reclaim his story. In 1977, Smith beat out Jordan for a high school varsity spot, a moment Jordan later used to fuel his competitive drive for 30 years. Unknown to Leroy, who was overseas, Jordan’s tale of being cut became famous. When Leroy returned to the U.S., he discovered his name had become a part of Jordan’s legend. The film delves into Leroy’s quest to reclaim his identity and sanity in the shadow of one of basketball’s greatest icons.
"I spent a lot of years trying to move past being 'the guy who beat out Michael Jordan,' but it was always there, a part of my story whether I liked it or not." - Leroy Smith
"Six years after starting my YouTube series, Leroy contacted me, and we set up an interview. And I was able to get every single answer to every single question I had. Beyond that, I met a real person who had been navigating this strange position, living between trying to live a normal life and being part of Michael Jordan's legendary story." - Emio Tomeoni
Producer/Project Manager: Ian Goldstein instagram.com/iangoldsteinyes
Voice overs by Ethan Herschenfeld : ethanherschenfeld.com
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-leroy/id1716457619
lessonsfromleroy.buzzsprout.com
Fun Links
Mjs Playground Documentary: youtu.be/h7BjAMjwS1c
Mjs Playground Music video: youtu.be/VQ2980ItO7M
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-leroy/id1716457619
lessonsfromleroy.buzzsprout.com
Stock Footage From Storyblocks.com
Stock Music from Soundstripe.com
Special Thanks to
#LeroySmith
#MichaelJordan
#fredBrown
#Thisamericanlife
Advertisers and beyond email: etomeoni@gmail.com
#nba #sports #michaeljordan #documentary #thisamericanlife #lessonsFromLeroy
Link to Articles in films
espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4477759
sports.yahoo.com/news/jordans-night-remember-turns-petty-075600787--nba.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHC7Ghwb1nbzKWRPzEYSnJApnNgEd7o0Upvr0VJEELDNUIOO2cahv3EXI_FJ1IwtBnCqHAkkLzffqLuklTiWiWvEEJtT7pA0l5Wfv0VcJs-XumrVVOaIYM848ilu1EiTcXiLYAlvQ2BcZm45Eka4TXgI6Ho0krzQIYgBfc9P9Lde
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 Hall of Fame
00:09:01 My Obsession
00:12:27 Come Fly with me
00:15:21 Michael Jordans Playground
00:18:55 Was MJ even cut?
00:30:34 Loyalty
00:34:01 Pop Herring
00:39:28 David Vs Jordan
00:47:28 Trapped
00:48:22 Remember the contract/Charlie Murphy
00:56:16 WAIT THERE'S MORE
01:02:33 My Conclusion
An Original Documentary by @thenbastoryteller
Leroy Smith’s life was forever altered when Michael Jordan co-opted his identity to craft a legendary sports narrative. This documentary, directed by Emio Tomeoni, also known by The NBA Storyteller, follows his six-year journey to uncover the real Leroy and understand his struggle to reclaim his story. In 1977, Smith beat out Jordan for a high school varsity spot, a moment Jordan later used to fuel his competitive drive for 30 years. Unknown to Leroy, who was overseas, Jordan’s tale of being cut became famous. When Leroy returned to the U.S., he discovered his name had become a part of Jordan’s legend. The film delves into Leroy’s quest to reclaim his identity and sanity in the shadow of one of basketball’s greatest icons.
"I spent a lot of years trying to move past being 'the guy who beat out Michael Jordan,' but it was always there, a part of my story whether I liked it or not." - Leroy Smith
"Six years after starting my YouTube series, Leroy contacted me, and we set up an interview. And I was able to get every single answer to every single question I had. Beyond that, I met a real person who had been navigating this strange position, living between trying to live a normal life and being part of Michael Jordan's legendary story." - Emio Tomeoni
Producer/Project Manager: Ian Goldstein instagram.com/iangoldsteinyes
Voice overs by Ethan Herschenfeld : ethanherschenfeld.com
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-leroy/id1716457619
lessonsfromleroy.buzzsprout.com
Fun Links
Mjs Playground Documentary: youtu.be/h7BjAMjwS1c
Mjs Playground Music video: youtu.be/VQ2980ItO7M
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-leroy/id1716457619
lessonsfromleroy.buzzsprout.com
Stock Footage From Storyblocks.com
Stock Music from Soundstripe.com
Special Thanks to
#LeroySmith
#MichaelJordan
#fredBrown
#Thisamericanlife
Advertisers and beyond email: etomeoni@gmail.com
#nba #sports #michaeljordan #documentary #thisamericanlife #lessonsFromLeroy
Link to Articles in films
espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4477759
sports.yahoo.com/news/jordans-night-remember-turns-petty-075600787--nba.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHC7Ghwb1nbzKWRPzEYSnJApnNgEd7o0Upvr0VJEELDNUIOO2cahv3EXI_FJ1IwtBnCqHAkkLzffqLuklTiWiWvEEJtT7pA0l5Wfv0VcJs-XumrVVOaIYM848ilu1EiTcXiLYAlvQ2BcZm45Eka4TXgI6Ho0krzQIYgBfc9P9Lde
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 Hall of Fame
00:09:01 My Obsession
00:12:27 Come Fly with me
00:15:21 Michael Jordans Playground
00:18:55 Was MJ even cut?
00:30:34 Loyalty
00:34:01 Pop Herring
00:39:28 David Vs Jordan
00:47:28 Trapped
00:48:22 Remember the contract/Charlie Murphy
00:56:16 WAIT THERE'S MORE
01:02:33 My Conclusion
