Russell Westbrook Set To Produce a Short Film on Crenshaw Neighborhood

NBA all-star Russell Westbrook’s next big project is in the works. Last week it was announced that the Washington Wizards point guard will be producing a basketball-themed short film “Why Not?” with Sony’s Incubation Lab.

The 32-year-old star and the Incubation Lab partnered with Jordan Brand for the project, alongside the short’s co-writer and director Tevin Tavares and writer Lance Cameron Holloway. 

The documentary is based on a South Los Angeles Crenshaw neighborhood and centers around directing underprivileged students to technology education and opportunities. Growing up in Crenshaw himself, Russell Westbrook explains that the story’s purpose is to bring South LA’s culture to light.

Tech opportunities for African-American youth have long been a passion of Russell Westbrook’s life. Did he establish the Why Not? Foundation in 2012 to fund school programs focusing on computer literacy and technology for Black students. In subsequent years, the foundation has expanded its outreach to help Black-owned businesses.

“A lot of the youth in Black and Brown communities look at the tech space as an almost impossible field to exist within,” said Russell Westbrook in the official announcement for the project. “They don’t often see themselves represented at the major tech companies of the world, and they don’t see it as the ‘cool thing to do. Well, ‘Why Not?’”

“‘Why Not’ is a mantra I live by,” Russell Westbrook continued. “Because I believe it is important to empower the next generation and encourage them never to give up. Why can’t young Black kids in untapped neighborhoods like Crenshaw get exposed to tech? This film is that story, and I hope it inspires kids in marginalized communities around the world.”

Besides this upcoming project, Russell Westbrook produces credits on Little Ballers (2013) and Henry Danger (2014). His most recent experience was as an executive producer on History Channel’s Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, which aired over Memorial Day weekend. The documentary focused on the 100th anniversary of one of American history’s worst events of racial violence. Black citizens, homes, and businesses in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood district, were attacked by mobs of white residents, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. 

According to a description of the press release, Why Not? “tells the story of a top High School basketball player that finds another way to impact his community when basketball is taken away from him by teaming up with a misunderstood neighborhood teen tech wizard.”

The premiere for “Why Not?” has yet to be announced.