NBA star Steph Curry is teaming up with Shaquille O’Neal as an executive producer on the documentary The Queen of Basketball, which profiles Lusia Harris, the only woman to officially be drafted to the NBA in history. Curry, along with business partner and co-founder of Unanimous Media Erick Peyton, spoke on the involvement in the project via a press statement, in which the pair voiced their respect for Harris as a trailblazer.
“We’re honored to join the talented team behind The Queen of Basketball and play a role in uplifting the story of the trailblazing Lucy Harris,” Curry and Peyton shared. “Lucy, a true pioneer in the game of basketball and an inspiration for many, deserves to be recognized for her achievements. Through this compelling short subject documentary, her legacy will continue to live on and impact audiences all over the world.”
Curry is "one of the NBA's most iconic players whose voice speaks volumes on and off the court," according to O'Neal, who is also looking forward to working with the three-time NBA champion and former league MVP. "I'm overjoyed to have him join the team and contribute to the immortalization of Lusia Harris, dubbed The Queen of Basketball."
The family of the late basketball legend, who passed away in January, issued a statement in response to news of Curry jumping on board to help get Harris' message out. "The Harris-Stewart family would like to express their gratitude to Steph Curry for joining The Queen of Basketball as an executive producer. We're sure our mother was pleased by his addition because she liked seeing Steph'shoot the lights out of that ball.' Steph has been a huge supporter of the project and has helped to guarantee that her narrative is never forgotten. The Queen is still alive and well.
The Queen of Basketball earned the best documentary short Critics Choice Award at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and is currently streaming on the New York Times website and YouTube channel. Harris was a three-time All-American and led Delta State's women's basketball team to three national titles during her collegiate career while on an athletic scholarship. She has the most points (2,891) and rebounds (2,891) in her career at the university (1,662). Harris was taken by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft after graduating from Delta State, marking her the league's first and first female draftee.
