Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Honest documentary about mentoring; difficult social issues.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Best Shot
What's the Story?
Co-produced by basketball legend LeBron James, BEST SHOT is an eight-part YouTube Premium documentary series about a former NBA star whose career-ending accident led him back to the basketball court in a different way. In 2002, Jay Williams was the Chicago Bulls' youngest star, and was looking forward to a successful NBA career. But when a motorcycle accident ended his career a year later, Williams found himself trying to figure out a new direction in his life. Now the ESPN analyst mentors the Blue Devils, Newark Central High School's basketball team, which is headed up by Shawn "OG" McCray. While they and school principal Sharnee Brown want the young men to win games, they are also committed to teaching them that despite all the day-to-day hardships they face living in the inner city of New Jersey, they have the resilience to keep moving forward and find a way out of their difficult lives.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary series offers an honest look into the lives of young black inner-city high school basketball players who have the odds stacked against them. Jay Williams, along with the team's coach, works hard to keep the teens focused on their studies and playing the game, all the while reminding them that playing the game well is their best shot at getting an education and improving their lives. But while you see the adults' affection and concern for the students, you can also appreciate their sense of frustration when the players don't meet expectations, or when they fall prey to the pressures imposed by absentee parents, street violence, drug gangs, and poverty.
There are no guaranteed success stories here. Some viewers may be disturbed by the amount of pressure that parents, relatives, and friends place on these teens to become professional ball players in order to financially help them. Nonetheless, Best Shot's overall messages are good ones. It constantly reinforces the idea that it is important to look beyond the difficulties one faces in life by committing yourself to a goal that can lead to something positive. It also underscores the role of mentors in this process. People who aren't basketball fans may find Best Shot a little slow, but folks who enjoy the game will find it interesting, if not inspiring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the social issues discussed throughout Best Shot. How can children succeed when they are dealing firsthand with things like street violence, hunger, and homelessness?
What are some of the stereotypes about people living in inner cities? Does this documentary reinforce them or challenge them?
Do you have a mentor in your life? What kinds of things has your mentor taught you? What kind of mentor can you be to other people in your life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 18, 2018
- Cast : Jay Williams , Sharnee Brown , Shawn McCray
- Network : YouTube Premium
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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