Spike Lee and Colin Kaepernick was a very conspicuous pairing courtside at the New York Knick’s game at Madison Square Garden, particularly with Kaep’s immaculate mushroom-shaped Afro.
Even though the Knicks lost the game — again — against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, Lee and Kaep are winning as their appearance represents the commencement of their documentary collaboration for ESPN.
This will differ from directing superstar Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed six-part documentary for Netflix in 2021, which focused solely on Kaepernick’s childhood. Lee’s docuseries will be the first deep dive into Kaep’s psyche and motivations that precipitated the quake-producing protests during the national anthem.
Kaep was unceremoniously exiled from the NFL when he first sat, then knelt, during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016 while employed by the San Francisco 49ers.
In this docuseries for ESPN Films, the narrative will come from Kaep’s point of view and delve into his adulthood. He will also produce the piece along with former ESPN sportswriter Jemele Hill.
This is not the first documentary that the sports-loving Lee has done with athletes. Years ago, Lee did a day in the life of the late, legendary Kobe Bryant titled “Kobe Doin’ Work” during the 2007-08 season.
