By true coincidence, this week marks the release of limited dramatic series based on the lives of Durant and Kaepernick — but each show is set approximately two decades in the past, chronicling the journeys of a young basketball phenom in the Washington, D.C., area and a two-sport athlete in northern California.
The 10-part Apple TV+ series “Swagger” is inspired by Kevin Durant’s experiences as a prized, 14-year-old hoops prospect in the DMV metropolitan area, but it’s a work of fiction set in the present day.
As was the case with “Friday Night Lights,” many an episode features the obligatory Pivotal Game, but the most compelling developments take place off the court, whether it’s the police detaining Jace for making the mistake of being a young Black man taking out the garbage after dark, Crystal dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault by her coach, or an athletic apparel rep wooing Jace and other young talents with shoes and clothing and promises of major endorsement deals — and that’s just a small sampling of the ongoing and interconnecting storylines.
From time to time, we cut to Kaepernick in present day, as he gives an ongoing Ted talk-type presentation, recounting his own experiences and offering quick lessons about phenomena such as “micro aggressions,” e.g., we see an older, white partner in a law firm interviewing a Black candidate, complimenting him on being “clean” and “articulate,” but also wondering if he’s going to wear his hair in those dreads in the office.