The Pathway chronicles top high school prospects who opted not to go to college, yet commit to NBA’s G League instead as their pathway to the primetime NBA league. It’s a mini-series airing on TNT TV that follows emerging basketball stars Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd, and Daishen Nix as they skip college and join the NBA’s G League Ignite, with their eyes set on eventually making it to the NBA.
The Pathway chronicles each player’s dream of reaching the NBA, documenting the extraordinary sacrifices they and their families make, the hard work they put in, and the immense pressure they face to beat the incredible odds and succeed.
Inside the NBA’s Kenny “The Jet” Smith narrates the two-part special on four up-and-coming basketball prodigies who bypassed college to play for the NBA G League Ignite team.
Kuminga moved from the Congo when he was just 14 years old; Green, the former No. 1 high school player in the nation from Fresno, California, has been in the headlines since 7th grade; and top high school recruits, Todd and Nix, de-committed from storied NCAA programs to join G League Ignite.
The road is not easy, from competing against older, stronger, more experienced professional NBA players and other talented prospects to impress NBA scouts and General Managers during the NBA Draft Combine, to the anxiety of Draft Night and the added pressure of shining in the NBA Summer League, fans witness what it takes for four young ballers to make their wildest dream of playing in the NBA a reality.
Alexus Renée had a chance to catch up with and interview Deon Taylor, a producer on the project, who also has directed major feature films such as Fatale (starring Hilary Swank & Michael Ealy), Traffik (starring Paula Patton & Omar Epps), and The Intruder (starring Meagan Good, Michael Ealy, and Dennis Quaid).
Deon offers deep insights and advice for future NBA hopefuls in their own pathway to the league. He also talks about the show’s inspiration, watching young men as they go through trials and tribulations to make it to the NBA. Lastly, he gives us hints at his upcoming projects including Free Agent an action heist movie starring 50 Cent. Freedom Ride, a biopic of civil rights activists and Congressman John Lewis and Diane Nash, creating the freedom ride movement. And a television series featuring Master P.
Listen to this interview on your favorite Podcast platform: Buzzsprout.
You absolutely must watch The Pathway on TNT and tell us what you think in the comments!
