Amar’e Stoudemire Pitching Sitcom, Baron Davis Producing Documentary

NBA stars are doing their best to keep busy during the lockout, and some are turning their attention to filmed projects. The Hollywood Reporter explains: “Earlier in October, New York Knicks star Amare Stoudemire pitched to a handful of major networks a half-hour scripted comedy that he is developing with producers Jeff Kwatinetz and Happy Walters, who is Stoudemire’s agent and president of Rogue Sports, Relativity Media’s sports business … Such deals aren’t just about cashing a paycheck. Jeff Marks of sports business consultancy Premier Partnerships says that the projects are important for developing athletes’ brands. ‘They aren’t doing this for free, but at the end of the day, Amare Stoudemire doesn’t need an extra endorsement deal or two,’ Marks says. ‘I think it is about the personal brand.’ … Baron Davis of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a co-founder of L.A.-based Verso Entertainment, which produced Stacy Peralta’s 2008 documentary Crips and Bloods: Made in America. Davis is spending the lockout focusing on producing the documentary American Schlub, which explores the downfall of men’s style, and starring in a pilot for a variety show. Davis, who is working on a film and TV studies minor at UCLA, also is taking acting classes. Whether he’ll have time to become a star off the court remains to be seen, but if the NBA season is canceled, the projects have an added benefit. Says Marks, ‘I think it is also about keeping these guys busy.'”