The documentary film Lenny Cooke explores the life and career of a high school basketball player who was once one of the most highly-touted prospects in the country but ultimately never fulfilled his immense potential. The film takes its name from its subject, Lenny Cooke, a talented player from Brooklyn, New York who was a rising star in the basketball world during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Cooke was widely regarded as the top high school basketball player in the country heading into his senior year, ahead of future NBA stars like LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony. Many predicted that Cooke would become a dominant presence in professional basketball – he was named MVP of the prestigious ABCD Camp in 2000 and was expected to be a top pick in the NBA draft.
However, things did not unfold as expected for Cooke. He struggled academically and faced several off-court issues, eventually leading to him being kicked off his high school team. Despite continuing to play basketball and training for the NBA draft, Cooke was not selected by any team in 2002. He ended up playing for a series of lower-tier professional and semi-pro leagues both domestically and overseas, never achieving the success that had once seemed so certain.
The Safdie brothers' documentary explores Cooke's journey and the many factors that contributed to his unsuccessful career in basketball. Using interviews with Cooke himself, his family and friends, former coaches and teammates, and basketball analysts, the film paints a poignant and nuanced portrait of a young man who was unable to fully capitalize on his prodigious skills. Through Lenny Cooke, the Safdies present a cautionary tale about the promises and pressures of sports stardom, and the challenges that young athletes face as they try to navigate the often treacherous path to the top.