Baron Davis
Baron Davis is the modern personification of the spiritual warrior—a man who has pursued athletic, artistic and altruistic excellence with equal passion. Davis has shattered the traditional mold of sport’s star, proving himself as creative, committed and successful off the court and on; giving of himself far beyond the obvious talent that has made him a two-time NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most celebrated players.
Growing up in Los Angeles his first love was the game of basketball. With encouragement from his grandmother, Lela Nicholson, the young Baron excelled on the blacktop courts of his South Central neighborhoods, displaying a maturity and aplomb beyond his years. This earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Crossroads High School in Santa Monica, just a few short miles but a world away from the mean streets of South Central. Here Davis flourished on the court, winning honors like the McDonald’s All American and Gatorade Player of the Year Awards. But it was also here that Davis discovered his more artistic side. Attending school alongside numerous entertainment industry progenies like Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow he developed a lasting affinity for film and filmmaking.
Davis attended UCLA where made First Team and All-American honors before being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets—a first round 1999 draft pick—during his sophomore year. He has made two All-Star appearances (2002-04) as point guard for the Golden State Warriors and is only the eighth player in league history to win Player of the Week twice consecutively.
And all of this is just on the court. Davis also created Team Play, a non-profit foundation for underprivileged kids, served as a spokesman for LA’s Best, and after-school mentoring program, addressed the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington D.C. and set up a program where $2 from ever point scored during the 2006-07 season went to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Davis has also found time to appear in music videos for P-Diddy and Ja Rule, as well as on TV shows like Cribs and Weakest Link.
But throughout this already crowded career Davis’ love of film never waned and after seven years in the NBA he formed Verso Entertainment, his own production company. Produced in collaboration with director Stacy Peralta, Made In America is Verso’s first feature documentary, but it’s a reflection of the years of passionate commitment Baron Davis has brought to every aspect of his life—and his passion for sharing it with others.
