Good day, everybody. I'm Maya Ortiz.
And welcome back to a special edition of Off The Court.
LeBron James said it best.
"Basketball is my passion, but my family is everything to me."
Today has a special meaning for me.
I'm standing here at the intersection of basketball and family
in the Bell House, practically my second home
in middle school, where basketball phenoms,
Jordan and Josh Bell were like my brothers.
In the Bell home, it was all basketball, all love
and tonight, we celebrate dreams made real.
Okay, cut. That's the header.
The game of basketball is very much like the game of life.
Fluid. You acclimate. You adapt. You overcome.
A smooth pivot.
- A sick double cross.
Oh, no, no, no. The champagne is for later.
And the cake is a surprise.
- Can you take it around back, please? - No problem.
Where are they? Are they trying to ruin my segment on purpose?
- I don't know. - Mama Bell, here are your notes.
- Thank you. - And do you know
who's blocking the driveway? Mobile bartender wants to get in.
I knew I should've banned him from coming.
Okay, okay, the party can start. Uncle Skinny has arrived!
- You're late. - But always on time.
- What's up? Hey. Hey.
- Hey, everybody. - Hi.
Vondie, let’s grab a quick interview before things start.
You can talk about what it was like growing up here.
I know, you were gonna get at me but my bad, our flight was delayed.
Yeah? Well, you could’ve picked a better time to go shopping in Paris.
- Mm-mm. - You know how important this is.
Mm-hmm. Okay, so, I guess, that little gift
that we picked up for you from...
Louis Vuitton doesn't matter then, huh?
- It will suffice.
Where's your nephew?
- Uh... I think that... - Go find my boy.
Okay, I will. Filthy? Where you at? Filthy? Filthy!
Get inside! Barney, get inside!
Somebody get there!
Hey, Skree! Get through, get through, get through!
- Hey, Coach. - Yo! Filthy, hey, please tell me
- this means you're clear to play. - I wish. I'm just here for moral support.
- Move, go, go, go! - Come on!
- Come on, Ref!
- Did you swallow your whistle? - Easy.
Get back on D, back on D!
Lakeside running away with this one.
- Hey, yo, that was for you, Filthy! - Good, shake it off.
Let's get down court. Let's go!
You can ask me anything.
For a long time, I was just angry.
I had already made peace with the idea that you never wanted me.
Let’s, um...
Let's set that straight.
Your... your mom and I had you when we were in college.
We were kids, and the moment that you came,
like, from that moment, everything changed.
You were wanted, and more importantly,
- you were loved. But why now?
I mean, after all these years, you finally reach out to me, why?
- Because now you need something from me? - No! Kelli, no.
There is no way in the world
that I would ever risk the health of any of my children.
I would take a... a lifetime of potential...
health complications before I put any of my kids under the knife.
The reason why I reached out to you...
is because I wanted my family.
Not just for me, for all of us. Especially your brothers.
You know, I couldn't imagine leaving this earth
without filling the void of not having you in my life.
- What is that?
- Need a timeout!
Come on, hurry up.
- Let's go, let's go, hustle, hustle. - Hey, hey, hey. You all right?
I'm good, man. But I don't think we can do this.
Last game at Hughes. Can't believe we're going out like this.
I don't know how to stop it.
- I don't know how to stop it. Of course, you do.
Dad? What are you doing here?
Now, son, now, you know I will always be here on your team.
And you can count on your teammates for an assist.
Especially when you need them the most, like right now.
We're getting pummeled out there. As in almost irrecoverable.
- As in... - As in change up the strategy.
You’ve been here a million times before.
Just because you're playing a different position,
- doesn't mean you're not part of the game. - But I just wish I was out there.
You are. Now, JB knows it.
Your teammates know it. Now, you gotta own it.
Have faith.
And right now, you up against the biggest opponent
that you ever faced.
Yourself.
Now, the question is, what you gonna do?
Win the damn thing.
You were a toddler when your mom died.
I fought... hard for custody.
I knew it was gonna be a battle, but I was up for it.
I heard things got weird.
You know, my grandparents said you pretty much ghosted us.
I can't speak for your grandparents.
You know, they have their own version.
Look, I... I didn't wanna cause any more pain or... or stress, so...
I agreed...
for them to raise you.
And the moment I did that, I got boxed out.
I figured...
...when you got older, I... I would just reach out.
But I had already lost one parent.
I mean, I needed you.
- So, how could you just ignore me? - All right.
My graduation?
Mm-hmm.
- How’d you get it? - I was there. Fourth row, back.
You think...
I'm gonna let my firstborn walk across that stage and not be there?
My girl. Salutatorian.
Nah, I saw you up there.
They should've let you make that speech
'cause the valedictorian. Oh, God, they put us to sleep.
Kelli...
I never stopped loving you.
Stopped being there for you. And I never will.
I want... We... we want you to be a part of this family.
Gentlemen, we have got to start moving the ball around.
We're missing way too many easy shots.
This is selfish basketball. Stick to the game plan.
Yo, is this who we are?
What, they put a little bit of pressure on us and we cave?
We ain't gonna win playing like this.
Look, I understand the doubt. Okay? I get it.
But you can't lose faith!
Okay? All great champions have faced defeat.
But stared it down and still managed to get the rebound.
That sounds great but like he said, we're not even making shots.
- We need you out there, Filthy. - I am here.
And I hear you but hear this. This is y'all chance!
But y'all gotta grab it!
You remember Dad's basketball rule?
Dribble, fake, shoot, miss. Dribble, fake, shoot, miss.
Dribble, fake, shoot, miss! Dribble, fake, shoot, swish!
Now, y'all gotta feel it, all right? With me.
Dribble, fake, shoot, miss! Dribble, fake, shoot, miss!
Dribble, fake, shoot, swish!
Let's go! Let's go!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, one more thing. Dad said if you lose today,
you might as well not bother coming home. So, you know what...
Let's go! Let's go, Lions!
- Come on! Watch out! - Defend, defend.
Rebound, Vondie, rebound!
There you go!
Jordan Bell, keeping the Lions in the hunt!
D up, D up, D up!
No, no, no, no!
Zuma for three!
I hate this kid! I hate this kid.
- We need a timeout! - We're out!
Let's go, JB! - Let's go!
Yo, JB, Flexis Alexis!
Okay. Okay.
You got it.
Yeah!
My boys right there.
- That's our boys, yeah! - That's our boys, yeah! Okay!
Whoa, whoa!
Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!
- Yes, yeah!
- You're welcome. - What are you talking about?
Oh, wow! You weren't lying.
- Ah. I told you. No way.
- Yo! - Hey, hey!
Hey! How's the champions?
Yeah!
- We did it! - Uh-huh!
- Brought that home. - Kelli, you're here!
You guys are champs now? Thank you for the pizza, Chuck!
Appreciate it! What up, nephs?
Too far to reach, uh-oh! Hide your wallets, people.
'Cause Starbucks ain't got nothing on this one right here!
Oh, handshake, please? Come on.
- We're family now. Good to see you.
Hi. I'm Crystal.
- Very nice to finally meet you. - Nice to meet you, too.
You guys wanna... Okay.
I don't wanna overstay my welcome, so I should just go.
Oh, absolutely not! We're having a party tonight.
- There's a lot to celebrate.
- Hey, who's ready to party! - Hey!
Guys, this is our sister, Kelli.
Hey.
Let me get this straight, man.
You're telling me this entire time, you've had a hot sister
- and you didn't tell me? Hey, careful.
- That's my sis you're talking about. - Come on now.
Hey. Hey, look. This year... ...we've been through a lot.
Guess what doesn't break us only makes us stronger.
I mean, yeah. This year helped me realize just how important every day is!
And to make sure each moment matters and that the people around you know
just how much they're loved.
And, uh...
- you carry them with you in your heart... - Excuse me?
- ...like the moonlight over the sea.
You really oughta write a book, man.
All right, bro. I'm done messing with y'all.
Ah, I see you found Chuck's jazz collection.
It's wild.
I mean, the one thing I inherited from my mom was her jazz collection.
Hmm. - And she loved Nancy Wilson.
- This was her favorite album. - Aww.
Maybe that's why they got together.
Maybe.
Call me irresponsible...
Oh, yeah, that sounds like your father at 21.
You know, I'm happy the boys reached out.
To see you and Chuck have a second chance...
I don't wanna make any promises.
Yeah, I get it.
Baby steps.
And I don't blame you.
It's gonna take a while to build a relationship.
- Sounds like it comes from experience. - With my own father.
But that's another story for another day.
You know, I can already tell that you being here
has warmed Chuck's heart.
Mine, too.
Just kinda sucks that it's under these circumstances.
I know.
But you're here now.
All right.
Mm-hmm. A little sparkling cider.
- For my boy, some wine. - Bruh.
- What'd you put in this drink, bruh?
- I don't know. Something to knock you out.
- All right. - Look at me...
We'll have to keep you around a little bit more.
Oh, so, you got jokes now? Mm-hmm.
Well, I'm just gonna need you not to forget
to pay that speeding ticket for your boy because I was flying
- like a bat out of hell to get to you. - Hmm. I got you.
- But bro...
Man.
Seeing Kelli again, bro.
I never thought, like that was the...
Yeah. - ...distance.
Yeah. So, what's...
- what's next? You know?
Yeah, well, the ball is in her court.
- You know? I... - Mm-hmm.
There's a lot to work through but I told her I wanna be in her life.
Hmm. - You know, as much or little
as she wants me.
And the fact that she came here at all? Yeah, it's good.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- No, it's a good thing.
The fact that she came
and my little nephews balled out on the court.
But for real man, you know, I should probably make it a point to be,
you know, a little closer, around a little bit more.
You know, moving here might not be such a bad idea.
Hmm. You should run that by Crystal.
- Yeah. - Okay.
- That's a good point. Yeah. You know what I mean?
- That's a good point. - I mean, we love you.
All right, cheers with your old apple cider.
Mm-hmm.
Filthy, your leadership skills were on full display
and you killed it in the semifinals!
But, like you said, a lot's been happening.
So, what have your experiences this year really taught you?
Um...
Basketball is a great teacher. But it's not everything.
What? Hold on, that's news, Filthy
Yeah. I... I think I'm starting to get it.
You know, I'm seeing that my dad's basketball rules work
just as much off the court as on.
You know, he's like a superhero to me.
But with him facing his own...
form of kryptonite, I, um...
I don't, uh...
You don't know how to protect him.
It's scary.
When my mom got sick...
I started a journal. I needed to get my feelings out somehow.
It is scary.
I mean, everything shifting around me.
- Dad, Kelli, high school. - But change can be good.
Don't focus on boxing out the old.
Focus on building what's new.
Yo, I already got everything planned for this summer, it's gonna be lit.
What's the last thing you wanna do before you leave for L.A.?
Um...
JB, you have to promise me something.
I'll come to L.A. anytime you want me to.
Good to know, but that's not what I'm talking about.
What is it?
You brought everything to the court today.
You stepped up. And I believe in you.
- You believe in you. - Yo, what's wrong?
I won't be at graduation... or summer.
I leave for California in five days.
What a day, babe.
- You good? - Mm-hmm. I'm better than good.
My first dialysis treatment under my belt.
- Hmm. - Beautiful wife...
- ...champion twins, my daughter.
What more can I ask for, you know?
Well, don't forget about Skinny.
Mm. No, really. Skinny is thinking about moving closer.
- Closer to who? - All right.
- Don't play with me. - Yeah, right?
And Dr. Hong said that I am officially registered on the donor directory.
Now, we just play the waiting game.
- Baby. - Mm-hmm.
You could wake up tomorrow and have a donor?
- Yeah, yeah.
Mm-hmm. Well, either way...
with you by my side, there's nothing that we can't do. Complications and all.
You're right about that.
She didn't wanna tell me before my game
because she didn't want it to be a distraction. This sucks.
Well, at least she said you could come visit her in L.A.
- Just focus on that. - How can I take advice from you?
You, who refuses to admit his feelings for Maya?
It's delicate. Okay? We're just now getting into it.
You know, like...
Just last week When our lips were a penumbra
Her, the moon and I, the earth...
All right, Shakespeare. In English, please?
Yo, you really need to start reading more.
- We kissed. - What?
- Yo, I knew something was up! - Look, it changed everything.
Everything.
So, y'all just kissed? Did y'all talk about it?
Well, afterwards, we kinda fell back into the friend zone.
Filthy, Filthy, listen to me, man!
Tell her how you feel. Yo, you're the one with the words.
I mean, usually, yeah but...
I don't know, this is different.
Trust me, man.
There is nothing worse than losing time with someone you care about.
All that drama that went down with me and Alexis at The Roll Call?
I would give anything to get those days of not speaking to her back.
Tell her how you feel.
I thought you left without telling me.
Leaving doesn't mean I'm gone. You'll visit. I'll visit.
JB, don't stop doing what you've been doing.
You're on a roll! Run with it.
But it was you who got me centered to do what I'm doing in the first place.
- How do I survive without you? - So dramatic.
I hate divorce.
Yeah. I'm still having a tough time with it.
But both of us have to remember
that sometimes things just don't go the way we planned.
Promise me you won't forget me.
- I'm sorry, who are you again?
I promise. I will never forget you.
- Hey, look at this, Maya! - Yeah?
- Look at the views I got! - Vondie, 56.6K views!
I know, it's crazy! Let's go!
- I have no idea! - I know, 65.6K!
- Hey, hey, Maya! Well, yeah.
- And like, you, you were killing it. - Maya!
And at the championship game
- I was like, "Vondie!" Maya!
What... Hey.
Look, I have to tell you something.
We...
Look, that kiss changed everything for me.
- What? Whoa. About darn time! Hey! - It's been in my face this whole time.
I just didn't know how to tell you. I mean,
I didn't know what words could fill in the blanks
when you're not around. To punctuate how I feel
when your smile dribbles across the hardwood of my memory?
I mean, I guess, what I'm trying to say is that my eyes are open.
You're the goal and I'm ready to take that shot at us.
- Really? - Yes, really.
Now? Really, Filthy?
Everyone knows I've practically been in love with you since the third grade.
And now, that I have accepted the fact that...
- we'll only be friends...
- Now your eyes are open? - I mean, better late than never, right?
I'm sorry, Filthy.
You're too late.
I...
I'm dating Zuma.
- Wow.
Didn't expect that. Hey, it's all good, man.
Hi, Dr. Hong. This is Kelli, uh, Chuck Bell's daughter.
I wanna talk to you about getting tested.
My whole summer is ruined.
Shattered, shipwrecked on the shore of lost possibilities.
Yo, have you ever thought about doing something wild?
- Like what? I don't know.
Like going to high school in another state?
No, you're not trying to move down to L.A.
with Aunt Roxie, just so you can be closer to Alexis.
Sometimes, thinking outside the box is better than any plan.
I don't know about that.
Maybe something good will come out of this summer.
Tonight is the culmination of a journey.
One in which so many of you have played a part.
Your joy, encouragement, enthusiasm has contributed
to this very moment.
Years ago, a young poet, who was also a phenomenal ball player
got some great advice from a well-known author.
"Trust your words. They will take you as far as you let them."
And he did that! He did it!
Yes, he did!
And I am thrilled that he took those words to heart,
soared with them and wrote one of the best new books of 2031!
Gentle folks,
you are in for a treat tonight and I am so proud
to present to you my son, Josh "Filthy McNasty" Bell!
There was a time when basketball gave me wings.
When they got clipped, trying to soar above bitterness
and grief seemed impossible.
Sometimes, you think things are going one way
but in the blink of an eye, it changes direction.
All right. Yeah!
Basketball rule number one.
"In the game of life, family's the court, ball is your heart.
"Always leave your heart on the court. Win or lose, do it together."
Hey Filthy. Stay focused.
Don't let him live in your head, all right?
Got it, Coach.
Hey, Filthy. You ready?
I was born ready. Let's get it, bro!
Let's give a warm welcome
to Beacon Academy's new head basketball coach, Chuck "Da Man" Bell!
All right. Game on.
- Coach.