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Official Site

A Film by Ryan Polomski and Dean Prator

RAYMOND LEWIS
L.A. LEGEND

ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

Raymond Lewis on Youtube
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THE MOVIE

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RAYMOND LEWIS: L.A. LEGEND is a critically acclaimed documentary that tells the incredible story of a basketball phenom from Watts, California whom many believe was blackballed from the NBA in the’70s – and his unlikely and heartbreaking journey in becoming a hoops legend.

(Documentary, Sports, Biography. Directed by Ryan Polomski; Produced by Beach City Media and Retro Bros Productions;
MORE ABOUT THE FILM: From the playgrounds of Watts, CA in South Central Los Angeles to record-breaking performances in high school and college, Raymond Lewis had been deemed a 'sure bet' for NBA stardom by any who saw him play basketball.

So, when Lewis was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 1973 NBA draft as a college sophomore nobody was surprised. However, after an ugly contract dispute between Lewis and the 76ers and an epic on-the-court battle with the team's other first-round pick - Olympic star Doug Collins - Raymond's dream of playing professional basketball was derailed- and allegations of league blackballing began to circulate.

For the next decade, Lewis would continue to dominate on the playground and gyms back home in Los Angeles while stubbornly chasing his NBA dream, leaving many to wonder "What ever happened to Raymond Lewis?"

 

Now, for the first time, the award-winning filmmaking team of RAYMOND LEWIS: L.A. LEGEND unravel this important story and powerful personal journey from hoops phenom to NBA pariah and the lasting impact it had on Lewis, and his family.

APPAREL

T-SHIRTS AND HOODIES

Redesigned Raymond Lewis Classic, Signature, and Phantom Phenom apparel is now available online for purchase. All designs come in short-sleeve, Long-sleeve, and hoodies which are also available in multiple colors.

 

CLICK HERE! to be taken to our Raymond Lewis online merchandise store and make your purchase TODAY!

Apparel

THE FILMMAKERS

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Ryan Polomski

Ryan Polomski is a documentary and television director, producer, and editor living in Los Angeles, CA. His first feature documentary, "State vs. Reed",, won an Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival before being broadcast on Texas PBS stations, raising awareness of the highly controversial death sentence of Rodney Reed.

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Dean Prator

Co-Director and Producer of the Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend documentary film and longtime fan of Lewis since 1971. From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, he worked as a professional videographer capturing events from private parties to gang street life in Compton and Long Beach CA which is now housed in his Retro Bro film collection.

NEWS

Six finalists revealed for 2022 Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film

By Andrew Tracy

July 27, 2022

Ken Burns

The Library of Congress, the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation and the Better Angels Society have unveiled the six documentary projects that will vie for this year’s Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. 

Established in 2019, the award recognizes a late-stage documentary film that...
Click here to read the full Article

Raymond Lewis Documentary to Make Los Angeles Debut

By Eric Sondheimer
April 19, 2022

Ryan Polomski - Dean Prator

"Raymond Lewis is the baddest dude you've ever seen." That's how the movie trailer begins for the documentary Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend. One of the 45 individuals interviewed for the film describes Lewis, who led Verbum Dei High to three Southern Section championships from 1969 to 1971. Click here to read the article!

Raymond Lewis Film Wins Best Doc at San Pedro Film Festival

By Sentinel News Service

Published November 11, 2021

The long-anticipated basketball documentary film of a local 1970s basketball phenom and City of Watts native, “Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend” is currently making its rounds throughout the country at selected film festivals in major cities in the U.S. This past Saturday, the film collected its first award by being selected as the “Best Documentary” at the 2021 San Pedro International Film Festival. Click Here to read the full article!

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