Justin Baldoni Caught In Dispute With Former NBA Star Craig Hodges Over Documentary

American Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni is facing a dispute involving NBA champion Craig Hodges and the rights to his documentary project. 

In 2021 Hodges partnered with Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, to adapt his 2017 book, Long Shot: The Triumphs and Struggles of an NBA Freedom Fighter, into a documentary. Hodges, who played for the Chicago Bulls and won two championships, has long been vocal about his experiences with racial discrimination in professional basketball.

The documentary was going to explore Hodge’s career, activism, and his efforts to address social issues. Hodges claims he was blackballed by the NBA in the early 1990s for speaking out on social justice issues. He wants it to be his story to tell. However, after the project stalled in 2022, Hodges has spent the past year fighting to reclaim the rights.. 

British-Indian producer Jivi Singh was working on the film with Hodges, and Wayfarer later stepped in to finance it. Creative differences soon emerged, with Hodges accusing Wayfarer of changing his story. Hodges has voiced frustration that Wayfarer’s involvement led to a focus on virtue signaling rather than truly portraying the struggles of being a Black man in America.

Tensions heightened when Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath, who is Black, expressed that they wanted a Black director for the project. Hodges and Singh disagreed.  Singh, who had already filmed substantial footage, argued that they should continue with the direction they had started, while Baldoni and Heath pushed for a Black director.

This disagreement touches on a broader debate—whether a non-Black filmmaker can authentically tell the story of a Black experience in America. Heath and Baldoni argue that lived experience matters, while Singh and Hodges believe the creative vision should transcend race. 

As the battle over ownership continues, Hodges remains committed to finishing the film. He believes Singh’s version is the truest representation of his journey and hopes Wayfarer will step aside to let the project move forward.