Australian Story

One Giant Leap (2) (26x20)

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Continuing the story of former international basketball star Luc Longley. After the "gentle giant" from WA made it to America's NBA, he had to "shed some of the gentleness" to cope in the hyper-competitive environment. Playing alongside the legendary Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls, Longley and his teammates were surrounded by a constant frenzy as they won three consecutive NBA championships. But when the team disbanded in 1998, Longley was unable to replicate the highs of those Chicago years and he retired due to injury three years later. Returning to Australia, he struggled to adjust to life outside professional sport but eventually found purpose again as an assistant coach with the Australian national team, the Boomers. In addition to Longley and his family, episode two includes revealing interviews with former teammates Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Steve Kerr, coach Phil Jackson, current Boomer Aron Baynes, friend and writer Tim Winton and brother-in-law and comedian Ben Elton.