JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Bobby Hurley says he was apprehensive about ESPN's magazine show E:60 doing a documentary about his life, especially with the time frame of the filming.
"Just in terms of access and commitment," the Arizona State men's basketball coach said. "I was thinking in terms of beginning our season and what it was going to take, whether it would be a distraction or not."
But the former Duke All-American point guard got over his initial concerns and thought the look back on his upbringing could be a good idea.
The film, "Hurley," premieres Tuesday night on ESPN. A premiere of the film was held Monday night at took place Monday night at St. Peter's University in Jersey City, with 200 or so avid followers from Hurley's hometown in attendance, including his father, Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley.
The younger Hurley said he agreed to do the documentary because Jeremy Schaap was involved. The ESPN reporter wrote and narrated the film.
Schaap said he's admired Hurley since his high school days.
"He came to my attention when I was in college and my father (the late Dick Schaap) told me that coach Mike Krzyzewski was excited because he just got the toughest guy he'd ever seen," Schaap said. "Here's a life that had so many ups and downs and so many challenges. We wanted to capture the richness and the texture of the Hurley story."
The movie traces Hurley's life through the tough days in Jersey City, playing for his demanding father, as well as his selection in the 1993 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings a few months before he nearly died in a car crash. The film also touches on the trials and tribulations of his younger brother, Dan, who is currently the head coach at Rhode Island.
The saga also traces Hurley's post-NBA venture into thoroughbred horse racing, which failed, and his transition into college coaching. Hurley previously coached at Buffalo and just finished his first year at Arizona State.
"It is pretty humbling that they would want to do a movie about my life," said Hurley. The doc includes other prominent people in his life like his parents, Krzyzewski, teammates and even two former mayors of Jersey City.
"I think my story has been told many times in other venues," Hurley said. "Perhaps there are new chapters written lately with what I'm doing now at Arizona State. But the majority of the piece is my upbringing, where I came from. I usually live in the moment, like what I'm doing right now."
"The ups and downs that he has endured makes the story interesting. I think his willingness to explore his emotions," Schaap said. "Jersey City plays a big part. It's a character. If you don't understand Jersey City, then you don't know Bobby Hurley."
