NBA TV will look to add original programming in light of the ongoing league lockout with Nov. 22 debut of a six-part original series, Open Court.
The weekly series will feature former NBA players and current announcers discussing personal stories, pressure moments, expertise and thoughts on other NBA stars while showcasing their unique and unforgettable memories, said network officials.
The lockout isn't expected to end anytime soon. Today [Nov. 14] in New York the National Basketball Players Association rejected the NBA owners' latest offer to end the stalemate and moved to disband the union. The union will become a trade association and file a class-action suit against the owners in order to try to force a settlement. These developments put the 2011-12 season in serious jeopardy.
Topics explored as part of the six show series include Tallest Tales of the NBA, My Generation, Curious Tales of the NBA, Pressurized Tales of the NBA, Head Games and Fame, and Curtain Calls and Loose Balls, the network said.
The series will be moderated by Emmy Award winning studio host Ernie Johnson and will feature TNT NBA studio hosts Charles Barkley, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith, Steve Smith, Chris Webber, and Shaquille O'Neal.
The one-hour series will debut Tuesday Nov. 22 -- replacing in part the network's fan choice live NBA game telecast, which has been pre-empted due to the 137-day lockout.
