Showtime
Former LSU and NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is the centerpiece of new Showtime documentary “Stand,” which premieres Friday, February 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
If you don’t have cable or don’t have Showtime, here are some different ways you can watch “Stand” streaming live or on-demand online:
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Amazon Prime’s Showtime Channel
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch all live and on-demand Showtime content via Prime Channels. You can try both Amazon Prime and the Showtime Channel at no cost with a free trial right here:
Watch Showtime on Amazon Prime
Once you’re signed up for the Prime Showtime Channel, you can watch “Stand” live or on-demand on the Amazon Video app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via the Amazon website.
FuboTV
Showtime is available as an add-on to FuboTV’s main 100-plus-channel package. Both the main channel bundle and the Showtime add-on can be included in your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch “Stand” live or on-demand on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” Showtime is only available in the “Premier” package or as a separate add-on to another bundle, but you can include any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch “Stand” live or on-demand on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
‘Stand’ Preview
Directed by Joslyn Rose Lyons, Showtime’s latest sports documentary “Stand” explores the “courageous journey of activist and basketball phenom Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf,” according to the Showtime press release.
It continues:
The raw and unflinching “Stand” details Abdul-Rauf’s unprecedented journey from schoolboy prodigy to NBA All-Rookie team to national pariah. “Stand” explores the personal struggles of Abdul-Rauf — born Chris Jackson in Gulfport, Mississippi — and how he overcame overwhelming odds, including extreme poverty and Tourette’s Syndrome, to make it to basketball’s biggest stage. The film also details Abdul-Rauf’s conversion to Islam and his groundbreaking stand against racism and for social justice, and the backlash that ensued.
Ostracized as a kid due to vocal and motor tics and his unmitigated yearning for perfection, Abdul-Rauf may have never escaped the extreme poverty of his hometown if it wasn’t for a diagnosis — Tourette’s Syndrome — and his decision to take up basketball. Finding that the constant and repeated acts of dribbling, shooting, spinning and jumping provided serenity, he would soon become one of the greatest scorers the college game had ever seen while at Louisiana State University. Automatic at the free throw line and with limitless range, he was the precursor to the shooting wonder of Curry.
The film also details Abdul-Rauf’s groundbreaking stand against racism and for social justice, and the backlash that ensued. After changing his name and converting to Islam amid the heightened tensions from the Gulf War, Abdul-Rauf was exiled in his own locker room and a target of hate speech and Islamophobia across the nation. Unable to sit still because of his Tourette’s Syndrome and unwilling to stay silent and cower in the face of prejudice, he elected not to stand at attention during the national anthem prior to a game in 1996. Just two years later, he would go unsigned by any NBA team, despite being in the prime of his career and averaging nearly 20 points per game during the 1995-96 season, setting the precedent for Kaepernick.
More than 20 years later, following the killing of Trayvon Martin and the “I Can’t Breathe” and Black Lives Matter movements, Abdul-Rauf recounts the moments that led him to where he is today and contemplates one important question: Has he made peace with the way he was mistreated?
“Stand” features extensive interviews with prominent basketball and entertainment stars including four-time NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP Curry, nine-time NBA Champion as player and coach Steve Kerr, NBA Hall of Famer and three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal, former NBA player and current basketball analyst Jalen Rose, two-time Oscar winning actor Mahershala Ali and rapper, actor and filmmaker Ice Cube.
“Mahmoud’s story is one of intense personal and professional struggles, undertaken with tremendous courage and integrity, resulting in both tragedies and triumphs,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Showtime Sports, in a statement. “His legacy of athletic achievement, social justice activism and unwavering personal courage serves to inspire the next generation of social justice activists to speak truth to power and gives hope to those battling mental health issues. We are proud to collaborate with Mahmoud and this talented group of filmmakers to set the record straight on Mahmoud’s pioneering work on and off the court.”
“It is an honor to be collaborating with Showtime and the production team and working with our director, Joslyn Rose Lyons,” Abdul-Rauf said. “Joslyn has brought a stellar, brilliant vision to this film. My hope is that my story will help heal and bring new perspective to the world.”
“I’m grateful to be working with Showtime and the team on such a profoundly inspiring story,” said Rose Lyons. “Mahmoud’s journey is one of courage and strength, and it’s an honor to help shine a light in the areas of his life that were left out of focus.”
“Stand” premieres Friday, February 3 at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times on Showtime.