VictoryRoad Studios Acquires Life-Story Rights of Athlete Turned Advocate JD Slajchert

Known for the NAACP Image Award nominated docuseries “Benedict Man” with Stephen Curry, VictoryRoad Studios founder Mike Basone just tapped the life-story rights of Emmy-nominated author, TED speaker, philanthropist, and athlete JD Slajchert.

An unlikely bond between JD, a basketball player and a young boy with a terminal prognosis changed the course of Slajchert’s life forever. During his time as a division one basketball player at UC Santa Barbara, his greatest cheerleader was Luc Bodden who was battling Sickle Cell Disease. Their transformative relationship led Slajchert to co-found The LucStrong Foundation and eventually write his debut novel MoonFlower. Luc passed away at the age of 10 in 2016. 

Slajchert and Bodden’s kinship was first highlighted in a Spectrum News segment, which went on to receive an Emmy nomination for "Sports Feature of the Year." 

VictoryRoad Studios is set to bring Slajchert’s story to the screen in a feature documentary, directed and executive produced by founder and CEO Mike Basone. The documentary will debut exclusively on VictoryRoad+, the studio's newly launched streaming network featuring more than 100 hours of premium sports documentary and unscripted content.

The film will trace Slajchert’s journey from his early days as a celebrated basketball standout in Los Angeles to his life-altering bond with Luc Bodden.

Today, Slajchert is recognized as one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the country and a leading voice in sickle cell advocacy. A college professor at California Lutheran University, he has also been widely covered in national media for his role as spokesperson for both Sean Penn's nonprofit, CORE, and his family's iconic Malibu restaurant, Moonshadows, which was destroyed in the Palisades Fire — a chapter that further shaped his perspective on resilience and purpose.

"JD's story is ultimately about the power of friendship," said Basone. "His relationship with Luc reshaped the trajectory of his life and sparked a mission that continues to inspire people in ways neither of them could have imagined. At VictoryRoad, we're drawn to stories where sport opens the door to something deeply human — resilience, service, purpose. This film will honor their bond and explore the lasting impact of a friendship that continues to ripple far beyond the game."

 "It's a tremendous honor to see your life's work captured in an inspirational, honest, and real project that can hopefully help inspire a lot of people," said Slajchert. "So much has gone into all the years of moments surrounding this story and I'm eager to see it all culminate in this one, singular project. It's exciting. And having Mike and his team at VictoryRoad take this on is a dream come true, his talent and professionalism is unmatched, and I know that together we'll tell a truly impactful and moving story.”

The deal was brokered by managers Matt Kniaz (Crimson Media) and Neil Koenigsberg, alongside agent Babette Perry of Innovative Artists. Pamela Price, founder of Night Wind Studios, is attached to produce.

ABOUT VICTORYROAD+, VICTORYROAD Studios & MIKE BASONE

Mike Basone is a visionary media executive and filmmaker whose work sits at the intersection of sports, storytelling, and culture. Prior to launching VictoryRoad Studios and VictoryRoad+, he served as SVP and Head of Unscripted at both NEO Studios and Whistle Studios. His recent release, Strongman: The Brian Shaw Story—a four-part documentary chronicling the final competitive season of four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw—premiered on VictoryRoad+ in 2025 and is also streaming on Amazon Prime Video. He is also currently in production on an in-depth documentary following actor-turned-NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz throughout his professional racing career.

Basone is the founder of VictoryRoad+, a growing premium sports platform built around creator equity and expert production support. The platform partners directly with athletes and creators to develop, produce, and distribute long-form, story-driven content—giving talent both ownership and the infrastructure needed to tell their stories at a premium level.