Don't consume "The Last Dance" without also watching the Luc Longley doc, "One Giant Leap"

If you live in the Bay Area and follow college hoops even a minimal amount, you know how underrated Australians are at basketball. Seemingly every year, a new 18-year-old bloke shows up in Moraga, California and sings on at Saint Mary’s College for a few years, before ascending to the NBA and finding sustained success. From Patty Mills, to Matthew Dellavedova, to Jock Landale, the list goes on. Aussies love coming to America to play high level basketball and it seems like more and more players are succeeding every year.

One of the first Aussies to lay the foundation in the NBA for others to follow was Luc Longley, who came to the states in the 90’s to play for the University of New Mexico, before being drafted and eventually teaming up with Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and Michael Jordan for the Bulls’ “Repeat Threepeat” teams, including the “Last Dance” team, which led to the now famous documentary.

In the recent Aussie documentary “One Giant Leap,” (available for free on YouTube), Longley gives a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to be the starting center on those championship Bulls teams we now know so much about. Longley speaks candidly throughout the documentary, explaining in great detail what it was like to be drafted into the NBA, be traded to the Bulls, link up with MJ and embark on the wild ride that was.

Longley and Jordan himself give an honest account of their relationship and Longley explains in clear terms what it was like to play alongside Jordan and defend NBA titles versus all comers. Longley also goes on to explain how difficult it was for him to come down from the high of winning championships in Chicago and return to the monotony of suiting up for pedestrian NBA teams like the Suns and Knicks, and eventually, just trying to live everyday life.

With a fraction of the budget, resources and star power, “One Giant Leap,” quietly provides a clear window into what it was like to be a part of the 1990’s Bulls. And not just as a fly on the wall either. But instead as a 7-foot center who somehow still flew under the radar low enough to be (almost) forgotten about completely.

Simply put, if you enjoyed “The Last Dance,” make sure to check out “One Giant Leap” for a whole new perspective.