'Who is Stan Smith?' New documentary sheds light on tennis legend, sneaker icon

If you’ve ever slipped on a timeless pair of white Adidas sneakers and wondered, “Who is Stan Smith?” then this new documentary is for you.

Who Is Stan Smith? unveils the journey of two-time major singles champion and former world No.1 Stan Smith, who went from being one of the world’s biggest tennis stars to a leading civil rights and AIDS activist. Along the way he also became synonymous with the namesake Adidas sneakers that would quickly become a staple in the world of hip hop and celebrity fashion alike, cementing his name in pop culture for more than 50 years.

Produced by UNINTERRUPTED, the award-winning athlete storytelling brand, the documentary features interviews with Smith, his family, and many of the world’s most famous athletes and celebrities, including John McEnroe, Darryl McDaniels (“DMC” of Run-DMC), and Donald Dell. LeBron James and Maverick Carter are listed as film’s executive producers on the film, which is directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Danny Lee.

"We all know the shoe. We all know the name," Lee recently told USTA.com. "But let's unpack the mythology behind the shoe."

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the USTA Foundation’s flagship National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. Representatives from the USTA Foundation joined Smith on Friday for a surprise visit to the network’s chapter at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Los Angeles to celebrate the documentary’s premiere—where the group also presented a grant to resurface tennis courts at the Challengers Club in South L.A.

“The sport of tennis has given so much to me in my life, and I’m excited that this film will help future generations both on and off the court,” said Smith.

“The NJTL network was co-founded by my dear friends Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell, and I’m proud that my story will help support their legacies and the USTA Foundation in this way.”

Created in 1969 by tennis legends Ashe, Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, the NJTL network comprises over 250 chapters nationwide and provides more than 150,000 under-resourced youth access to free or low-cost tennis and academic programming.

“Stan is a person who has transcended the boundaries of the tennis court to become a global icon,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of the USTA Foundation.

“He is a shining example of the excellence, resilience, and determination that we aim to instill in the thousands of young people who participate in NJTL programs nationwide, and we are honored to be the documentary’s official beneficiary.”

Who is Stan Smith? started screening in theaters nationwide beginning May 3, with showings in more than 70 markets across the country.