A net that is hardly strung together filled the screen as basketball dribbles echoed through the speakers. Through little snippets of home videos, a raw and poignant production depicted how unexpected challenges can force one to refocus on what truly matters.
Student Entertainment Events and this university’s Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy office co-hosted a screening of All I Ever Wanted alongside a Q&A with the director and star of the film for Latine Heritage Month, according to Stamp Student Union’s event calendar.
The film chronicles the seven-year journey of Greivis Vásquez, a former Venezuelan basketball player in the NBA and Maryland basketball star, whose time playing on the court was cut short because of a career-ending injury.
Viewers can glimpse into the physical pain from Vásquez’s injury and the mental struggles he faced throughout his life on and off the court, including scenes that describe his struggles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and political uprisings in Venezuela. It also featured interviews from NBA stars Kevin Durant and Kyle Lowry to grasp Vásquez’s legendary impact.
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But his story is not painted as a basketball highlight, but rather is shown as a culmination of Vásquez’s most raw moments. The film does not shy away from showcasing his monumental mistakes and the consequences that followed.
Many scenes depicted his commitment to basketball and the lengths he would go to get back on the court, even if it meant pushing aside his loved ones.
“I never separated basketball with family and anything around me, and that’s one mistake that I’ve made and that’s one of the main reasons I do what I do nowadays,” he said in the screening’s introduction.
The film also touched on the importance of this university to Vásquez, including descriptions of the impact of former Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams on his career.
Vásquez, a point guard, played with Maryland for four years as a student at this university. He played six seasons in the NBA after he was drafted in 2010.
“Coach Williams really believed in my talent and gave me an opportunity,” Vásquez told The Diamondback. “I’m just thankful, and I love my coaches, every single one of them. Even the ones that coached me when I was in Venezuela.”
Carlos P. Beltran, the film’s director and an Emmy-nominated journalist and filmmaker, was unsure where the documentary would end because of Vásquez’s profound determination.
“The fact that he was pushing through every single adversity, every single challenge, we thought, ‘OK, even if he doesn’t make it back, I think that people can learn from him,’” Beltran said. “And I’m glad we did.”
Beltran originally believed the film would conclude with Vásquez stepping back on the court as one of the greatest NBA players. But in his filmmaking process, he learned the importance of patience.
Beltran placed audience members in the cusp of Vásquez’s unintentional and unforeseen career path at the documentary’s end, a clear sign of the lesson he learned as a filmmaker in the process.
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“Throughout my life, I’ve always been the kind of guy who loves instant gratification,” Beltran said. “This film taught me that if I want something done right, humbly speaking, then it’ll take time.”
Today, Vásquez is the NBA pre and post-game analyst for D.C. Monumental Sports Network and the founder of the Greivis Vásquez Foundation, a nonprofit focused on educating and inspiring youth with the “tools to succeed.”
Throughout his journey, Vásquez said he learned the importance of remembering his humanity, being patient and staying calm in the face of adversity. His struggles built his character, Vásquez added.
“Even for adults, it’s important to remind ourselves [that] we have to do the right thing, but especially when no one is watching,” Vásquez told The Diamondback.
