Beyond the Highlights: How Jamyr Greene Tells Basketball’s Real Stories
- Ahnyah Pinckney
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
His Creative Journey Begins Behind the Camera
Jamyr Greene never set out to just film basketball games. What began as a teenager holding a camera in Franklin Township, New Jersey, has grown into a multidisciplinary creative practice blending videography, fashion, photography, and storytelling.
Now 27, Greene identifies as a creative producer specializing in film, photo, design, and music even though labels rarely capture the scope of his work.
“I’ve been creating like crazy since I was 16,” he says. “Promos, commercials, event coverage, photo shoots, campaign designs. Whatever lane I stepped into, I tried to understand it fully.”
That curiosity was nurtured at Franklin High School through his Aspects of Video class, where he spent two years studying video production under Michael Pinnix. The class introduced him to storytelling through sports, lifestyle segments, and school programming, helping him envision a creative career.
How Education Shaped His Creative Path
Greene continued that foundation at Montclair State University, studying television and digital media with a concentration in TV production. While the academic structure felt limiting, the creative community proved essential.
“I met a lot of like-minded creatives there,” he noted. “Even if the academic side felt bland to me, the people didn’t.”
Instead of waiting for institutional access, Greene leaned into independence, using his own camera to shoot basketball games, film promos, and freelance both on and off campus.
Breaking Into Music, Media, and Freelance Creative Work
By 2018 and 2019, Greene’s freelance momentum led him into the music industry. He interned with XXL during the 2019 Freshman Class rollout, capturing behind-the-scenes moments with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Rich, and Gunna. He also worked with Hot 97 and briefly toured with artists nationwide.
“I threw myself in so many different alleys and it felt like every year I ran into a new opportunity,” he said. “I was just a full-blown creative.”
A Solo Exhibition and Career Reflection Moment
In September 2023, Greene hosted his first solo exhibition, So Far, So Good, showcasing 25 photographs and video work from across his career. While successful, the show sparked reflection.
“I didn’t feel like I had something that was truly mine. I knew I was good, but I didn’t know what I stood for,” he said.
That period overlapped with his departure from the NBA, where he worked on the digital and social content team from 2022 to 2024, contributing to NBA Finals coverage, Olympic content, and daily league storytelling.
“When you’re in it, everything moves so fast,” he reflected. “I didn’t fully process what I had been part of until I left.”
Hoop Diaries: Redefining Basketball Storytelling
Clarity arrived in late 2024 with Hoop Diaries, a brand that reconnected Greene with basketball through a more intentional lens. He believes the timing was divine.
“To be able to leave the league at that point and immediately roll into [shooting] high school basketball… I felt like this was my perfect time to capitalize and be super intentional with everything I did for the brand,” said Greene.
What began as narrated visual essays evolved into a multimedia platform blending documentary visuals, interviews, and short-form storytelling. Rather than highlights, Greene focuses on human stories, conducting postgame interviews centered on adversity, identity, and growth.
“I want to know you as a person. I want to know how you get over moments like this because it’s all going to circulate to make the story even better,” said Greene.
Since launching, Hoop Diaries has featured over 50 interviews and grown organically to more than 2,000 Instagram followers.
The Creative Philosophy Behind Hoop Diaries
Greene structures Hoop Diaries into creative volumes that explore distinct dimensions of the game. The volumes examine themes ranging from The Art of Practice, Craftsmanship, and Peace of Mine, all guided by emotion rather than formula, while actively highlighting players, teams, and programs. For Greene, nothing is wasted; every part of his production is designed to spark emotion, reflection, or curiosity, leaving audiences with a meaningful takeaway.
Though he works across mediums, cinema remains his foundation.
“Video is my first language. It’s how everything else makes sense,” said Greene.
Finding Creative Inspiration Beyond Social Media Algorithms
Greene turns to physical photo books and cultural texts for inspiration, citing figures like Gordon Parks alongside archives of hip-hop, sports, and fashion.
“You can shoot all day, but if there’s no purpose, what’s the point?,” he shared.
That focus on purpose shapes his approach to failure and growth.
“Even when times were rocky, I knew there was something that I could find out about myself and apply to the next chapter… It doesn’t get worse, it just depends on you,” he said.
While his path hasn’t been linear, each turn has sharpened his sense of meaning, and his anticipation for what comes next.