Even casual fans have heard the name LeBron James. For two decades, the superstar has been tearing it up on the basketball court, in commercials and on the big and small screen. He’s a charismatic player and one of the best to ever play the game. But how did he get his start?

In a new film debuting on Peacock Friday, we explore the high school years—and the bond of friendship—that came to define James’ rise. We know the story of his professional life, but Shooting Stars takes us back to the days when it was him, his friends and a dream.

We pick up with a young group of kids under the direction of Dru Joyce (Wood Harris), who recruited a group of players to play alongside his son, Lil Dru. Little did he realize they’d become a family.

Flash forward four years, and the quartet of friends is preparing for high school. Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin) seems to be relegated to JV until he approaches Coach Dambrot (Dermot Mulroney) at St. Mary-St. Vincent. Finding a place, they can all play together, Lil Dru recruits his friends Sian (Khalil Everage), Willie McGee (Avery Serell Wills Jr.) and LeBron James (Marquis Mookie Cook). Together they form one of the best high school teams ever and forge a legacy that leads LeBron straight to NBA glory.

The film chronicles those high school years, the challenges and victories on the court and the friendship that has spanned a lifetime. It gives viewers a window into LeBron’s formative years and the relationships that he holds dear.

The film is based on the book from Buzz Bissinger and tells the story of these four friends—whose youth basketball team was dubbed the Shooting Stars. It’s an interesting tale that features some strong performances. I enjoyed Cook as LeBron and I enjoyed the story of these friends and their competition on the court.

However, it felt like this story was somewhat generic. We know who LeBron is and that creates some of the intrigue, but if this was an original story. The intrigue comes from learning more about LeBron’s story. And this is a better take than some of the origin stories we’ve seen for other players, even contemporary NBA stars. But it still feels like it plays along the typical tropes of the genre.

Still, I enjoyed it for what it was. It’s an interesting story that’s worth checking out and feels like another solid addition for Peacock.

Shooting Stars is streaming on Peacock beginning Friday.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.