Former NBA Star Jalen Rose Launches Detroit Media Company, Stars in New Tubi Series

Jalen Rose has built Same Page Entertainment in Detroit alongside Tom Gores, founder of Platinum Equity and owner of the Detroit Pistons. The company creates podcasts, TV shows, and other programming.

The first project? South West High, which dropped on Feb. 23.

Rose plays Nolan Thomas. He used to be a pro basketball player. Nolan takes over as principal of his old Detroit high school. The story pulls from Rose's own experiences growing up in Motor City.

"We're really excited about highlighting the sacrifices that educators make, the challenges that students overcome but also some of the amazing stories of young people who are doing what they can to make their goals happen," Rose told reporters at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 23, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Rose, now 53, graduated from Detroit's now-shuttered Southwestern High School. He played at Michigan as part of the famous "Fab Five" before logging 13 seasons in the NBA. They shot parts of the sitcom at his Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, which he opened in 2011.

Five hour-long episodes air each Monday. Ty Mopkins, a Detroit-based designer and longtime friend who also attended Southwestern, works as executive producer. Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9" coordinates the music and co-produced the soundtrack.

"It's so very important for me to be 10 toes down here and never change my driver's license, not just be somebody that says 'What's up doe' and wears an Old English D hat but actually lives here, puts on from here, employs people from here, boss up everywhere I go, represent our city and build a company here," Rose said.

Same Page Entertainment has several projects brewing. An audio and video podcast is coming. So is a documentary on the McDonald's All-American Games. They're also building a content studio in downtown Detroit.

Rose stopped by Michigan Matters on March 6 to talk about his work and the new company. He threw out his Final Four picks for the NCAA Tournament and offered thoughts on Michigan, Michigan State and other schools as March Madness approached.