“In 1960 Minneapolis, a determined 12-year-old boy, inspired by a promise from original basketball superstar George Mikan, launches a series of hilarious schemes to keep his beloved Minneapolis Lakers from moving to Los Angeles.”

Synopsis:

Tommy Hooksmith Jr., a spirited African American 12-year-old boy in Minneapolis, is obsessed with the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team. His world is shattered when, in between seasons in1960, the team announces it will immediately move to Los Angeles.

Tommy, fueled by childhood memories of an inspirational meeting the legendary George Mikan years earlier and the recent news of the Lakers' miraculous plane crash survival, refuses to accept defeat.

Supported by his friends D.J., Steven, and Elly and his neighbor Sarge, a Korean War veteran, Tommy embarks on a mission to save his beloved team. Their campaign starts with a "Save the Minneapolis Bakers" flyer crusade (a minor typo) and direct appeals to the Mayor.

They are thwarted by team banker Gunther von Goeckel who needs the Lakers to move so he can get out of Minneapolis and to a big cushy bank in Los Angeles.

The kids take their fight to the streets, setting up a table outside the Lakers' home court, making passionate pleas about the Brooklyn Dodgers' destructive move to Los Angeles a year earlier and Minneapolis's growing appeal for other sports teams. The street debate culminates in a chaotic brawl that brings the police.

Continuing to fight the move, Tommy launches a protest march through downtown Minneapolis which proves to be too much for the city and his family, and all hell breaks loose.

Despite facing setbacks and fighting against adults, Tommy's determination remains unshaken. He learns a lifelong lesson about resilience and standing up for what he believes in, even when the odds are stacked against him. With the help of his friends and family, Tommy discovers the power of community and the enduring spirit of sportsmanship.