Conversations with Justina Chi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justina Chi.

Hi Justina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, and my journey has taken me through music, basketball, education, legal services, and film and television production. Each chapter gave me skills that I now bring into my work as a producer and entrepreneur.

I started in music as a writer and performer, with experiences that included working around Big Daddy Kane, touring under Protect Ya Neck/Wu-Tang, and signing with Sucka Free/Sony. Those experiences helped me understand the business behind entertainment and the dedication it takes to build a career.

Basketball has always been another major part of my life. I played in high school and at the Division II college level before founding the Models Basketball League. Over 10 years, I brought sports and entertainment together through events in NBA markets, including Atlanta, Detroit, New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Alongside my creative career, I continued my education, earned my MBA, worked as an educational advisor for approximately 14 years, and gained extensive experience as a paralegal. I also spent nearly a decade working with Mann Robinson Productions as a documentary producer.

Those experiences eventually came together in Love & Basketball: The Series. I wanted to create space for women with basketball backgrounds to share their lives beyond the court, including motherhood, relationships, careers, and mental health. I helped bring the series from an idea to a finished production through producing, casting, editing, and shaping its music. Seeing that work reach audiences and receive recognition has been a meaningful part of my journey.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing motherhood, professional responsibilities, and the demands of independent production. As a single mother and entrepreneur, I have to be intentional about my time, resources, and commitments.

Independent production also requires you to wear many hats. With Love & Basketball, my responsibilities extended beyond producing into casting, editing, and preparing the finished project for distribution. Every stage required patience, problem-solving, and a willingness to keep learning.

My background in business, education, and legal services has helped me navigate those responsibilities. I have learned how important it is to communicate expectations, document agreements, and understand the business side of creative work.

The journey has required persistence. Having a vision is the beginning; completing the work means following through when the process becomes difficult. I’m proud that I kept moving and brought the series to an audience.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a film and television producer, entrepreneur, and the creator of Love & Basketball: The Series. My work brings together entertainment, sports, and conversations about the experiences people carry into their everyday lives.

The series follows women with basketball backgrounds as they navigate relationships, motherhood, marriage, divorce, careers, and mental health. Basketball connects them, while their personal stories give viewers opportunities to relate, reflect, and start conversations.

Our motto is, “We don’t throw drinks, we throw jump shots.” That captures the spirit of what I wanted to create: women with strong personalities and real disagreements who also have talent, ambition, families, and goals.

I’m especially proud of taking a hands-on role in bringing the series to completion. It debuted in the Top Ten on its original platform and reached number one within its first 30 days. It has since expanded to Tubi and other networks.

Receiving the Dr. Chester Pierce Award for Mental Health and Wellness Film was particularly meaningful because mental health is part of the purpose behind the project. That recognition helped inspire the Love & Basketball reunion and relationship and mental health panel, extending those conversations beyond the episodes.

What makes my perspective distinctive is the range of experience I bring to production. I understand performing, organizing sports events, advising students, managing business responsibilities, and working behind the scenes. All of those experiences influence how I tell stories and bring people together.

How do you think about happiness?
Happiness for me includes spending time with my son and watching him grow. Being his mother gives my work a deeper purpose, and I want him to see what it looks like to pursue a goal, keep learning, and follow through.

Creatively, I find happiness in seeing an idea become something people can experience. There is a special feeling in watching a project come together after all the planning, decisions, and work behind it.

I also find joy in helping people recognize their own possibilities. Whether I’m advising someone, creating an opportunity, or sharing a story that makes a viewer feel understood, those moments matter to me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @justinachichi
• Facebook: Justina Chi
• Youtube: @loveandbasketballtvshow