The Greatest Review: Prime Video Brings Muhammad Ali's Early Years to Life

The Path to GREATNESS is paved through HUMILITY, a lesson that stands out in this series.

I have always known Muhammad Ali as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring, but seeing the story of how he got there is something else. The Greatest takes us back to his early years and gives us a closer look at the young man behind the name, the family that helped shape him, and the journey that turned Cassius Clay into a household name. I was really looking forward to this one, and it did not disappoint.

This eight-episode limited series follows Cassius through his amateur boxing days, including his Olympic gold medal win in Rome, and his journey toward becoming the fighter the world would come to know as Muhammad Ali. One of the biggest reasons this series works so well is Jaalen Best, who plays Cassius Clay. He is absolutely perfect in the role. He captures the confidence, the swagger, the footwork, the rhymes, and the personality that made Ali so special. Whether he is inside the ring or outside of it, Best does a great job bringing that larger-than-life personality to the screen.

The family dynamic is another part of the series that really stood out to me. Omari Hardwick plays Cassius Clay Sr., Dana Gourrier plays his mother, Odessa Clay, and Kai Parham plays his brother Rudy, who would later become known as Rahaman Ali. The chemistry between them feels natural, and you get a real sense of how much his family meant to him.

There is a flashback showing a young Cassius nervous before a fight, and his mother reminds him that he is the greatest. It is a small moment, but it says a lot about the confidence and encouragement his family gave him. Cassius is already becoming a hometown champion in Louisville, and people are starting to see dollar signs when they look at him.

His father is especially protective because he knows how easily people can take advantage of his son's success. The series also does a good job showing the racism and discrimination that Black families faced during the 1960s South. There are moments where you see the way people look at Cassius and his family, and the way they are treated simply because of the color of their skin. It is an important part of his story, and the show doesn't shy away from it.

The supporting cast is also worth mentioning. Amin Joseph plays Sonny Liston and his introduction is amazing, Michael Ealy plays Malcolm X, Giovanni Ribisi plays Angelo Dundee, Erica Tazel plays Geraldine Liston, Reno Wilson plays Drew Bundini Brown, Aleks Paunovic plays William Faversham Jr., Dave Davis plays Marvin Geller, Rico E. Anderson plays Willie Reddish, Adrian Alvarado plays Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, and Chris Jericho appears as Gorgeous George. There are a lot of familiar faces here, and the casting overall is really strong.

I also liked the attention to detail throughout the series. The production design, music, accents, and costumes help bring this period to life. Even looking at the cast alongside photographs of the real people they portray, you can see how much thought went into getting the casting right.

We have seen Muhammad Ali's story told before, including in the 2001 film Ali, but having eight episodes gives this series more room to explore his early life, his family, and the people who helped shape his career. Instead of rushing through everything, it takes its time showing us the young Cassius Clay before the world knew him as Muhammad Ali.

Overall, The Greatest is a strong look at the early life of one of the most recognizable athletes in history. Jaalen Best is the standout for me, and the performances from Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier, and Kai Parham make the family side of the story just as interesting as the boxing. If you are a fan of Muhammad Ali or just enjoy a good sports biographical drama, I definitely recommend checking this one out. The first episode is enough to get you invested, and I was ready to keep watching.