From Variety’s Michael Schnieder.

Former pro basketball player Paul Shirley’s blog “My So-Called NBA Career” has spawned a half-hour comedy pilot at Fox.

Written by Dan Fogelman (“Like Family”), “The 12th Man” is inspired by Shirley’s blog on ESPN.com. Single-camera project would revolve around a pro basketball player who’s not quite good enough to get much court time — and feels marginalized as a result.

Tim Story (“Fantastic Four”) is aboard to direct the pilot (Daily Variety, Dec. 5) and will exec produce with Fogelman. Shirley will produce; 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.

Guaranteed contract or not, it’s time for Jerome James to start blogging.