What Are Your Favorite Basketball Movies?

Here is a list of our favorite movies for basketball junkies. Keep in mind that this list comprises both adult and child friendly movies. You should check ratings and a web site like https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ to get an idea about appropriateness for your family.

1. He Got Game

Spike Lee’s basketball story about Coney Island Brooklyn’s favorite hoops prodigy, Jesus Shuttlesworth, played by real life NBA Star Ray Allen. Jesus Shuttlesworth is the number one high school prospect in the country and he can go to any college in the country. But his dad, played by Denzel Washington, gets released from prison temporarily to recruit him to a certain college in order for him to get released early from prison. The movie offers a good luck at how seriously Coney Island takes basketball. Spike Lee once again puts his touch on the film with awesome cinematography (check out the opening credits) and a diverse soundtrack featuring the likes of Aaron Copeland and Public Enemy. And his cameo list, which shows his celebrity status as an NBA fan, is really impressive.

2. White Men Can’t Jump

The story of two streetball hustlers, one white and one black. These two con men travel the streets of Los Angeles playing 2 on 2 for money. The movie follows the relationship of the two players and the struggle of trying to make a living off playground basketball. The trash talking that goes on during the basketball scenes is hilarious. “Let’s just collect all these bricks and build a homeless shelter so your mom can have somewhere to live.” Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson make up the duo and create some memorable characters, culminating in a climactic and memorable scene where Woody Harrelson tries to prove whether white men can truly jump or not. Plus, Rosie Perez is enjoyable to watch as the intelligent and supportive girlfriend of Woody.

3. Hoosiers

The classic basketball movie. This is the inspiring true story of a small high school in Indiana who takes down the favorites to win the state championship. A real David vs. Goliath narrative. The community rallies around the underdog and their chase for the state title and it creates a connection with the characters that puts a smile on your face when they finally make history. Gene Hackman creates a memorable performance as the witty coach who takes his small team to the top.

4. Blue Chips

This is a movie about big time recruiting at the Division 1 level. This story follows a one-time great coach who will do anything to make it back to the top, whether it’s legal or not. Finally though, the coach is faced with some ethical decisions as to whether he is winning the right way. Some nice performances are put in from NBA superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway who play the blue chip recruits. Shaq plays an unknown gem of a recruit from the Bayou and Penny plays a 5 star phenom from Chicago, what a coincidence right? Nick Nolte is a great fit as the coach.

5. Love and Basketball

A beautiful movie about two young hoopers, Quincy and Monica, who grow up together playing ball and end up falling in love. The story follows the couple through high school and college as they each experience their ups and down through their basketball careers and their love life. The soundtrack is awesome featuring everyone from Chaka Khan to Kool Moe Dee to Maxwell. Omar Epps plays Quincy and portrays a pretty believable basketball player. Great date night movie for all the basketball couples in the house

6. Sunset Park

The story of an all-black New York City high school basketball team who has the talent and not the discipline, but when an old frumpy white teacher at the school, who knows nothing about basketball, takes over the team she turns them into a winning program. This is a pretty unbelievable plot but entertaining because who doesn’t enjoy urban street culture rubbing off on elderly white people?

7. Semi Pro

Will Ferrell’s omage to the ABA. This comedic riot has a great cast including Ferrell, Andre 3000 and our friend Woody Harrellson. The movie follows the tumultuous and wacky times of the Flint Tropics as they try and make a dollar in the floundering yet flashy ABA of the 1970’s. Favorite quote from the movie goes something along the lines of “We should’ve kept that washing machine instead of trading it for you.”

8. The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

With the help of an astrologer, this lowly team slowly but surely starts winning some ball games. This movie is ridiculously flashing. Tons of disco music, flashy play and it even stars Dr. J Julius Erving. It perfectly encapsulates what the ABA must have been like, or at least wanted to be like. Pretty far-fetched that a team would depend on the aid of a psychic astrologer with a crystal ball, but hey, it was the 70’s.

9. Coach Carter

The amazing true story of Coach Ken Carter who takes over his alma mater, Richmond High School, and coaches a group of troubled youth to success not only on the court, but also in life. This movie hits home for me because I went to junior college right down the street from Richmond High School in Richmond, California and spent a lot of time in the impoverished community that surrounds the school. If a young athlete can take away anything from this movie it is that academics are just as important if not more important than your success on the hardwood.

10. Space Jam

This was probably my favorite movie when I was a little boy. Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes to face off against the Monstars who stole the talent from some of the NBA’s brightest stars. This movie is kind of fun to look back on as it takes place during MJ’s baseball stint. (Yikes) The live action and cartoon combination was done pretty well and the cameos by Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Bill Murray among others are pretty comical.

Honorable Mentions: Glory Road, Above the Rim, Eddie, Juwanna Mann

***This list excludes documentaries… stay tuned for that Basketball Movies List soon.

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