10 Essential Basketball Movies To Watch During the NBA Playoffs

The NBA Championships are among the best times of year for basketball fans, and there are many movies that have captured what makes the sport so special. Like all movies about athletes and their respective sports, basketball movies highlight the human drama that plays out on the court. These movies explore how essential basketball has been to American culture, particularly among talented teens aspiring to play at the highest levels.

Some movies, like High Flying Bird, focus on the business of basketball, and how it impacts athletes at every level. Other movies, like Hustle, emphasize the importance of mentorship to those pursuing a professional basketball career. The best movies to revisit during the NBA playoffs highlight everything that makes basketball so much fun to watch, while also reminding viewers of the realities athletes, coaches, and everyone in the sport face on a daily basis.

10

‘White Men Can’t Jump’ (1992)

Directed by Ron Shelton

White Men Can’t Jump introduces Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson), a former college basketball player who makes his living hustling amateurs who assume he can’t play basketball because he’s white. He plays against Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes), who he beats twice before the two become friends. The movie follows how they go from being rivals to harnessing their talents to maximize their profits.

White Men Can’t Jump is a great movie to watch during the NBA playoffs because it highlights how impactful basketball is as a sport, and how easy it is for people to connect with it. While this is a story about friendship at its core, it’s also the story of how two people from wildly different backgrounds are able to harness the intensity of the sport. This is a perfect movie that represents basketball’s unique culture, especially as it existed in the 1990s.

9

‘Hoop Dreams’ (1994)

Directed by Steve James

Hoop Dreams is a documentary that follows two high school students who aspire to play basketball professionally. William Gates and Arthur Agee are followed for five years as they train in their school’s high school basketball program that’s led by former NBA coach Gene Pingatore. Hoop Dreams is a notable sports documentary because it highlights the economic barriers that exist for talented athletes as they try to pursue their dreams.

Hoop Dreams is an honest, sometimes heartbreaking look at the realities of pursuing an athletic career. Gates and Agee are nothing less than inspirational as they face every challenge with grace and determination. This is a perfect documentary to watch during the NBA playoffs because it is a reminder of the massive amount of effort each player has had to put in to get where they are. This documentary emphasizes the fact that no one simply gets to the NBA by chance.

8

‘The Heart of the Game’ (2005)

Directed by Ward Serrill

The Heart of the Game is a documentary that follows a high school girls basketball team as they prepare for their state’s championships. Viewers are introduced to Darnellia Russell, the team’s star player and coach Bill Resler. The movie mainly revolves around Russell’s quest for redemption after her team falls short at the Washington State championship. The Heart of the Game highlights the personal challenges Russell faced while trying to get her high school basketball career back on track.

The Heart of the Game is perfect to watch during the NBA playoffs because it’s another example of a documentary that offers an inside look at the demands of the sport. Russell is easy to root for as she fights to lead her team while facing her own personal and family challenges. The Heart of the Game is a reminder to those watching the top NBA players in the finals that each of those players required a tremendous amount of support and luck to get to the highest levels of their sport.

7

‘High Flying Bird’ (2019)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

High Flying Bird introduces Ray Burke (André Holland), a struggling sports agent who has to pitch an opportunity to his client within 72 hours to avoid complete ruin. During an NBA lockout, Ray uses his client, Erick Scott (Melvin Gregg), a rookie basketball player, to try and upend the existing system to give athletes more control over their careers. The movie is an unflinching look at how easy it is for athletes to be exploited by the current systems in place.

High Flying Bird is an important basketball movie that can easily be revisited during the NBA playoffs because it focuses on the business of basketball. Through a fun story with charming characters, the movie asks viewers to consider some of the broader implications of the fact that professional basketball is an industry. The movie is also an unflinching look at the power dynamics that develop when athletes have less control over their careers than they probably should.

6

‘He Got Game’ (1998)

Directed by Spike Lee

Het Got Game introduces Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington), the father of a top basketball prospect, Jesus (Ray Allen). Jake is released from prison to try to persuade his son to play for the state’s governor’s alma mater. The story follows Jesus as he struggles to maintain control of his own destiny and keep his focus on his growing career. Through Jesus, viewers are invited to consider the very real issue of young, highly talented athletes being taken advantage of by the surrounding adults.

He Got Game is a unique basketball movie to watch during the NBA playoffs because it’s a family drama at its core. The fact that the movie stars Allen, a real-life NBA star, gives the story an extra layer of authenticity. Jesus’ story blurs the line between reality and fiction as the movie explores the emotional toll that a developing professional basketball career can take. For those enjoying the NBA playoffs, He Got Game highlights the importance of allowing up-and-coming athletes the chance to take charge of their destinies.

5

‘Space Jam’ (1996)

Directed by Joe Pytka

Space Jam is a sports comedy that sees Michael Jordan team up with members of the Looney Tunes. The movie combines live-action and animated performances. Aliens known as the Monstars try to imprison the Looney Tunes characters and steal talent from NBA players. What follows is a sweet and hilarious meditation on the power of friendship. Space Jam is a nostalgic treat for anyone who came of age in the 1990s.

What makes Space Jam such an essential movie to revisit during the NBA playoffs is that it captures what makes the sport so magical. The movie appeals to viewers’ inner child by highlighting timeless lessons about the power of teamwork and self-belief. Watching iconic characters like the Looney Tunes team up with the legendary Michael Jordan alone makes this movie worth revisiting during the NBA playoffs.

4

‘Rez Ball’ (2024)

Directed by Sydney Freeland

Rez Ball follows the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team. The story highlights their quest to win the New Mexico state championship while processing the loss of one of their teammates. Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt) steps up to fill the void left by his friend Nataanii Jackson (Kusem Goodwind). Rez Ball is a heartwarming story about a community and a team that come together after experiencing a devastating tragedy.

Rez Ball is another movie that highlights the hard mental and physical work that’s required to succeed in basketball, whether at the high school or professional level. It’s also another example of one that showcases the cultural significance of basketball to many communities, including the Navajo. This is a movie that reminds everyone that basketball is a force for good and can bring people together under the most difficult circumstances.

3

‘Hustle’ (2022)

Directed by Jeremiah Zagar

Hustle is an Adam Sandler-led comedy that introduces Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a jaded professional scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. Sugarman discovers an up-and-coming Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangómez), a Spanish student, by watching him play a pick-up game. The story follows Sugerman’s determination to bring Cruz to the United States so that he can start his professional career. The two end up bonding despite Sugerman’s jaded attitude to the sport.

At its core, Hustle is a heartfelt story about perseverance, the importance of mentorship and the power of sport to change lives. This is also another example of a basketball movie that features several appearances by real NBA stars, which adds to the experience. Hustle offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the talent seen during the NBA playoffs is nurtured by people who never stop believing in them.

2

‘Glory Road’ (2006)

Directed by James Gartner

Glory Road is a historical drama that follows the events that led up to the 1966 NCAA University Division basketball tournament. Coach Dan Haskins (Josh Lucas) was the first to lead a team whose starting lineup consisted of all Black players. This was a monumental moment in the history of American college sports. The movie explores the racism and discrimination the players faced as they perfected their talents and looked for professional careers.

Glory Road is a reminder of how basketball as a sport has come, and how far it still needs to go. This movie is an important one to revisit during the NBA playoffs because it highlights a critical moment in basketball history. Glory Road highlights the courage that previous generations of players had to show in order to be recognized as world-class athletes. Rewatching this movie during the NBA playoffs is a chance to appreciate the history of the sport in the United States, and everything previous generations had to overcome.

1

‘Coach Carter’ (2005)

Directed by Thomas Carter

Coach Carter is a historical drama starring Samuel L. Jackson, that follows the true story of Ken Carter (Jackson), a high school basketball coach who suspended his team for poor academic performances. The movie sees Carter build his team back from the ground up. Carter’s commitment to fostering excellence in his team ultimately leads the team to experience success that they never could have dreamed of.

Coach Carter is a testament to the fact that basketball is more than just a sport. While watching the NBA playoffs, Coach Carter is a heartwarming reminder of the fact that all of these players had to have entire communities who believed in them and saw what they were capable of. This movie is a tribute to the power coaches can have in their players’ lives, and that they can influence athletes on and off the court.

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