Basketball is one of the sports that is loved by most of the world. Some of the greatest players like Michael Jordan, Shaq O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James played an important role in increasing the popularity of this sport, and the energetic personalities and stories behind these iconic figures have also created a deep curiosity among people about their struggles and inner triumphs. That’s when documentaries come into the picture. Over many years, there have been many documentaries made on basketball players and coaches that portray their lives and successes. In this article, we have enlisted some of the greatest documentaries made on basketball that you should watch.
Here are the documentaries enlisted which you can watch on YouTube/Netflix
The Redeem Team
The documentary is directed by John Weinbach, who teamed up with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade to produce a film that gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the USA’s men’s National Basketball journey back to glory and dominance. The story is told from the perspective of the players and includes anecdotes and information. The documentary focuses on the development of the USA basketball team, but it also centers on the legacy of the late Kobe Bryant. Players like LeBron James, Carlos Boozer, and Carmelo Anthony tell stories, overall, the documentary depicts sides of the late Kobe Bryant that people didn’t get to see.
The Last Dance
Since its announcement in 2018, fans have eagerly waited for it to be released. The need to tell the full story about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls was made even more acute by the coronavirus pandemic, which brought all sports to a halt and made fans feel the need for reparations. This documentary is an unfiltered look at one of the greatest teams of all time. The documentary shows how Michael Jordan is the best ever. With Co-stars like Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, this 10-part documentary shows how tough it was for the Bulls, but they made it look easy.
Untold: Malice at the Palace
This documentary can be called the most anticipated one, as everyone wanted to know about the biggest stories in sports history. In 2021, finally, the Basketball fans got this “Untold Malice at the Palace.” This documentary was released on Netflix as one big episode. It shows the untold perspectives of the biggest brawl in sports history that occurred in 2004 between fans and players.
On November 19, 2004, during the match between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, when there were only 46 seconds left, one of the Pacers players fouled a Pistons player. That’s when the brawl between the teams started. When Artest went to lie down on the scorer’s table, a Pistons fan hit him with a drink. Artest then went to the stands and attacked a fan who he thought had thrown the drink. The chaos began from there, and an all-out brawl broke out between the fans and players. This documentary shows interviews from players like Ron Artest, Jeramine, and even fans involved in the fight.
Hoop Dreams
This documentary is directed by Steve James. Even if you are not a basketball fan, Hoop Dreams is still worth watching as it tells so much about education, class, and race. In this documentary, the lives of two rising black players, William Gates and Arthur Agee, are shown as they deal with the struggles of growing up in the neighbourhoods of Chicago. Every minute of this documentary will be worth your time, and it has everything from heartbreaking scenes to accomplishments.
Benji
This documentary is directed by Coodie and Chike and was released in 2012. It is about a 17-year-old boy named Benjamin Wilson, who was an American High school basketball player. He was regarded as the best basketball player at the time. Benji was the first Chicago athlete to be scouted by the coaches and Scouts for attending the 1984 Athletes for Better Education basketball camp. Unfortunately, he was shot and killed during an altercation near his school. This documentary shows the regeneration and legacy of the fallen player.
Basketball: A Love Story
This 10-episode documentary by ESPN features all the greats of basketball. The ESPN team interviewed notable basketball coaches, commissioners, NBA and WNBA players, and also retired ones. The aim of this 10-part documentary is to tell people the stories of Basketball legends and how they have put everything into the game. It also highlights specific things like the Lakers dominance in the 2000s and the turmoil between their two superstars. The director of this documentary, Dan Klores, was able to bring almost every major Basketball personality on camera except Michael Jordan and Gregg Popovich.
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were part of the same NBA draft class and shared a healthy rivalry with each other. The documentary Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals is directed by Ezra Edelman and tells the story of the impact of these two players during the 1980s. Despite being rivals, Larry and Magic shared an unbreakable bond. With the focus on their rivalry in court, the documented film also takes us into the depths of how Bird and African Americans would gain mutual respect. Although many fellow NBA players, such as Dennis Rodman and Magic’s good friend Isiah Thomas, said that Bird was considered noble because of his skin colour, when Magic discusses his good friendship with Bird, the documentary will definitely make you feel emotional.
