My Top 12 Favorite Basketball Movies

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f you like basketball then you are aware of the drama and excitement that goes into a game as some of the best players score with spectacular dunks or last second 3-point shots from half court. This is what makes basketball one of the most interesting games in sports. But if you are like me, then you also enjoy a good movie with a basketball theme whether it be a drama or a comedy. So sit back and enjoy reading this article as I list my top 12 favorite basketball movies and maybe you will agree that these are the best choices to grace your movie collection.
Here are my top 12 favorite basketball movies from #12 to #1:
12.) Blue Chips (1994)- Nick Nolte stars as Pete Bell, a college basketball coach for the fictional Western University Dolphins. Desperate after a losing season, the team begins to give incentives to players in hopes of recruiting new talent. In the end, Pete Bell becomes disgusted in what his team has become and announces after a press conference about all the activities that have been going on and resigns as coach. Real life NBA players, Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway have key roles in this movie as well.
11.) Teen Wolf (1985)- This entertaining film stars Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard, who discovers that he has a family "curse" that allows him to become a werewolf. When he unexpectantly changes into the wolf during a game, he starts to become very popular among his peers and leads his basketball team from last to first place. Although he is admired by most of the school, his "transformation" becomes a problem for his close friends because of his popularity and arrogance he now has. In the end he plays a game as himself instead of the wolf and after being fouled during the final seconds of the game, he makes two foul shots that win the game by one point.
10.) Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault (1996)- Don Cheadle stars as Earl "The Goat" Manigault, a street baller whose life spiraled out of control because of heroin abuse. Once destined for the NBA because of his basketball skills and dunking ability, his addiction leads him to prison where he is able to overcome his drug problem and start a tournament for kids in Harlem called "Walk Away From Drugs". Forest Whitaker and James Earl Jones also star.
9.) Hoosiers (1986)- Gene Hackman stars as Norman Dale, a controversial coach who lost his previous job for striking a student. At first, he is not well liked by the town because of his defensive-style of coaching and his temper, which leads him to be ejected on several occasions. The town is holding a meeting to decide whether they should get rid of Dale when Jimmy Chitwood, the best player in town, announces he will play for the team only if Dale is the coach. From this point on, Hickory becomes an unstoppable team in which they advance to the state finals and win it in the final seconds. This movie is a prime example of the underdog prevailing.
8.) Glory Road (2006)- This film is based on a true story dealing with the events leading to the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, in which the late Don Haskins, head coach of the Texas Western College led a team with an all-black starting lineup, a first in NCAA history. Josh Lucas stars as Coach Haskins and Jon Voight has a part as Coach Adolph Rupp.
7.) He Got Game (1998)- Spike Lee wrote and directed this sports-drama about Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted of murdering his wife. Jake is also the father of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country. Jake is released on parole for a week by the governor in order to persuade his son to play for the governor's alma mater in exchange for a heavily reduced prison sentence. Denzel Washington stars as Jake and real-life NBA player, Ray Allen, stars as Jesus Shuttlesworth.
6.) The Air Up There (1994)- Kevin Bacon stars as Jimmy Dolan, a college basketball assistant-coach who wants to find a new star for his team since he believes this will get him a promotion to Head Coach at the school. After seeing a video of a new prospect named Saleh, Jimmy travels to Africa and tries to persuade him to play for the school. Saleh is the chief's son and has his own responsibilities at home since the tribe's land is threatened by a mining company with their own basketball team. In the end, the tribe and the mining company face each other in a winner-take-all basketball match and Jimmy plays with the tribe.
5.) White Men Can't Jump (1992)- This movie is the story of Billy Hoyle and Sidney Deane, white and black basketball players of the outdoor courts who team up together to hustle other street ballers who are under the assumption that Billy can't play because he is white. They team together for a two-on-two tournament and win the $5,000 dollar prize but Billy's gambling habits cause problems with his relationship with his girlfriend Gloria, who ends up leaving him. Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes star as Billy and Sydney and Rosie Perez stars as Woody's girlfriend Gloria.
4.) The Basketball Diaries (1995)- This movie is a biopic of the life of Jim Carroll, a once promising star basketball player for his high school. His life starts to unravel as he becomes addicted to heroin and will go to great lengths to supply his habit, even going as far as stealing, robbing, and prostituting himself. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jim Carroll.
3.) Eddie (1996)- Whoopie Goldberg stars in this hilarious movie. She plays Edwina "Eddie" Franklin, a limousine driver and avid Knicks fan who attends every game with a small group of fellow fans in the nosebleed section of Madison Square Garden. During halftime of one game she is one of three fans chosen to take part in a publicity stunt where if she makes a free-throw shot she will get a chance to become an honorary coach, which she wins. After the Knicks head coach is forced to quit before a game, Eddie is then named head coach. She is able to steer the team into play-off contention after a dismal start and soon earns the respect of the team.
2.) Coach Carter (2005)- This movie is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School head basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines for benching his undefeated team for poor academic results. This movie not only focuses on the basketball season but also on the personal lives of the team off the court. Samuel L. Jackson is impressive as Ken Carter and also casts a young ensemble of future stars such as Channing Tatum and Rick Gonzalez.
1.) Semi-Pro (2008)- This is a hysterical movie from start to finish. It stars Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon, a singer who used the profits from his one hit single, "Love Me Sexy" to buy a basketball team from the American Basketball Association called the Flint Tropics where he is owner, head coach, and starting forward. The plot centers on the merger of the league into the NBA where only four teams from the ABA will be allowed into the NBA. Jackie proposes that the top four teams should be the ones to go to the NBA. This sets the stage for one hilarious movie. Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin co-star.
So this concludes my list of twelve favorite basketball movies. Whether you are looking for a drama or a hilarious comedy, you can't go wrong with these twelve movies. So next time you are at your local video store, be sure to pick up a copy of one of these great movies.
THEY ARE A SLAM DUNK!

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