Here are the 10 best basketball movies we recommend you watch after White Men Can’t Jump.
1. Like Mike (2002)
“Like Mike” is a 2002 sports comedy film, directed by John Schultz and written by Michael Elliot and Jordan Moffet. The movie follows the story of an orphan, Calvin Cambridge, who finds a pair of old sneakers once worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan. To his surprise, the sneakers give him incredible basketball skills, and he becomes an NBA star overnight.
2. Thunderstruck (2012)
Sports comedy film “Thunderstruck” is directed by John Whitesell and written by Eric Champnella and Jeff Farley. The movie revolves around the character of Brian, a high school basketball player who idolizes NBA superstar Kevin Durant. After an unlikely incident, Brian somehow receives Durant’s basketball skills while the latter loses his own.
The plot follows Brian’s attempts to navigate his newfound talents and deal with the challenges of being a skilled basketball player. He gradually rises to fame, but as he does so, he becomes increasingly arrogant and alienates his friends, causing him to lose his touch on the court when he needs it most. Throughout the movie, Brian learns valuable lessons about humility and teamwork, culminating in a final game where he must face off against Durant himself to prove his worth.
3. Uncle Drew (2018)
Directed by Charles Stone III and written by Jay Longino. The movie follows the character of Dax, a down-on-his-luck basketball coach who, after losing everything to his longtime rival, decides to recruit a team of streetball legends in the hopes of winning a coveted tournament.
These streetball legends are all well-past their prime and have not played in decades. Enter Uncle Drew, played by NBA star Kyrie Irving, who becomes Dax’s unlikely savior and leads the team on a wild journey of redemption and discovery. As they travel across the country, Uncle Drew and his teammates encounter various challenges, both on and off the court, but ultimately learn valuable lessons about teamwork, friendship, and self-realization.
4. Rebound (2005)
Sports comedy film “Rebound” is directed by Steve Carr and written by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore, and William Wolff. The movie follows the character of Roy McCormick, a college basketball coach who, after a public meltdown on the court, is fired from his job and forced to take a coaching position at a middle school.
At the middle school, Roy struggles to connect with his young players, who are more interested in video games than basketball. But as he begins to build relationships with his team and instill discipline and teamwork, Roy rediscovers his passion for coaching and sets his sights on leading his team to the championship.
5. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
“Space Jam: A New Legacy” is a live-action/animated sports comedy film released in 2021. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, follows NBA superstar LeBron James as he teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes to save his son from a virtual world created by a rogue AI called Al-G Rhythm. LeBron and the Looney Tunes must defeat Al-G Rhythm’s team of digitized basketball players in a high-stakes game to win their freedom.
“Space Jam: A New Legacy” pays homage to its predecessor, the 1996 film “Space Jam” starring Michael Jordan, while also incorporating modern technology and pop culture references.
6. Campeones (2018)
“Campeones” is a Spanish comedy-drama film released in 2018. It stars Javier Gutierrez as Marco, a professional basketball coach who is forced to coach a team of intellectually disabled players.
The film follows Marco’s journey as he learns to understand and appreciate his players, who prove to be more capable and inspiring than he initially thought. Together, they work towards winning a national championship and overcoming the prejudices and discrimination they face as a team.
7. Semi-Pro (2008)
“Semi-Pro” stars Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon, the owner/coach/player of the Flint Tropics, a struggling American Basketball Association (ABA) team.
Set in the 1970s, “Semi-Pro” follows Moon’s desperate attempts to save his team from being disbanded when the ABA is on the verge of merging with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Moon rallies his team and recruits washed-up NBA player Ed Monix (Woody Harrelson) to help lead them to victory and earn a spot in the NBA.
8. BASEketball (1998)
“BASEketball,” directed by David Zucker, is a 1998 comedy that follows the story of two friends who invent a new sport combining elements of baseball and basketball. The sport becomes incredibly popular, attracting the attention of many corporate sponsors and leading to a variety of hilarious mishaps.
9. Eddie (1996)
“Eddie,” directed by Steve Rash, is a 1996 comedy film that tells the story of Eddie (played by Whoopi Goldberg), a die-hard basketball fan who unexpectedly becomes the coach of her favorite NBA team, the New York Knicks. Despite facing skepticism from both the players and the media, Eddie helps the team turn their losing streak around and guides them to the playoffs.
The film subverts traditional gender and racial stereotypes, presenting Eddie as a knowledgeable and passionate fan who has earned her place on the court. It also features a diverse cast of characters, including several Black and Latino players, adding to its inclusivity.
10. High Flying Bird (2019)
“High Flying Bird,” directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, is a 2019 sports drama that follows the story of a basketball agent named Ray Burke (played by André Holland) as he navigates a protracted NBA lockout. Desperate to keep his clients playing and earning money, Ray hatches a plan to disrupt the league’s power structure by convincing his star client, Erick Scott (played by Melvin Gregg), to stage an independent game.