The Top 5 Basketball Movies of All Time

It is no secret that basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. Huge numbers of people continually tune in to watch the NBA each season, with the Finals every year continuing to attract global audiences as they watch the two best teams that year compete for the sport’s biggest prizes, while legions of fans fill arenas to root for their favorite teams.

As a result, it is no surprise, then, that there have been many great basketball movies made over the years. With that in mind, we thought we would take a look at what we can consider being the top 5 basketball movies of all time.

1) “Coach Carter” (2005)

“Coach Carter” is a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson is based on a true story about a high school basketball coach – Ken Carter – who benches his entire team because they are failing academically. He faces immense pressure from the community to put winning above everything else, but he remains firm in his convictions. In the end, his players not only improve their grades, but they also go on to win the state championship. It is an inspiring story about second chances and doing what is right, even when it is not popular. Plus, any fan of big dunks will enjoy all the incredible highlights from the game scenes.

2) “The Last Dance” (2020)

Admittedly, we are cheating a little by including “The Last Dance”, but it is a basketball-themed show that could be shown as a movie, thus deserving of its spot on this list.

Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time, and this 10-part documentary series chronicles his final season with the Chicago Bulls. It provides an intimate behind-the-scenes look at one of the most iconic teams in NBA history, and it is a must-watch for any basketball fan, especially if they want to be able to get a greater understanding of how the team were able to be so dominant during their era; something the current Bulls could only ever wish to achieve.

3) “Celtic Pride” (1996)

“Celtic Pride” is a comedy starring Damon Wayans and Dan Aykroyd as two diehard Boston Celtics fans who kidnap one of the star players from the Utah Jazz in order to help their team win the NBA Finals. Hilarity ensues, and there is even a cameo from Celtics legend Larry Bird.

Fans of the Boston Celtics will be hoping that their team can win the Championship once again this season and continue its legacy as one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA.

The franchise has been able to win a joint-record 17 titles since being formed (tied with Los Angeles Lakers), but they could be in a position to take the outright lead if the latest betting patterns are to be followed. According to the latest NBA odds for the upcoming 2022/23 season, the Celtics are thought of as one of the favorites with odds of +650, alongside the Milwaukee Bucks, whereas the Golden State Warriors are the top favorite at odds of +600.

While the film is a comedy, there will be many Celtic fans that will be hoping this season is anything but comedic for last season’s beaten finalists!

4) “White Men Can’t Jump” (1992)

“White Men Can’t Jump” is a classic sports comedy starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson as two streetball hustlers who team up to dominate tournaments and beat opponents who underestimate them because they are black. It features some iconic trash-talking scenes and one of the most unforgettable endings in any sports movie ever. If you have not seen it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately.

5) “He Got Game” (1998)

“He Got Game” is a 1998 Spike Lee joint starring Ray Allen as Jesus Shuttlesworth, the nation’s top high school basketball recruit, and Denzel Washington as his estranged father, Jake Shuttlesworth. Jake is released from prison on the condition that he convinces his son to attend the college of then-Governor Andrew Stunell’s choice in exchange for reduced parole time. Though it tackles some weighty issues, “He Got Game” is ultimately a coming-of-age story about father and son learning to connect with each other. Plus, it has one of the best basketball movie soundtracks of all time.

Final Thoughts

While there are many other basketball films to have been released that may instantly spring to mind for various different reasons, these are just a few of the great basketball movies that have been released over the years. They are definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the sport!