Comprehensive List of Basketball Documentaries
Are you a hoop junkie, fascinated by the intricacies of the game, or simply looking to learn more about basketball’s history and culture? If so, this post is perfect for you. I have watched dozens of basketball documentaries. So many, that I sometimes forget what I have watched and what I haven’t. Now that I am starting to introduce my 10-year-old son to some of these classics (and newer ones as well) I thought I would organize a list of every basketball documentary I could find with a summary and my notes (if I watched it).
If nothing else, it will give me a nice list of basketball documentaries that I haven’t yet seen. My hope is that this will become the most complete and useful list of basketball documentaries on the internet. I will keep making updates as I unearth more. These will cover, NBA, college, and high school basketball as well as some important coaches and personalities over the years. I am not going to order them by my favorite but will mention a few that I really liked recently here that all happen to be on Netflix.
| Name | Description | Year of Release |
|---|---|---|
| Hoop Dreams | Shares the stories of two athletes, William Gates and Arthur Agee, from middle school to college, and the challenges and obstacles they must overcome in order to make a career out of basketball. | 1994 |
| Magic and Bird – A Courtship of Rivals | Explores the rivalry between two of the best basketball players that have ever lived, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, from their NCAA years to the end of their hall of fame careers in the NBA. | 2010 |
| Through the Fire | Follows the life of Sebastian Telfair during his senior year of high school basketball, focusing on the big decision he had on whether to attend college or to jump immediately to the NBA. | 2005 |
| No Crossover – Allen Iverson | The story of the first five-man starting lineup to make it to the NCAA Championship game, featuring Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, and Jimmy King. | 2010 |
| The Fab Five | Explores how the Big East Conference of college basketball quickly rose to become the most successful basketball league in America. | 2011 |
| More Than a Game – LeBron James | Documents the story of LeBron James and his high school teammates in Akron, Ohio, and their journey to dominating high school basketball. | 2008 |
| Bad Boys | Covers the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s – early 1990s, notorious for doing anything to win. | 2014 |
| Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks | Covers the intense rivalry Reggie Miller had with the New York Knicks during the 1990s. | 2010 |
| Benji | Follows the lives of 8 of the best high school basketball prospects leading up to the 1st annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker Park. | 2012 |
| Once Brothers | Documenting the relationship between Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac, once teammates on the Yugoslavian national team, whose friendship was torn apart after civil war broke out. | 2010 |
| Gunnin’ for that #1 Spot | Follows the lives of 8 of the best high school basketball prospects leading up the 1st annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker Park. | 2008 |
| Requiem for the Big East | In 1979, the Big East began a meteoric rise that made stars out of names such as Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and Ed Pinckney. But meteors by their nature fall. The super conference eventually found itself fighting for survival.The story of one of the country’s best high school coaches, Bob Hurley Sr, and his commitment to improving the lives of the players at St Anthony’s and giving them hope for the future. | 2014 |
| The Street Stops Here | The story of one of the country’s best high school coaches, Bob Hurley Sr, and his commitment to improving the lives of the players at St Anthony’s and giving them hope for the future. | 2010 |
| The Other Dream Team | Documents the 1992 Lithuanian Basketball Team who became the symbol of Lithuania’s independence movement from the USSR. | 2012 |
| Doin’ it in the Park | A documentary on pick-up basketball, covering over 180 outdoor courts in New York City. | 2012 |
| Soul in the Hole | Documents a team from Brooklyn called ‘Kenny’s Kings’ as they prepare for the Soul in the Hole championship tournament. | 1997 |
| Unguarded | The story of a troubled player with superstar potential, Chris Herren, and his battle against drugs that eventually destroyed his career. | 2011 |
| The Street Stops Here | The story of Lenny Cooke’s potential and how his NBA dream never eventuated due to a lack of discipline and a few poor choices. | 2010 |
| Survive and Advance | The story of Jim Valvano leading the NC State Wolfpack to an NCAA championship in 1983. | 2013 |
| Without Bias | The story of Len Bias, one of the biggest ‘What if’s?’ the NBA has ever known. | 2009 |
| Hooked | The story of Lenny Cooke’s potential and how his NBA dream never eventuated due to a lack of discipline and a few poor choices. | 2003 |
| The Iran Job | Follows the life of American basketball player Kevin Sheppard, after he accepts a job to play basketball in the dangerous country of Iran. | 2012 |
| Lenny Cooke | The story of Lenny Cooke’s potential and how his NBA dream never eventuated due to lack of discipline and a few poor choices. | 2013 |
| Long Shot – Kevin Laue | The story of Kevin Laue and his dream to be the first one-armed basketball player ever to receive a scholarship and play on an elite NCAA Division 1 basketball team. | 2012 |
| Michael Jordan – To the Max | A look at the career of Michael Jordan, commonly acknowledged as the greatest basketball player who has ever lived. | 2000 |
| Jordan Rides the Bus | A look into Jordan’s life when he decided to give up the game of basketball and pursue a career in baseball. | 2010 |
| Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team | Exposes the truth behind the Seattle SuperSonics’ tragic exodus after 41 years in the Emerald City. | 2009 |
| Year of the Yao | Documents the arrival and adaptation of Yao Ming in coming to America from China, including his first season in the NBA. | 2004 |
| Linsanity | The story of Jeremy Lin’s unlikely rise to fame mid-way through the 2012 NBA season with the New York Knicks. | 2013 |
So there you have it – a comprehensive list of basketball documentaries that cover the game at all levels. Each film offers unique insights into the sport’s cultural significance, the drama of competition, and the personal stories of those who play and love the game. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, these documentaries are sure to enhance your appreciation of basketball. Happy viewing!
Troy Wallace
Troy Wallace is Certified Basketball Speed Specialist and shares his experiences in trying to stay as healthy as possible to stay on the court. He is active in coaching youth basketball in YMCA, Team Work Sports Nebraska, and, currently, in the Jr. Warriors program in Omaha, NE. Visit Troy's Full Author Bio Page or email him directly.
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