Adam McLane

The Four Greatest Basketball Movies of All Time

Everything I’m doing from Thursday to Sunday is measured by the following questions: “What  time does ___ start and who is playing now?” I love March Madness!

And all of those basketball dreams lead me to this list:

The Four Greatest Basketball Movies of All Time

  1. Hoosiers – Clearly, the best basketball movie ever made. I’m only slightly biased because I grew up in Indiana and my high school team won the 1994 State Championships.
  2. Hoop Dreams – (1994) The documentary which simultaneously helps you fall in love with high school basketball and the craft of documentary film making at the same time.
  3. White Men Can’t Jump – (1992) Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson in a basketball movie? Yes, please! I quote this movie all the time. Any time I receive unexpected money I proudly declare, “We goin’ Sizzler!“
  4. Coach Carter (2005) If this inspirational story doesn’t make you cry than you probably don’t like sports. I’m pretty sure Bobby Knight called Coach Carter to tell him to tone it down a little.

Honorable mention: Basketball Diaries, The Super, Space Jam.

Agree? Disagree? What is your favorite basketball movie of all time?

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Comments

6 responses to “The Four Greatest Basketball Movies of All Time”

  1. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I love your first three choices, but I’m going to go with “He Got Game” as the fourth best over Coach Carter.

    Reply
  2. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    “Blue Chips” – I mean, c’mon! It has Nick Nolte, Ed O’Neill, Shaq, “Penny Hardaway, and Bob Cousy! That’s a cast! How can you not like this movie?

    Reply
  3. roy Avatar
    roy

    Coach Carter leads the list for me – in fact, may have to put that on tonight, need something to raise my sights today

    Reply
  4. Mandy Avatar
    Mandy

    Just glad to see Space Jam get an honorable mention. Genre-busting classic, that one.

    Reply
  5. Daryl A Avatar
    Daryl A

    Some people already mentioned other candidates I was thinking about. Also, what about Celtic Price? Sunset Park? and one of my favorites, Finding Forrester!

    No love for Semi-Pro? What about Slam Dunk Ernest? Air Bud? Eddie? Like Mike? Juwanna Mann? (wink)

    A recent documentary I loved was ‘Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks” It was part of the ESPN 30 for 30 series. Highly recommend it!

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Best basketball book: “In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle”. It is the non-fiction account of a High School girls basketball team in Amherst, MA who won the state championship.

    Reply

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