NBA Lockout: Fight Back by Watching a Hoops Movie

If you are like me, a basketball-a-holic, you are no longer upset about a looming lockout, because it’s here. The NBA has began it’s lockout of its players and are said to be miles apart from a resolution. The players and owners are further apart than in 1998, the last NBA lockout, and oh yeah, that one lasted 50 games.

So with this current lockout threatening to go even further, I suggest something to help in times of basketball withdrawal. Rent or buy one of the best basketball movies of all time, and I have listed the top five to get started with.

The fifth one on the list is Hoosiers (1986, Gene Hackman, Dennis Harper). Not only does this film star two excellent actors, but the realistic plot (a coach with a storied past and a drunkard for an assistant take a small school to the state playoffs) and good on-court basketball action is enough to make the list. The backdrop of old school Indiana and the small town hero reminds us none other than the legend himself, Larry Bird.

No. 4 on the list is Glory Road (2006, Josh Lucas, Derek Lee). There is no way to go wrong with a basketball movie based on true life. This movie tells the story of how Don Haskins broke color lines with the first all-black starting five at a major university (Texas Western, now known as UTEP) and lead them to the NCAA championship game to face Kentucky’s own legend, Adolf Rupp. There is enough great basketball play and dramatic subplots that this movie is almost mandatory.

Climbing up the ladder to No. 3 we travel to Richmond, California to check out Coach Carter (2005, Samuel L. Jackson), another movie based on a true story (I told you these are the best films).

This film depicts the life of Ken Carter, the high school coach who took over an inner city school where basketball is a way out, and made his team sign academic contracts. When they failed to meet the academic terms of the contract, he suspended the team and forfeited games. This is a film that crosses generations, not only is Ken Carter an old-school type of guy, but the actors are those of today’s young Hollywood (Channing Tatum, Rob Brown, Ashanti, Antwon Tanner and Robert Richard).

In the runner-up spot is a movie not only based on real life, but it actually is real life. It’s the documentary Hoop Dreams (1994). It follows the lives of two African-American high school basketball players and their journey to play collegiate basketball.

This film is a great look into real urban America and shows two different sides of the African American experience while trying to make it to the next level of basketball. This documentary plays out like a well-written movie and is a must-see for anyone with kids who aspire to play at that level.

Sitting at the top of the list was a tie, so this next selection is considered 1A: Finding Forrester (2000, Sean Connery, Rob Brown). Some may not view this film as a “basketball” movie, but I beg to differ. Rob Brown is the only actor on the list in more than one movie (Coach Carter). This movie is about an African-American writing prodigy who finds a mentor in a reclusive but famous author. Brown’s character is also a budding high school basketball star. This film is a must-see on so many levels; great acting, great story, awesome writing and good basketball action as well.

Last but not least is a movie that has it all: on court realistic action, comedy, love, romance and realistic writing, all set mainly in Los Angeles. The film is Love and Basketball (2000, Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan).

This film follows the lives of two childhood friends who love basketball more than life itself. From high school to college, then onto the professional level, it chronicles how when passion for basketball matures and is intertwined with the love for another person, it can only lead to one of two things: the path to failure or the formula for success. Rent this film and find out which it is.

In the event the lockout does go longer than the last stoppage in 98, here are some honorable mentions that did not quite make the top 5 but are definitely worth watching: Basketball Diaries (1995, Leonardo DiCaprio), White Men Can’t Jump (1992, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson), Blue Chips (1994, Nick Nolte, Shaquille O’Neal), Above the Rim (1994, Tupac Shakur, Leon, Duane Martin) and He Got Game (1998, Denzel Washington, Ray Allen).

Enjoy the shows, and hopefully by the time the credits start rolling, the NBA balls will be bouncing again.