March Madness® On TV
Spring forward with these basketball shows.
With the month of March upon us, it’s hoop time! But there’s no need to go to the arena — here’s a list of ten basketball-centric shows you can watch on your big-screen TV in the comfort of your home.
1. SURVIVOR’S REMORSE
This series ran from 2014 to 2017 and was produced by LeBron James, who also appeared in a few episodes. It explores the life of Cam Colloway (played by Jessie T. Usher) immediately after he signs a pro basketball contract. After moving his family from Boston to Atlanta, he has to deal with a crazy entourage who takes advantage of his kindhearted nature and generosity. Find out where to stream it here.
2. HANGIN’ WITH MR. COOPER
This ’90s sitcom starred Mark Curry and Holly Robinson Peete. Set in Oakland, California, it follows the evolution of a fictional NBA player who gets cut from the team after getting taken down by Charles Barkley, then rises from being a lowly substitute high school teacher to head coach for the boys basketball team. Find out where to stream it here.
3. BIG SHOT
This is one comedy that skips the cliches, portraying some of the obstacles women face in sports. Premiering in April of 2021, it featured John Stamos as a temperamental basketball coach who is fired from an NCAA® Division 1 job after throwing a chair at a referee. He then moves to California to coach at an elite girls school, where he meets a quirky cast of characters, including the no-nonsense dean of the school (Yvette Nicole Brown) and the good-natured assistant coach (Jessalyn Gilsig). Find out where to stream it here.
4. THE WHITE SHADOW
This compelling drama aired in the late 1970s / early ’80s and starred Ken Howard as a white professional basketball player who retires from the Chicago Bulls after a severe knee injury and takes a job as head basketball coach at a mostly Black and Hispanic high school in Los Angeles. While retaining some elements of humor, it addresses many serious topics ranging from physical and mental disabilities to sexual orientation and child abuse. Find out where to stream it here.
5. ONE TREE HILL
Premiering on the WB Network in 2003 and running for nine seasons, this show is set in the fictional North Carolina town of Tree Hill. It followed the lives of two half-brothers who compete for positions on their high school basketball team, starting out as enemies but eventually bonding over the years. Find out where to stream it here.
6. HOOPS
How about some basketball animation? This 2020 Netflix® comedy depicts the frustrations of Coach Ben Hopkins, a bad-tempered high school basketball coach, and his assistant Ron … who just happens to be dating Hopkins’ ex-wife. There are numerous twists and turns as the coach tries to turn around the team’s poor reputation and reconnect with his estranged wife. Guest voices include Guy Fieri as Himself and Damon Wayans Jr as Damian Chapman. Find out where to watch it here.
7. SWAGGER
Inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s youth basketball experience on the AAU circuit, “Swagger” premiered in October 2021 on Apple TV®. The 10-episode series garnered critical acclaim for its social commentary, writing and acting. Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr as Ike Edwards and Isaiah Hill as Jace Carson, it explores the multifaceted dramas swirling around ambition, opportunities, corruption and basketball dreams. Find out where to stream it here.
8. LONG SLOW EXHALE
Created by Pam Veasey for BET, this drama premiered in April of 2022, starring Rose Rollins as J.C. Abernathy, head coach of a women’s championship college basketball team in Atlanta. The plot revolves around a sexual abuse scandal wrapped in secrets that threatens all the coach has built. Find out where to stream it here.
9. WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY
Based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman, this show premiered in March 2022. It presents a dramatization of the personal and professional lives of the ’80s Lakers and features an all-star ensemble cast that includes John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Jason Clark as Jerry West, Adrien Brody as Pat Riley, and Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Find out where to stream it here.
10. BASKETBALL AND OTHER THINGS
This fascinating documentary series features NBA players such as Julius Irving and Allen Iverson discussing the lessons of life they’ve learned throughout their careers, exploring both the dark and bright sides of their personal and professional lives and talking about what playing basketball has taught them. The interviews are interspersed with animated clips, making for some great hoop-watching with the family. Find out where to stream it here.
Ready to watch some great basketball-centric movies? Check out this blog posting.
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