‘The Crossover’ on Disney+: Top 5 basketball shows to watch before the TV series releases
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Crossover,' Disney+'s upcoming coming-of-age sports drama, is based on Kwame Alexander's novel of the same name. The story follows two teenaged brothers, Josh and JB Bell, who are incredibly gifted and incredibly skilled basketball players. An adult version of Josh, who is also gifted in the art of lyrical poetry, narrates the tale of how he and his brother came of age, their life off the court and how their father, a former professional basketball player, adapts to life after basketball.
The sports drama will also focus on how their mother finally discovers a way to pursue her dreams. As they grow older, the two brothers discover that, amidst their many similarities, they are unique individuals. The show's executive producers include author Kwame Alexander, NBA player LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Alexander Johnson, Damani Johnson, Hay Marcus, Bob Teitel and George Tillman Jr. What distinguishes 'The Crossover' is that it is a story told and presented to viewers from the point of view of a Black family.
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'The Crossover' premieres on Disney+ on April 5, but in the meantime, here are the top 5 basketball-based shows to watch to get in the mood for a sports drama.
1. ‘Big Shot’ on Disney+
'Big Shot' is a Disney+ original sports comedy-drama created by David E Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett. Marvyn Korn, a volatile basketball coach, is fired from his job at the University of Wisconsin and considers relocating to California to coach a girls' basketball team at Westbrook School. Marvyn catches up with his teenage daughter while coaching the girls, and with the additional help of the school's dean, and his assistant coach, Marvyn makes progress toward recognizing the young female players while also trying to discover more about himself. The series was canceled after two seasons but the audience thought it was a modest, lighthearted, comforting show with a high level of reliability. ‘Big Shot’ stars John Stamos, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jessalyn Gilsig in the titular roles and is available to stream on Disney+.
2. ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ on HBO
'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty' is a fast-paced comedy sports drama created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht that airs on HBO. The plot is based on Jeff Pearlman's book 'Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s'. The show chronicles the LA Lakers basketball team's Showtime era in the '80s when they were recognized as one of the best teams of all time. Viewers enjoyed the series as it depicted the teams' lives both on and off court. Between 1980 and 1991, the Lakers played in an unprecedented nine NBA championship series, winning five of them. It has a large ensemble cast led by John C Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan and Adrien Brody.
3. ‘Basketball or Nothing’ on Netflix
'Basketball or Nothing' is a fast-paced, engaging non-scripted reality series that follows the lives of the Chinle High School boys' basketball team, the Chinle Wildcats, who play on the Navajo Nation reservation, America's largest reservation. The series is a must-see because it demonstrates a sportsman's passion for the game and how much effort they are willing to put in to do better. For people in the Navajo Nation, basketball appears to be the ultimate escape from life's troubles while balancing everything else, demonstrating that sports can sometimes lighten other burdens of life. The show is available on Netflix and stars Raul Mendoza as a coach.
4. ‘Last Chance U: Basketball’ on Netflix
'Last Chance U: Basketball' is a sports documentary series that explores the football program at East Mississippi Community College and features several collegiate athletes, who have struggled with finding structure in their lives. Directed by Greg Whiteley, Adam Ridley and Luke Lorentzen, the show is a coming-of-age and forgiveness story about men struggling to find their place. It is also a story about redemption for the coach, who struggles with anger and tries his best to help these men earn college scholarships. The third and fourth seasons take place at the Independence Community College in Kansas while the fifth and final season takes place at Laney College in Oakland, California.
5. ‘Swagger’ on Apple TV+
'Swagger' is a sports drama television series crated by Reggie Rock Bythewood for Apple TV+ that is said to be loosely based on the experiences of current NBA player Kevin Durant. The show delves into the world of youth basketball, focusing on the players, families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, as well as opportunism and corruption. The show also depicts the pressure athletes face as well as what it truly means to have swagger. The show stars O'Shea Jackson Jr, Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris and James Bingham among others.
'The Crossover' will be available on Disney+ on April 5.
