Here are five basketball movies that Sports Savvy Magazine feels are not worth your time to watch.
1. Juwanna Mann (2002)
Starring:** Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Vivica A. Fox, Tommy Davidson **
Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 10%
Plot:
Jamal Jeffries, a self-centered NBA star, gets banned for bad behavior. To return to the game, he disguises himself as a woman named “Juwanna Mann” and joins a WNBA-style league.
Why It’s Bad:
- The humor heavily relies on cross-dressing jokes, which come off as lazy and dated, even by early 2000s standards.
- The film tries to be a Tootsie-style sports comedy but fails to bring any fresh insight or real satire.
- Critics slammed it for being tone-deaf, sexist, and for trivializing both gender identity and women’s sports.
- Despite some energetic supporting performances, it lacks the sincerity or cleverness that could’ve salvaged the absurd premise.
2. Rebound (2005)
Starring: Martin Lawrence
Rotte**Tomatoes Score:** 14%
Plot:
A disgraced college basketball coach (played by Lawrence) is suspended and forced to coach a team of awkward middle schoolers. Of course, he finds redemption through their ragtag journey.
Why It’s Bad:
- It follows the cookie-cutter structure of the “bad coach turns good” trope, with zero originality.
- The comedy is inclusive and juvenile, with jokes that barely register even for its intended kid audience.
- Martin Lawrence is known for his energy, but even he seems to be on autopilot here.
- Critics found it neither funny nor heartfelt enough to work as a family or sports film.
3. The Air Up There (1994)
Starring: Kevin Bacon
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 21%
Plot:
A college basketball coach travels to a remote African village to recruit a towering local player he sees in a VHS tape. Hilarity and culture clashes ensue (in theory).
Why It’s Bad:
- Often criticized for its simplistic portrayal of African cultures, using tropes that feel patronizing and tone-deaf.
- The “white savior” complex is strong here — Bacon’s character plays the hero who “enlightens” the locals while saving his career.
- Attempts at comedy fall flat, and the cultural message is so muddled it borders on offensive.
- It has the energy of a goofy adventure film, but it does not show real character growth or respect for its setting.
4. Like Mike 2: Streetball (2006)
Starring: Jascha Washington
Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A (Straight-to-DVD release)
Plot:
A new kid finds the same magical shoes that gave the original “Like Mike” hero his NBA-level talent — but this time, the story is set in a streetball environment.
Why It’s Bad:
- Lacks the charm, star power, and production quality of the original. No Bow Wow, no real NBA cameos — just a cheap retread.
- Feels like a cash grab that didn’t care about storytelling or developing likable characters.
- The acting is subpar, and the effects (including the basketball sequences) are unrealistic and uninspiring.
- Even kids found this sequel forgettable compared to the original.
5. Thunderstruck (2012)
Starring: Kevin Durant, Taylor Gray
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 27%
Plot:
A high school benchwarmer magically gains the basketball skills of NBA star Kevin Durant, while Durant inexplicably loses his powers. Cue a Freaky Friday-style sports fantasy.
Why It’s Bad:
- Durant is a legendary basketball player, but his acting leaves much to be desired. He appears stiff and emotionless.
- The story is highly predictable, with no emotional stakes.
- Attempts to mix fantasy with sports fall flat, mainly due to weak writing and a low-budget feel.
- It doesn’t deliver the exciting basketball sequences or heartfelt mentorship you’d expect from a sports/fantasy hybrid.
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