10 Best Basketball-Related Scripted TV Shows, Ranked

Much like Fresh Prince, Martin Lawrence always represented 90s culture, especially regarding footwear and his love of basketball. When Martin announces on his radio show that men could beat women in anything, including sports, it starts a great battle of the sexes debate. Gina and Pam then recruit the Women’s Olympic basketball team featuring Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Rebecca Lobo, and Sheryl Swoopes to play Martin and his friends. Although the show hardly focussed on basketball, this episode was a highlight in the ’90s and showcased plenty of athletes, including Charles Barkley. The appearance of “Air Gordon” is also hilarious.

Big Shot tells the story of temperamental Coach Marvyn Korn (John Stamos), who finds himself ousted from the NCAA.

Down on his luck, he’s given an opportunity for redemption with a coaching position at the elite Westbrook School for Girls. The trailer teases his arrival at the private institution, where he meets dean Sherilyn Thomas (Yvette Nicole Brown), who is “prepared to make the best” of their situation despite certain reservations about the coach.

Big Shot portrays some of the obstacles women can face in sports and compliments the performances of the cast, especially John Stamos and Tiana Le, while giving a positive take on the development of Stamos’ character through his relationships.

Swagger explores the world of youth basketball and the players, their families, and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition and opportunism and corruption as they involve themselves in the youth-sports economy. But it also showcases what it’s like growing up with exceptional talent and all the demands on a kid as a result. Although it approaches every cliche known to scripted basketball drama, performances from O’Shea Jackson and Quvenzhané Wallis shine through.

My Wife and Kids was a sitcom incorporating several basketball references and featured guest appearances from LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal to the legendary Michael Jordan. In the episode “Fantasy Camp,” Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans) is invited to participate in a Michael Jordan fantasy camp, where one lucky participant gets to play against MJ himself.

To make his dream matchup happen, Michael pretends to be someone else. However, MJ’s competitive spirit is everlasting, and he doesn’t hold back during the game.

While officially categorized as a sitcom, Survivor’s Remorse, produced by LeBron James for Starz, also delves into the family drama wealth inevitably brings.

The show follows the life of Cam Calloway, a professional basketball player who signs a lucrative contract that requires him to relocate himself and his family to Atlanta. However, the move brings fresh challenges, as Cam’s family, including his mother, half-sister, uncle, and cousin, accompany him.

Although fame and fortune come with the territory, Cam discovers they also come with the added burden of supporting those around him. Survivor’s Remorse explores the complexities of family dynamics amid newfound wealth and power.

In a dramatic retelling of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, teenager Will Smith (Jebari Banks) leaves the streets of West Philadelphia to live with his uncle’s family in Bel-Air. Basketball is a lot of things for many people, but for Will, it’s everything. Although only slightly touched upon in the original, this series focuses on his love for ball heavily, as it’s a significant call back to Will’s West Philly roots. He uses it to find himself in his new environment, keeping him grounded. The show goes out of its way to make its basketball scenes look authentic, hiring Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews as basketball tech for the series.

In the 1990s, Will Smith stood out as a prominent cultural icon whom people looked up to, along with Michael Jordan. His captivating personality and flair for wearing the latest basketball shoe inspired many. There were several episodes in the series that focused on Will’s hoop dreams, including one where he daydreamed about beating Isiah Thomas on the court, another where he blows a game in front of a recruiter so his single father challenger could look good, and of course, the episode Carlton gets jealous of Will‘s skill.

Hang Time focused on an Indiana high school basketball team with a girl on the roster (Daniella Deutscher). As the NBA‘s television audience grew on NBC, the show’s creators wisely invited some of the league’s up-and-coming athletes to make guest appearances.

The show featured several NBA players like Grant Hill, Alonzo Mourning, Cedric Ceballos, Mitch Richmond, Muggsy Bogues, Juwan Howard, Damon Stoudamire, Glenn Robinson, and Gary Payton. But when the team is hustled in one episode, Reggie Theus enlists Kobe Bryant to join them in the rematch. Still, Kobe decides to let the girl take the final shot instead of taking it himself, solidifying itself as one of the best basketball moments on TV.