Rez Ball: Trailer, Release date, & Everything we know about LeBron James Sports Movie

A brand new sports drama and coming-of-age movie produced by NBA legend LeBron James is going to premiere soon, and we are thrilled to be able to stream it online. Rez Ball is the heartwarming true story of a Native American reservation high school basketball team's relentless fight for a state championship.

Director Sydney Freeland, who co-wrote the script with Sterlin Harjo, said that this movie is a story that they were dedicated to telling "from the inside out," speaking from their own personal experiences. She said, "You have these small arenas, but they’re just packed with people. Where we were, we don’t have professional teams. We don’t have college teams. A lot of that falls on high school; where a lot of these native teams have had the most success is the high school level. So you get this huge turnout and this rabid fan base. So for us, it was like, ‘Oh, this is West Texas high school football. This is Friday Night Lights, but it is from an Indigenous perspective.’"

Netflix has now released the trailer for Rez Ball, or Reservation Basketball, and we have compiled everything else you need to know about this film, including release date, cast, and more. So without further ado, let's check it out.

Release Date & Where to Watch

Rez Ball premieres on Netflix on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. It is also scheduled to premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Plot

In Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team with a strong Native American heritage, are facing a significant challenge. They lost their best player, so the group needs to rally together like never before if they want to pursue their dream of winning the state championship. This isn't just a game; it's a story of strength and togetherness, a true underdog tale deeply tied to Native American culture and spirit.

Director Sydney Freeland said, "This film is an invitation to see a side of America — a community — that [everyone] may not be familiar with. But for myself, for these kids, for the cast, for the crew, this is something that we’ve lived and breathed our whole lives."

"We’ve done our best to try to capture that experience on-screen, on camera, and we want to share that with people. Hopefully, people watch the film and they walk out feeling like, ‘Oh wow, I didn’t know this was something that existed.’ And hopefully, we can expand people’s horizons just a little bit more," she added.

Cast

• Jessica Matten (Tribal)
• Julia Jones (The Mandalorian)
• Amber Midthunder (Prey)
• Kiowa Gordon (Dark Winds)
• Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs)
• Cody Lightning
• Ernest Tsosie
• Kauchani H. Bratt
• Devin Sampson Craig
• River Rayne Thomas
• Jojo Jackson
• Avery Hale
• Hunter Redhorse Arthur
• Henry Wilson Jr.
• Jaren K. Robledo
• Damian Castellane
• Kusem Goodwind
• Zoey Reyes

Trailer

Behind the Scenes

Rez Ball is directed by Sydney Freeland (Drunktown’s Finest). Freeland and Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs) co-wrote the script, and LeBron James produced the movie. Other producers include Katie Elmore, Maurício Mota, Spencer Beighley, Jamal Henderson, and Nancy Utley, while executive producers include Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, D. Scott Lumpkin, Maverick Carter, and Jodi Archambault.

Where was Rez Ball Filmed?

According to reports, the movie was filmed in New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, with the permission and support of the local sovereign tribal nations.

What is Rez Ball Inspired by?

The sports drama is inspired by Michael Powell's 2019 book Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation and New York Times articles about it.