Above The Rim (1994) & Celtic Pride (1996)

Adam and Brian hit the hardwood with Above the Rim and Celtic Pride. First up, we head to the streets and courts of New York City with Above the Rim, a basketball drama directed by Jeff Pollack. Starring Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur, and Marlon Wayans, the film follows a promising high school basketball star caught between opportunity, loyalty, and the dangerous influences surrounding him. We get into the film’s raw energy, its memorable soundtrack, and how it captures the pressure of trying to rise above your circumstances while being pulled in different directions.Then we trade streetball intensity for pure 90s chaos with Celtic Pride, a sports comedy that could only come from a very specific era. Directed by Tom DeCerchio and starring Damon Wayans, Daniel Stern, and Dan Aykroyd, the film follows two diehard fans whose devotion to the Boston Celtics leads them to make one unbelievably dumb decision in the name of team loyalty. We talk about the film’s ridiculous premise, its over the top performances, and why it feels like a strange time capsule of sports fandom gone completely off the rails.Join us as we break down two wildly different basketball movies that explore ambition, obsession, and what people are willing to risk for the game they love. Lace up your sneakers and hit the court.