My brother and I always dreamt
of becoming the greatest of all time.
And for one of us, that dream was about to come true.
And so the 2031 championship comes down to one last possession.
Bell bringing it up, crosses him over, shakes free at mid-court.
- He elevates. Finishes. And a foul!
But, oh, he's down. Looks like he hurt his shooting hand.
Wait a minute. He is staying in the game.
Point three seconds left.
It's all up to this rookie MVP to make the shot.
Game on the line, kid. Don't brick it.
Every GOAT needs to have talent, timing, and teachers.
Dad's basketball rule number 21.
Plan to win.
Play your game.
Prepare to adjust.
That's a bad look, Filthy. Go, baby.
Let's do it.
Ooh!
Must be a dentist 'cause that was in his grill!
Ball was our life.
There was only one word in our dictionary, win.
I'm dribblin' at the top of the key.
I'm movin' and groovin'. I'm poppin' and rockin'.
Why you bumpin'? Why you lockin'?
Man, take this thumpin'.
- Bro, just play ball, man! What you got? - This right here for you.
Muhammad Ali and Deion Sanders didn't just talk.
They were truth tellers and day dreamers. Top of their game rhyme schemers.
Just like me. Words matter, bro.
Josh Bell's the name. Filthy McNasty's the claim to fame.
Dad dubbed me that 'cause my game's acclaimed.
So downright dirty, it'll put you to shame.
Come on, baby. Let's go.
Jordan Bell, also known as JB.
When he shoots from deep, believe. His jumper falls like leaves.
Battle of the Bells. Game point! Let's go, Filthy!
Chuck Bell's Da Man. Balled from LA to Japan.
Game was super bad. But now he's just our super dad.
Come on, man. You got to do better than that.
The Crossover. Staple of all great ballers.
Iverson, Kyrie, D-Will.
A simple move where a player quickly dribbles from one hand to another.
As in, think I'm going one way, but...
Booyah! Yeah, come on, now.
- Come on! Ah! - Get some crutches,
- he broke both of his ankles! - Yeah!
Uh-uh, uh-uh. No. Uh-uh-uh. Basketball rule number one.
In the game of life, family is the court, basketball is the heart.
Always leave your heart on the court.
Win or lose, y'all play together.
- All right, boys. Now, if I make this?
- Donuts. - All right, let's see.
What a difference
A day makes
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue, dear
Hey, you know who's better than Kobe?
Who? Michael Jordan.
What? There you go.
Better than the Mamba? Yeah.
...ever! They visualized victory! MJ made it happen.
Dr. Crystal Bell.
All-star scholar. Fam shot-caller. Beloved, dear Mama.
Mom! Please tell these guys, in your opinion, who is the GOAT?
Oh. That's easy. Chuck "Da Man" Bell.
- Am I right? That's right.
Baby, you know the rule.
No basketball at the table.
And you two, homework, dinner, then bed.
Wait, what about dessert? Dad won donuts.
Okay.
- You gotta play my game. - Let's go!
Spelling bee. "Aerial."
- All right. - Oh, no, no. I was thinking.
- I was thinkin' of the word. "Ariel." Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
A-R-I-E-L. Was a little mermaid who lived under the sea.
Under the sea, under the sea
You gonna be living under the sea if I don't hear it spelled correctly.
"Aerial."
A-E-R-I-A-L.
As in, flying up above As in, birds in the air
As in, Filthy soars to places Eagles wouldn't dare
Okay.
Seems like someone's been studying.
- Thank you. - And someone hasn't.
Your English teacher tells me that you've got missing work.
Hey, Chuck, what does that tell us?
That you're not managing your time
or maybe basketball is taking too much of it.
- Hey, babe, don't blame it on the game. - I'm not blaming the game or the coach.
But I'm reminding you that getting into a good high school requires good grades.
- JB, that proposal cannot be late. - What proposal?
Oh, it's our semester paper for English class. The Passion Project.
It's about what we'll do when we get older, or what we love now.
I'm doing hoops.
Good man. Same for you, huh, JB?
What else?
Boy, if you miss this deadline, you're gonna drop to a C.
So turn it in before the Lakeside game or you won't play.
- What? - What?
- Chuck. - You heard your mom. Come on now.
I got a winning game plan,
but my best shooter is about to be benched?
With Ace Howard, head coach of Beacon Academy,
sitting in the bleachers?
Ace Howard's gonna be there?
He has coached, like, five pro players! We're talking NBA pipeline.
He sees us beat the champs, and we're in!
Yeah. Well, it starts with JB beating this proposal.
I am about GPA, not NBA.
Mom, don't even worry about it, okay? He's got this. I'll make sure of it.
All right.
Hey! Don't you dare eat both those, put it down. Put it...
Hey. - Put it...
- Put it down. Exactly... - I'm eating you, right? Come on, girl.
Okay.
- Yo! - Who are you texting?
I'm not texting and why are you snatching off my headphones?
- Hey, you wanna hear my new beat? - I wanna see you do your work.
Look, that whole page is blank.
- The passion proposal part is easy. - You know I'm not good at papers.
Check this out.
Come on. Let me show you something.
You're missing out on that beat. I know "Headphones,"
but this is what I do care about.
Step one. Get into Beacon for high school.
Step two. College ball. Final Four, me versus you. I win.
Step three. Get drafted to the Lakers.
And step four. Retiring to the NBA Hall of Fame
as the new GOATs.
You remember when we made this, right?
I made it, you talked about it.
And I never agreed with all of step two, man.
My bad, I just thought it might inspire something.
Bro, Dad is a baller with a championship ring.
That's inspiration enough.
Look, you cannot miss this game, JB.
Promise me that that proposal's gonna be fire.
It's gonna be lava, bro. Promise.
Throwing socks now?
What's up? What's good, Vondie?
Hey, Maya. Psych!
- What's up, G? - Okay.
Quick shoulder shake, a slick eye fake
Oh, JB's too late
Vondie's reading me like a book But I got him shook
'Cause his feet are the bank And I am the...
Crook!
You gotta work on those handles, Langston Hughes.
All that game
- but Maya made you look lame. - Whatever.
Maya the Defiant plus Vondie the Giant
make up this crew like a superhero alliance.
All right, all right, all right, Filthy, I'm on deadline for the paper.
Lakeside beat you by 26 in last year's championship. Thoughts?
- You can ask me. I was there, too. - Yeah, but...
Uh, your rival school led by Zuma Rivers,
one of the top-most ranked players in the state.
Who nasty-dunked in your face.
- Okay, really, bruh? - Will Zuma best you again?
That fool's getting schooled, uncooled
'Cause when Filthy gets hot He got a slammerific shot
It's supersonic sassy Dunkalicious classy
- And downright in your face McNasty! All right.
Good morning.
Ooh, someone is dressed for success.
Interview with the superintendent this afternoon.
- Ooh. I am nervous. - No, don't be.
You're already doing the principal's job in an acting capacity.
- Oh! - You've taught,
you've been an administrator, and the kids love you here.
- Mm-hmm. Hey, hey, hey! Unless Cardi B
is making a surprise appearance
at the end of the hallway, there is no running in it.
Sorry Dr. Bell! - But look, if she is, let me know. Okurr?
Principal Bell will not be denied.
Hmm. Thank you, girl.
What's up, little man? Hey, Vondie.
Hey! They got DJ Semple Plan for the Fall Dance.
Are you asking anyone to go, Filthy?
Uh, no, I thought we were all going together.
- Josh?
Close your eyes, make a wish
And blow out the candlelight
- Josh? Josh, say hello.
Hi, Josh. Do you remember me?
- What's up, Alexis? Do you go here now? - Yeah. I just moved back.
My parents split. So now, I gotta split my time.
- Oh, wow. I'm sorry to hear, Alexis. It's okay, it happens.
- Love the hair, Josh. - Filthy's wings. They let him fly.
Yeah, yeah, will you walk Alexis to Ms. Rojas-Pierre's class please?
Okay.
Use your fingertips.
Pulchritudinous.
Having great physical beauty or appeal. As in, "Alexis was pulchritudinous."
As in, "I'd never had a girlfriend but if I did, she'd be pulchritudinous."
- Hey, he needs to align his chakras. - No. He needs to bend his knees.
Are you allergic to freebies?
Come on, son. I want you to shoot with the fingertips.
All right, you square up, bend your knees.
Bro, chill. - Follow through. Hey!
What are you doing? I'm over here coming up with the Xs and Os for Lakeside.
- And you're dancing? - Come on Pops, I'm just...
Okay, all of you, I want you to run six laps
while you wait your turn. Go! Gio, get 'em, go!
Come on! You heard the man.
Let's go! Move, move.
Look... (CLEARS THROAT) ...now I know
that you're excited about Coach Howard coming and getting into Beacon...
but the big picture's for later. Basketball rule number ten.
It's one shot, one stop, one game at a time.
All right, run, run. Move, move! Groove!
Chuck! Chuck!
- Hey Chuck! Hey, you all right? Dad! Dad, you good?
- Yo, somebody call 911!
All right, you're good. Hold on, Dad.
Despite everything going on,
I know what Da Man would say. "Keep ballin.
"'Cause the minute you stop playing your game, you already lost."
Look, I don't care where we play.
Yeah. - All right, I'll beat the Bells
at their house, our house, or the Waffle House. All right?
It's not a thing they can do. Especially you, Filthy. Yeah, Lakeside!
- Dad. Oh, boy!
Hmm.
What happened, Dad? You okay? Yeah.
I'm fine. I'm fine, okay?
I'm fine. I'm Chuck "Da Man" Bell. What do you kids say? I'm "Gucci"?
Yes, kids said that, in elementary school.
Oh, be nice.
For real, Dad. Are you okay?
- It was just an asthma attack. Asthma?
Asthma never sent you to the hospital before.
Look, your dad just needs rest and a few days off. Okay?
Few days? What about practice?
For now, I'm on the bench.
The bench? Dad, you're not coaching? You've never not coached us.
Gio can't coach!
He doesn't even know the plays. Not like you do.
Okay, listen, he has my playbook.
Unless his chakras is messed up, you are good.
Now, come on. The game is on soon. We'll stop by Pollards' Wings,
get the Wing-a-Palooza. Right?
What kind you like?
Fine.
No Wing-a-Palooza. I can't even watch the game?
Not without acting like a madman. You heard the doctor.
- I've had asthma all my life, babe. - It's not just that, and you know it.
Your blood pressure's high. Your cholesterol is ugly.
Don't mess with me on this, Chuck.
Your dad ignored all his symptoms until it was too late to do anything.
I know. All right.
Oh, man. Wait, you missed your interview.
Hand me the rest of the pillows.
I, um, I... I went.
And?
And...
I got the job.
- You got the job? - I got the job.
- Babe, come here. - Yeah.
- I got the job. - You Dr. Principal Bell?
- You did it? Babe, I'm so proud of you. - Calm down.
Babe, you gonna be the GOAT principal.
- You tell the boys?
Honey, we gotta celebrate!
Listen, I'm gonna tell the boys. You need rest.
- But, babe, this is major. - Calm down.
- Is it? Yeah.
- I mean, my heart love got her dream gig. - Mm-hmm.
Wow, I see big things.
Oh.
- And I see sleep or reading.
- No TV. - Ah.
- That's cold-blooded. - Mm-hmm.
- Doctor. Night.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yo, bro, you asleep? - Nah.
What're we gonna do?
About Zuma?
I was thinking maybe a clap back video, but...
Not Zuma, about Dad.
Dad's fine. Doctor said it was just asthma.
- That's scary, man. I'm worried. - Worry about finishing that proposal.
Look, we gotta show Coach Howard how we do.
Basketball rule number 16. If you wanna be the man,
- you gotta stick to the plan. - Plans change, Josh. Clearly.
Nothing changes.
We ball, and we win.
- JB? - Do the proposal. Yeah, I got it.
Nah, bruh.
You wanna help me pick out some clothes for tomorrow?
You finally figured out Maya likes you?
Nah, man, we're just friends. I, uh, I just wanna look nice, that's it.
Like who? Anybody come to mind?
Oh, here we go.
Just trust me. I got you, bro.
- You got me.
It was pretty scary there. Yeah, I pretty much hate hospitals.
- Anyway, I hope your dad's okay. - He is, he's just not coaching,
which is really scary, because losing this game would be...
abysmal.
Abysmal, as in, unfathomable.
As in, "These fries are abysmal."
- What? - As in hopelessly bad.
All right, say that then, bro.
Always using these big old words.
- My bad. - Hey, if you don't want your fries,
- I'll eat 'em. Hands off.
- Oh, wow. You, too? So...
what if Coach can't coach again?
Why do you keep talking about how he is? I said he's fine!
Let your neck breathe, dawg.
Sometimes it's annoying when people care, but it's worse when they don't.
What's up?
Shoot!
Yo, chill.
- Wow! Hey, guys. Hey.
Oh, um...
nice shirt.
- I'm sure JB picked out his fit.
Oh. Mr. Fashion.
Okay, I see you, JB.
Filthy hoops, but he has zero swag.
Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah, my man's swag is abysmal, huh?
As in, unfathomable. No.
Where's my snacks?
Hmm.
Chuck is going to be fine. Can we focus on you and your new job?
- Girl, I'm still in shock. - You're ready for this.
- Am I? - Yes.
- I need a new wardrobe.
I have to attend conferences every weekend.
Constantly balance the budget. Meet the board.
And now Chuck has to do an entire battery of medical tests.
And the boys are...
- Still no answer.
What can I say in my defense?
Here we go. And we're back in the game.
Oh, he doubles back, passes on to six.
Here we go. Emerson up for two.
Boom! It's raining from downtown. That brings him up...
- Hey, yo, can we talk? - After the game.
Do you remember when Maya's mom was just supposed to be in the hospital
- for a few weeks and then... Yes,
I do remember and it sucked. But right now, our biggest problem
is a 14-year-old Steph Curry look-alike who can shoot our lights out.
Our biggest problem is that Dad is sick! Stop hiding behind ball, Josh.
I'm not hiding behind anything.
I'm focused on what matters and you're not.
So whatever, I don't need you. I'll beat Lakeside by myself.
Hey, hey, hey, hey! What's going on in here?
I know you not squaring off, in my house?
He is blowing the Lakeside game
and our chance to get into Beacon and he doesn't even care.
I care about Dad, and you don't.
- I do care, Jordan. - Quiet, now!
Let me tell you something. I need you to hear me.
Things happen. Life comes at you hard and fast.
Like Zion Williamson.
- I pay attention. - This is a team, boys.
We celebrate wins and we console losses,
but no matter what happens, you're a net tied together.
That's right, you boys are connected.
And you always will be. So, whatever this is,
put it behind you.
Sorry.
Filthy, free throws. And you, finish the proposal.
We're destined for greatness Nobody ever thought we would make it
Watch how far we take it
Pass the stars and spaceships From a city where the music is sacred
504 You're in the presence of a rebel now
Yeah we about to take it To another level now
'Bout time everybody got together now
Things are looking better now We can live forever now
Are you working or texting?
JB...
Mom, I'm not like Filthy.
What do you mean?
He loves basketball more than anything.
Ooh, play it off. - What if I just like it?
What would Dad say?
You think that's all you have in common with your father?
I think he would say that he still loves his son no matter what.
Look, I know the game is a lot, especially around here.
But it's not everything, JB.
- Okay? - All right.
- I love you. - Love you, too.
Get that proposal done.
You got this, right?
- Bro, are you serious? - Come on.
Do you even care about the game?
Listen, Miss Janice...
I didn't write a proposal.
But I did kinda work on something. And I can tell you about it after class.
That was not the assignment.
- I know, but... I'll tell you what.
I am willing to make an exception, but...
only if you share your passion with the class.
You... you mean now? Out loud?
How can you shoot for your passion when the goal is so far away?
This is what I know.
Basketball is in my life But it is not my life
My photography skills are sweet And I love making beats
I'm really into clothes Be cool to design 'em
I like cooking food so maybe I'll dine 'em
Basketball rule number 39 Sometimes you gotta take a time... out
Percolate, as in, discover your greatness
As in, I'm 13, I'm still searching My sole passion? I have no idea
But here's what's clear
I'm gonna percolate this whole year
Then maybe I can present My masterpiece to you
And you
And me
Good.
Nice.
Hey!
Yo, man!
Unconventional. But provocative.
I can't wait to learn what you discover.
Percolate on, Mr. Bell.
From day one, we'd shared our passion.
But it seemed JB's heart was in another place.
Let's go!
Go Lions!
A good hero needs a great villain to battle.
Zuma was mine.
You got hops but you still mine, Filthy. Just like last season.
Your breath smells like you ain't brushed it since last season.
It's gonna be a long night.
Hey, I'm nervous for you.
Look, coach from Beacon Academy is here.
Chuck "Da Man." Crystal. Hey. Coach Howard.
- Gonna be a great game tonight. - Yeah, your boys, they got a great coach.
- Mm-hmm. - A benched coach, you hear me?
The only reason why I let you come is 'cause you said you'd stay calm.
Uh, I'm totally zen, Principal Bell.
Oh, stop it. You know that's not official till Monday.
I hope I'm ready for it.
I've known you all my life. It's nothing you can't handle.
- Aw. - Mm-hmm. I know it's early,
- but do you think I can get a raise? - No.
When obstacles arise,
Dad always said, "Put on your game face. Full court press your fears.
"Keep your eyes on the ball. And never lose sight of the goal."
Filthy looks nervous, I hope he's okay.
- You checking for him?
He's looking.
I'm that obvious, huh?
- Little bit.
Bend your knees, square up, follow through, come on.
Yeah.
Pass it!
Dad, Coach, Alexis.
It's so easy to fold under the weight of heavy expectations,
when all eyes are on you.
Filthy, you've gotta do this!
Run the play, Filthy!
Sit down and calm yourself or you're out of here this second.
Go! Come on! Right there!
Come on!
Told you it's gonna be a long night, boy!
Bring it in! Bring it in! Yeah, it was, as in...
This game is a fiasco, all right? It's clearly not going as planned.
'Cause you're a ball hog. You're not even passing to JB!
- Oh, really? Get a rebound, Vondie! - When you hit a shot, maybe I would!
That doesn't even make sense.
Yo, come on.
We on the same team.
There is a lot of game left, man. Let's turn it around.
- We gotta visualize victory like... - Oh, so what, you MJ now?
- Bro, I'm talking '96 Bulls! - Now, who's living in denial?
Filthy, I'm talking about us, all right?
Me and you.
- If we lose to Lakeside... - Win or lose,
we go hard, together man. Just like we always have.
And always will.
We got this. Hey, come here, y'all!
- Hey, come here, gather around. - Hey, put your hands in right now.
Listen, we got this. So let's rock this!
We got this! Let's rock this! We got this! Let's rock this!
- Yeah! - Yeah!
D him up. D up!
Come on! Yeah!
Run it, bring it up.
Go on and dance, I ain't mad at you!
- Whoo! - Sit down.
Let's go!
The game is fluid, it becomes instinct.
You acclimate, you adapt, you overcome, a smooth pivot, a sick double cross.
- Hey!
- Oh! - Hey! Bro! What you doing
- all that for man? Chill out! - Get up man. Hey, you all right?
You got it, come on.
You got this, bro, all right?
Call the shots. It's all you.
Game on the line, kid. Don't brick it.
We dreamt of becoming GOATs together
and we did.
We just never knew who would be on the court in the end.
You draw up a game plan...
but once the ball tips-off...
...all those Xs and Os go right out the window.
No matter what happens...
- That's okay, Josh. - That's okay.
It's okay, you got it.
...you do what it takes to win.
Let's go!
You and me.
In the game.
And in life.
Great game.
Nice job, Zuma. - Thank you.
I wanna invite you to my select summer camp.
- You for real? - Yeah.
- All right, I'm gonna text you, Coach. - Yeah.
I hope that L hurt, Filthy.
Not as much as it'll hurt when we win that championship, Zuma.
- All right. We're gonna see. - We'll see.
Good game out there.
Uh, thanks. But we lost.
You persevered, and you adapted. That's what I want at Beacon. You too, JB.
Keep shooting. I'll be watching.
Thank you.
Yo! We're all good.
Thanks to you, making up all that stupid stuff
about making beats and cooking for your passion proposal, man.
- Good stuff! - Actually, Filthy, it was true.
All of it.
- Hey! - Hey.
- Well done!
- Thank you. - You did great.
- He was focused, strong comeback. Mm-hmm.
- Hey, see you at home, okay? - See you.
Filthy, Filthy! You lost the game, but like, how...
Look, it's not a good time, Maya.
Okay, okay, okay, I'm sorry. But that second half of the game, Filthy.
- You killed it, bro. You were on it! - Okay, okay.
Hey, guys. How y'all doin'?
Hey, Alexis. - Hey, Alexis.
- Hey, Filthy. Oh, JB. - Hey...
What's up, Alexis? - You didn't know?
JB asked her to the dance.
You good?
You think things are going one way,
but in the blink of an eye, it changes direction.
A quick shoulder shake, a slick eye fake.
And just like that, you're left off balance,
trying to play yourself back into position.
As in, the crossover.