"Hoops, Hopes & Dreams" Review

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams, released in 2025, but I had the opportunity to see this sporty documentary on the big screen at the Reel Black Film Festival in February of 2026. While the film follows famous black leaders like Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it stands alone from other documentaries through the framing device that it uses to connect these figures: basketball.

Most people are probably familiar with these two men; King is often considered the face of the American Civil Rights movement and Obama was America's first black president. However, many might not know that both of them were decent basketball players.

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams uses basketball to ground King and Obama in reality. It's easy to forget that historical figures are real people who had lives and hobbies outside of their historical context. Showing said hobbies allows the audience to connect to them on a human level. Sports also allow us to connect with our bodies as well as our communities.

The way they play basketball also reveals a bit of their characters. To be good at any team sport, you have to be able to play well with others. Someone who is good at basketball could be a better leader because they know how to be a team player.

Basketball is also a strategic sport. We often stereotype athletes as unintelligent, but a good athlete understands strategy. This mirrors both King and Obama's stories.

"How you play sports, to me, is a character reveal" said Jemele Hill.

Generally, we think of King as a non-violent activist, but it's important to note that many of his protests were planned intentionally to get people watching, and therefore thinking about the subjugation of black people. King and other Civil Rights leaders knew that America would be uncomfortable watching peaceful protestors being attacked so violently.

As for Obama, any politician must have extensive knowlege of political strategy in order to succeed. It's clear that basketball is very intertwined in both King and Obama's stories.

The film also uses animated segments to engage the audience. I found these short segments to be very charming, and they are a clever way to keep people interested. They also work as a form of suspense. The film doesn't tell you who the figure playing basketball is until the end of each animated segment, but the animation is accurate enough that you may recognize King or Obama before their names are said.

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams is a great film for both sports fans and those curious about black history. For those interested, the film is currently available on Hulu.