by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Movies featuring basketball are well-represented, but TV shows are another story. Bel-Air and Stranger Things have basketball storylines, but the sport isn’t the main focus. The crop of basketball shows that have come up lately, like Winning Time or Clipped, have relied mainly on historical retellings. If we shift focus to fiction, shows like Swagger, The Crossover, and Big Shots, they don’t meaningfully capture the national audience.
Thankfully, Running Point bucks that trend.
The series follows the fictitious Los Angeles Waves basketball team, a family-owned franchise that expects yearly championships. The lone daughter, Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson), can break from the shadows and run the team. Obstacles are presented, mainly in the form of her meddlesome brothers, and a sports society that doesn’t deem her worthy of being the heir apparent to the storied franchise.
Right off the bat, Running Point is borrowing heavily from the actual Los Angeles Lakers. For those in the know, the Lakers are also owned by a family with a strong, well-known patriarch. The current iteration of the team is led by the daughter who grew up with the franchise, and knows basketball inside out. Even down to the Playboy magazine shoot, Isla is Jeanie Buss. Moreover, the championship-or-bust expectations and the glamour franchise are right with how the Lakers are today.
That being said, one thing that stands out about Running Point is that it’s a workplace comedy that happens to take place in a basketball team’s office. It’s tailor-made for someone like me who follows basketball. The show’s situations mirror some of the very real plights a basketball team goes through: trades, streaming deals, coaching challenges, and sponsorship. There’s even an appearance from a feared commissioner who wants to discipline people. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, Running Point does a great job of bringing office situations to the forefront.
I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan of Hudson’s filmography, but I must admit that a significant reason why Running Point works is that she is outstanding, just like Isla. The main reason why Isla works as a character is that she’s never treated like a caricature. She is brilliant in basketball, and being underestimated drives her to be successful. She’s never treated like a joke, but rather a savvy business person who makes both good calls and bad ones (like any other business exec out there). Hudson nails the funny parts, and has great chemistry with all her costars. She does best, though, to nail the dramatic moments, and those where she needs to be vulnerable. Running Point is the best I’ve seen Hudson in a long time.
The family dynamic is another reason why this show works so well. Isla’s father is a revered member of the basketball community, but when he passes away, her brother Cam (Justin Theroux) takes over as the team leader. Although he’s successful, his personal life gets in the way, which causes him to relinquish control to Isla. Her other brothers, Ness (Scott MacArthur) and Sandy (Drew Tarver), serve a purpose on the show. They’re not just comic relief, although they do provide some of the funniest moments. Each brother has a different perspective on running a franchise, which organically breeds conflict, instead of relying on the tried-and-true sitcom trope of miscommunication. Yes, they have some outstanding, funny moments, but they also have some heartfelt ones that enable the audience to see their family from all angles, not just the funny ones.
The basketball players and the coach are powerfully written. We don’t get to see much basketball being played, but when we do, they’re well-choreographed and fun to watch. Plays are drawn up and executed, and entertaining moments are had with the hijinx among the team. Like the family, the Waves zero in on dramatic moments that help shape them into a lovable squad you can’t help but root for. My favorite way that the family and team dynamic meshes together involves a pregame speech about John Wick — it had me laughing on the floor.
I’m shocked at how much I enjoyed Running Point. The performances and the story are what make it stand out. It’s a low bar, but this might be the best non-docudrama basketball TV out there right now. Running Point is the basketball show I never knew I needed, but the one I’m glad is in my life now.
Rating: High Side of Liked It
Running Point is currently streaming on Netflix
You can read more from Mike Hilty and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd