In 1979, Puerto Rico’s national basketball team was filled with players straight out of New York City playgrounds. This doc shows how those courts built a movement.
We found this one through Documentary.org’s March Madness documentary list.
Trailer for “Nuyorican Básquet”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Puerto Rico’s 1979 national team had so many players born or raised in New York that people questioned if the team was “Puerto Rican” enough.
- The word “Nuyorican” isn’t neutral—it can signal pride or be used as a subtle dig, depending on who’s saying it and why.
Watch “Nuyorican Básquet”
You can watch “Nuyorican Básquet” on Prime Video.
You can also watch it on YouTube here.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: N/A
Director’s Note: “Nuyorican Básquet” is directed by Ricardo Olivero Lora and Julio César Torres. The doc is built from archival footage and interviews with players, coaches, politicians, and cultural voices who explain why this team mattered far beyond the court.
Release Date: July 8, 2017
Other Unique Stuff
- The gold medal game was Puerto Rico vs. the United States, played in San Juan. So the Nuyorican players were facing Team USA while also trying to prove themselves to Puerto Rico.
- The documentary quietly doubles as a history of post–World War II Puerto Rican migration to New York, using basketball as the entry point.
Wrap Up:
“Nuyorican Básquet” is a sharp little sports doc about a team stuck between two homes. If you like basketball stories with culture, politics, and identity baked in, this one is worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc