the redemptive team (The Reedem Team) is a documentary directed by Jon Weinbach that recounts how the United States was able to regain its hegemony in international basketball, after important defeats in the Olympic Games and the World Cup.
The documentary makes a brief historical account of basketball in the United States in the Olympic Games, going through the “Dream Team” of Barcelona 1992, until reaching the failure of Athens 2004. Then it touches on the reconstruction stage and the 2006 World Cup (a new failure). After this new setback, the film focuses on the arrival of Kobe Bryant, qualifying for Beijing 2008 and, finally, consecration in China as the best basketball team in the world.
Dream Team: Barcelona 1992
The documentary begins with a review of the successful career of the United States in Olympic Games, until reaching the Dream Team of Barcelona 92 (the first team with NBA players). An anthology squad that was not only responsible for winning the gold medal, but was also a cornerstone in the transformation of NBA basketball into a global phenomenon.
Athens 2004
After the successes of Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sidney 2000 we come to the fateful Athens 2004.
In this case, a more detailed review is made of the before, during and after the participation of Team USA, with special emphasis on the defeats against Puerto Rico in the group phase and with Argentina in the semifinals, a situation that led to Larry Brown and company (Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Stephon Marbury and rookies Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony) to settle for the bronze medal.
Reconstruction
After the failure in 2004, the leadership decides to renew its ranks by entrusting the reconstruction to Jerry Colangelo.
The former General Manager of the Phoenix Suns began this new stage by choosing Michael Krzyzewski (“Coach K”), the multi-champion with Duke University, as coach of the national team. Despite not having experience in the NBA, his long and successful career in the collegiate circuit and his military past (a graduate of the West Point Academy), gave him respect from the leadership and more importantly from the players. professionals who would be summoned.
2006 World Cup
Coach K had to work very hard to put together a team and not a collection of individuals as had happened in Athens.
The first great challenge for this squad was the 2006 World Cup in Japan. On this occasion, the United States reached the semifinal in a relatively comfortable way, in which instance Greece would beat them to once again relegate them to bronze.
Kobe Bryant and qualifying for the Games
Lacking answers for what happened in the World Cup, the leadership decides to summon Kobe Bryant. However, what seemed like good news was viewed with suspicion by several of the players since the #24 of the Lakers was not known for playing together.
True to his custom, Kobe took on the challenge rebuilding his image based on work, effort and sacrifice, earning the trust of his teammates and generating a special chemistry with another key member, Lebron James.
By the 2007 AmeriCup in Las Vegas, this was already a very different set and their sweeping pace throughout the tournament was a clear example of that. After beating Argentina in the final by a score of 118-81, the United States were qualified for Beijing 2008 and ready to claim the gold medal.
Beijing 2008
Once in the Chinese capital, those commanded by Coach K passed the group stage and the quarterfinals without problems, to meet again with Argentina. A special match for Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer, who suffered defeat against the Argentines 4 years earlier. However, this time the story would be very different and the United States would prevail by a score of 101 to 81.
At the gates of glory Kobe Bryant and Team USA still had to beat a tough rival, the Spanish team. Despite having beaten them in the group stage, the Ibéricos did not shrink and went blow for blow against one of the best teams in history. However, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were decisive, and the victory leaned on the North American side to get the gold medal once again.
In addition to the road to Olympic gold, this last part of the film explores a more human side of the American team, focusing on: the camaraderie of the players on and off the court; life in the Olympic Village; the interaction with other athletes and the bond the players developed during that time together. All key factors for the success of this team.
the redemptive team premiered on October 7 on Netflix and was a work in which Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach participated (The Last Dance) as executive producers.
Paul Riquelme I am a fan of sports, music, LEGO and technology/innovation. I collaborate on TrendWatching, TrendHunter, BusinessofPurpose, VivaBasquet and now on Cine PREMIERE. I am a devourer of series and I will always find an episode of The Simpsons that is related to something that is happening in the world.