Best Sports Documentaries on HBO Max

HBO has long been the home for some of the best long-form video content. And whether a drama series, such as the Sopranos, Euphoria, or Succession, a comedy such as The Flight Attendant or Barry, or a sci-fi series such as True Blood or Game of Thrones, HBO continues to push the envelope and our collective imaginations.

And with the relatively recent release of HBO Max, HBO has taken creative liberties to capture new users and expand their audience base. One such way they have done so is via the sports documentary genre.

Typically exploring specific and individual sports characters, these documentaries provide unrivaled access and an honest exploration of the athlete in never before seen highlights and exclusive one-on-one interviews.

Below, we are going to look at and discuss the best sports documentaries on HBO Max right now and give our recommendations for the sports documentaries you should be watching on HBO Max right now.

What is HBO Max?

Before diving into the best sports documentaries on HBO Max, it’s important to step back and understand just what HBO Max is. HBO Max is a newer streaming service owned by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Launched on May 27, 2020, the service is primarily built around the shared libraries of both HBO and Warner Bros. Utilizing content from the wide-breadth of libraries and intellectual property owned by the brand, HBO Max contains over 10,000 hours of movies and TV series from the 100-year content collection.

And with new, original series, documentaries, and movies being added to the service each year, HBO Max consistently ranks as one of the best streaming services currently on the market, even with substantial competition from Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock.

Not an HBO Max subscriber? We would definitely recommend signing up for either an ad-free or limited ad experience subscription.

Tiger

A two-part sports documentary exclusively available on HBO Max, Tiger is based on the 2018 book of the same name. Chronicling the rise, fall, and return of golfs more famous player, the documentary explores the golfers relationship with his father and how that relationship would affect his career in golf.

Although the documentary does not feature Tiger Woods, with the golfer declining to be interviewed, it does feature interviews with Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams, Woods’ former girlfriend, Nick Faldo, Bryant Gumbel, and Rachel Uchitel, who was involved in Woods’ infidelity scandal.

Kareem: Minority Of One

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA champion, six-time MVP, and the current holder of the all-time points scored in the league, has always had a rather contentious relationship with the media. Opting to keep his so-called “game face” on before, during, and after tip-off, he has rarely provided interviews or his own perspective.

However, the curtain finally falls in Kareem: Minority of One. In this documentary on HBO Max, Kareem speaks in depth about his life, his religion, his fallout with his family after his conversion to Islam, and even on how he is perceived by former and current NBA players.

An insightful expose on the legendary player, it is the perfect sports documentary for basketball fans looking to understand the typically stoic player.

Tyson

HBO Max has two different documentaries on the legendary boxer Mike Tyson. The first, simply titled Tyson, is the story of the boxer from his early days as a 12 year old with a powerful punch to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion. A quick moving documentary, you never really feel as if enough time is dedicated to a single subject or story.

Which is where the second documentary comes in. Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth is a more raw and vivid documentary. Told in front of a live studio audience from the mouth of the legend himself, Tyson is brutally honest and reflects on his life, his legacy, and his time as one of the world’s greatest boxers.

What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali

Perhaps the greatest and most admired athlete of all time, Muhammed Ali was the greatest of all time before the term was fully popularized. And while there have been tons of exposes, films, and documentaries regarding Ali, none were done through his own voice.

In What’s My Name, director Antoine Fuqua utilizes never before seen, or heard, audio and video commentary from the legendary boxer to piece together his own story. This is Ali as Ali would want himself to be known and remembered.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

A 2010 documentary, Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals chronicles the rivalry between two all-time NBA greats. With their rivalry starting in the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship game, the two continued to spar long after their college basketball days.

But, interestingly, the documentary attempts to paint the picture that had this rivalry not existed, the NBA that we know and love today may not have survived the 80’s, with viewership and interest in the league down and the league needing not just one, but two superstars, to revive its image and place in the heart of the American people.

Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry

Another sports documentary exclusively on HBO Max, Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry focuses on the rivalry between these two powerhouse college football teams. With both teams considered to be amongst the most successful in NCAA football, the rivalry has garnered national interest due to many of the games determining the Big Ten Conference title and the resulting Rose Bowl Game matchups.

Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching

Bill Belichick and Nick Saban are two of the greatest football coaches in the history of the game. Yet, what many people may not know, is that the two are close, long-time friends. In this documentary, Saban and Belichick reminisce on their friendship, their shared love of the game, and their successes both on and off the football field.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth has taken on an almost mythical status in popular culture. Yet this HBO Max documentary, released on the 50th anniversary of his death, aims to take a deeper look at the mythical figure.

And while Ruth was known for his larger than life attitude and his ability to hit home runs higher, farther and with more frequency than any player, this documentary looks at how the man single-handedly saved America’s game.

And though Babe Ruth was known for his loud, boisterous attitude, both on and off the pitch, he was also a kind, gentle, kindred spirit, as one former peanut vendor would reminisce how Ruth would give him $20 a day and saw, “take care of the kids”.

But where this HBO documentary really excels is that all but two of the 31 people interviewed knew Ruth firsthand. This intimate expose finally reveals the true man behind the legend and is worth every minute of time.