Directed by The Last Dance producer Jon Weinbach and executive produced by Olympians Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, new documentary The Redeem Team tells the story of the 2008 United States Olympic Men’s Basketball Team that came together after the demoralizing international loss at the 2004 Olympics to finally reclaim gold — and redeem American basketball. 

“What makes [the Redeem Team] significant is that unlike every American basketball team, these guys had lost not once, not twice, but three times... The bloom was off the rose with USA basketball,” Weinbach tells Tudum about the deeply personal and critical stakes that faced the now-legendary team. “I wanted to remind people why it was a redemption,” Weinbach says about the false assumption that American basketball has always been dominant. “What does it mean? It wasn’t just that they needed to win a gold medal.” The film features unprecedented Olympic footage and new interviews with the team, including frank conversations with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul and archival interviews with the late Kobe Bryant.

“I felt that the guys really wanted to talk about this. They’ve all won stuff. They’ve all done incredible things. But I think the enthusiasm, the candor and the emotion they brought showed that they wanted to honor the memory of the team and the significance of it. It was so clearly emotional for the guys on this team.”

Says executive producer Dwyane Wade, “In 2008, I played with heroes of mine, all-stars, friends and future teammates. Outside of winning and showing the world that we were still the most dominant, our other big challenge was changing the perception of what everyone thought about the NBA and USA Basketball! I’m excited for everyone to get an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see all the work that went into this iconic team — the Redeem Team!”

This documentary marks the first time the International Olympic Committee has produced a film exclusively for a global streaming service and made available archival footage, much of which hasn’t ever been seen, from 70 years of Olympics history. “This film will bring viewers directly inside that team... by showcasing the personality and dynamics of a special group of superstars who came together as one to reclaim basketball supremacy on the biggest stage in sports,” says Mark Parkman from the Olympic Channel Services. 

What makes the Redeem Team’s story a must-watch? According to Weinbach, it’s also the same thing that makes any sports documentary great: “It’s a human story that also happens to be [about] sports. It's a story about a team, [but] it's also personal. They wanted to prove something to themselves, to the world and to each other.”

The Redeem Team will stream on Netflix Oct. 7.

Directed by Jon Weinbach
Produced by Greg Groggel & Diego Hurtado De Mendoza 
Executive Produced by Frank Marshall, Mike Tollin, Jon Weinbach, Dwyane Wade, Mark Parkman, Mary Byrne and Yiannis Exarchos with LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron of UNINTERRUPTED