5 Best Shows Like Netflix's Running Point

Netflix’s Running Point is the streaming service’s latest sports drama, following the complex professional life of a reformed party girl whose business know-how is put to the test when she’s unexpectedly placed in charge of her family-owned basketball team. The show effectively blends high-stakes sports drama with a more personal, intimate family dynamic to keep the show engaging on multiple levels. While the ending of Running Point’s first season managed to wrap up the story fairly well, audiences may still be left with an itch that needs scratching - thankfully, there are many other great shows in a similar vein.

Running Point’s lead actress Kate Hudson delivers one of her most engaging and empathetic performances in the show, bringing to life this complex character who easily could’ve been unlikable in the wrong hands. She’s completely out of her depth for the majority of the show, but Hudson manages to get the audience on her side and make them root for her regardless.Running Point’s reviews have been mostly positive so far, with critics praising the show’s lighthearted tone and seamless ability to juggle so many engaging subplots at the same time.

5 Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty (2022)

Starring Quincy Isaiah & Hadley Robinson

Winning Time is one of the most entertaining and creative sports dramas in recent memory, telling the story of how the Los Angeles Lakers became such a successful and acclaimed NBA team throughout the 1980s. While based on a true story, the show has plenty of dramatized events and unique dynamics created exclusively for the show, transforming an otherwise well-known legacy into a riveting drama that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. With excellent lead performances from Quincy Isaiah and Hadley Robinson, it’s a must-watch for anybody interested in basketball - or sports in general.

4 Clipped (2024)

Starring Cleopatra Coleman & Kelly AuCoin

One of the more recent entries in this particular subgenre, 2024’s Clipped follows the behind-the-scenes drama of the LA Clippers as they fought against a wave of controversy when a senior member of the NBA leadership was caught making racist remarks on tape. It’s a fascinating dissection of the basketball association at large, told from the perspective of one of its most interesting and compelling teams. There are many great TV shows about basketball but Clipped feels like one of the most gripping and instantly likable.

3 Club De Cuervos (2015-2019)

Starring Luis Gerardo Mendes & Mariana Trevino

Club de Cuervos offers a deeply compelling and surprisingly funny insight into the turbulent rise of a fictional football team called FC Cuervos, which falls under uncertain leadership following the unexpected death of the club’s owner. What ensues is a darkly comedic struggle for power between his two children, both of whom want to take over the business and allow the players to reach their full potential. The show gained notoriety for being Netflix’s first Spanish-language original series, and it was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception.

2 Ted Lasso (2020-2023)

Starring Jason Sudeikis & Hannah Waddingham

Ted Lasso is a unique comedy that changed drastically throughout its three seasons. While the first season closely followed the titular soccer coach as he’s assigned to a fictional UK club, the latter seasons became much more of an ensemble comedy about love, friendship and the importance of being there for those in need. It’s an extremely powerful show that merely uses soccer as a backdrop to explore much grander and more universal themes. Ted Lasso’s fourth season is reportedly in development, but rumors suggest it will be extremely different from those that preceded it.

1 Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Starring Kyle Chandler & Taylor Kitsch

For many, Friday Night Lights is a perfect sports drama. The show is based on the 2004 movie of the same name, following a high school football team as they fight against low expectations and systemic conflicts to become the best players in their small town. The show included countless fascinating storylines throughout its five seasons, speaking to real-life issues that affect the NFL to this day. Friday Night Lights also kick-started the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest talents, such as Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan.

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