Some of my favorite documentaries focus on the world of sports. From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, athletic competitions are more dramatic than soap operas. This weekend, spend some time perusing the documentary section on Paramount+. I picked three documentaries that should appeal to most fans.

My top pick revolves around March Madness, arguably the greatest tournament in sports. My second pick heads to the octagon and examines the UFC. Finally, the last documentary studies the life of a legendary basketball player.

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Kevin Garnett: Anything Is Possible

From high school to the Hall of Fame

Full disclosure: I’m a fan of the New York Knicks. Therefore, I hated Kevin Garnett. How could I not? He was one of the key members of the Boston Celtics, the Knicks’ top rival. I wouldn’t be a true fan if I liked Garnett. KG was the type of player that you love if he’s on your team and despise him if he’s on the other.

Despite my feelings against the man, I respected Garnett. Kevin Garnett: Anything Is Possible chronicles the career of a future Hall of Fame player. Garnett first made headlines in 1995 when he skipped college and went straight to the NBA. Before Garnett, only two players had bypassed college for the NBA in 1975. Garnett’s groundbreaking decision paved the way for future high school players—including Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James—to enter the NBA Draft.

The documentary paints Garnett as a hungry and ambitious player. You need that confidence if you get drafted by a team that immediately makes you their franchise player as a teen. On the court, Garnett became a matchup nightmare because of his menacing size and shooting prowess. Seeing Garnett’s highlights makes me think just how much better he would be in today’s NBA, which favors offensive players.​​​​​​​

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UFC Countdown

Meet the fighters outside the octagon

After a seven-year partnership with ESPN, the UFC agreed to a seven-year deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion. Now, all the UFC events air on Paramount+ and CBS. Considering it utilized the pay-per-view model for decades, the UFC moving to a streaming service is a historic decision in the sport’s history.

I’m a UFC fan, so I try to watch all the numbered events. The action in the octagon is unpredictable, violent, and entertaining. However, fights need to tell a story. Why are these two people stepping inside an octagon with the intention of ripping each other’s heads off? That’s where UFC Countdown comes in. Before every numbered event, UFC cameras follow the fighters in the lead-up to the fight. UFC Countdown is like the company’s version of HBO’s 24/7.

For someone who doesn’t follow the sport religiously, UFC Countdown helps fill in the gaps of the details I might want to know about each fighter. When did they last fight? Where do they live? Have they ever won a title? These are the questions that UFC Countdown answers. More importantly, viewers get to see a different side of each fighter. I’m always surprised to learn that some of the most vicious fighters inside the octagon are laid back in their personal lives.​​​​​​​

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Made for March

Let the madness begin

I’m already having post-March Madness withdrawals. The last three weeks have been nothing but bliss. I like college basketball, but I love the NCAA Tournament. The first Thursday of the tournament gives me a feeling similar to how I felt as a kid on Christmas morning. For those first two days, it’s 12-plus hours of basketball. You better believe I’m sitting on my couch and watching every single game.

For fans of Hard Knocks, Paramount+ chronicled two teams during the tournament for the documentary series Made for March. The featured teams are the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan Wolverines. The Jayhawks are led by first-year player Darryn Peterson, one of the projected top picks in the NBA Draft. Cameras followed the Jayhawks throughout the season and into the tournament, where they earned a No. 4 seed.

Paramount+ lucked out by picking the Michigan Wolverines, who capped off an excellent season by winning the national championship on April 6. Props to second-year coach Dusty May for transforming this program by utilizing the transfer portal and NIL. So far, three episodes of the series have aired. The fourth and final episode premieres on April 18. Knowing how Michigan’s season ended, I’m betting cameras were inside the locker room during the championship game. Michigan fans, enjoy your moment.

More Paramount+ movies and shows to watch

Looking for something else to watch on Paramount+? If you don’t want to commit to long hours and multiple seasons, try binging one of these shows in one sitting. Our list includes The Madison and Waco. The movie selection on Paramount+ is top tier. 21 Jump Street and The Fighter are two of my top recommendations.

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