Basketball is one of the highest paid sports in the world, and when basketball players get drafted into the NBA their lives are changed immediately and dramatically.

In Hustle, Adam Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a basketball scout who has been around pro basketball all his life. He’s dealt with the politics, the favoritism, and the many other frustrations that exist in today’s world of sports. But his outlook changes when he takes a trip to Spain and discovers a basketball player with tremendous potential—Bo Cruz, played by Juancho Hernangomez,. As Bo puts his trust in Stanley’s hands, both begin the journey to get Bo to the NBA. There are a lot of steps to go through, and nothing is certain, but Hustle has a positive message to its audience to not give up, to never throw in the towel or give up on a dream.

The process of training that Bo goes through in the film was fascinating. Bo sometimes struggles with his emotions on the court as Stanley pushes him to the limit. But Stanley is not going to let Bo fall apart, and the audience will find itself hoping and praying for Bo to not lose himself and burn his chances for the NBA.

Growing up as an avid fan of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and other Chicago Bulls players, Hustle spoke to me. It’s a one-of-a-kind sports flick, and Adam Sandler delivers a performance that is riveting and encouraging. Hustle is a film that centers on patience, self-motivation, and succeeding. Sandler delivers all those elements in this engrossing drama from Netflix. People who love sports, especially basketball, are going to love Hustle.

Hustle may actually be one of the best films about sports from Netflix that I’ve seen, and it’s probably Adam Sandler’s best film since Uncut Gems (2019); but this one is more uplifting. Hustle is in select theaters now and it will hit Netflix on June 8. Whether in the theater or at home, don’t miss it. Three and a half stars for Hustle.