Get ready to hit the court. Rez Ball invites you into an underseen sports landscape — the world of reservation basketball, where Indigenous teens channel their inner LeBron James (who serves as a producer on the new film). Directed by Sydney Freeland (Drunktown’s Finest), Rez Ball is an electrifying and emotional sports movie that’s based on a real team. So, of course, the filmmakers had to find a team of their own.
“It was very important for me that these kids could play basketball,” Freeland told Netflix about casting the film. “As a big basketball fan, nothing takes me out of the movie quicker than seeing someone who can’t play. Fortunately, we identified that there was a lot of overlap in the Venn diagram of Native actors and Native actors that could play basketball, because basketball is so prevalent in these Native communities.”
The Rez Ball crew put out a casting call, and received a torrent of submissions. Each aspiring teammate had to pass multiple tests. “Out of 5,000 submissions, not only did they have to put themselves on tape reading lines, but they had to shoot a free throw, a layup, and a three-pointer,” Freeland said.
Slowly, the massive field was winnowed down to a top 32, who were flown to Albuquerque for what the production called its Rez Ball invitational. “We had 32 actors auditioning for 10 roles,” Freeland said. “The first half of the day was acting, callbacks, chemistry and line reads, mixing and matching different players and actors. Then the second half of the day was basketball camp. We worked with our basketball choreographer Mike Fisher, and he ran through all these drills and scenarios and some light choreography to see if they could handle it. And so by the end of the day, we found our 10 actors.”
After all that, many members of the Rez Ball cast wound up being first-time performers. Freeland found that both comforting and nerve-racking. “I came up working with nonactors; I feel very comfortable working with [them],” Freeland said. “It was both exciting and terrifying to return to that with these higher stakes of a bigger production. Could we find the kids to bring this film to life?”
Below, you can meet the actors behind the Chuska Warriors.
Kauchani Bratt
as Jimmy Holiday
About the Character
Kauchani Bratt plays Jimmy Holiday, a high school senior and basketball player who’s spent his life looking out for himself, helping to pay his single mom’s rent with a part-time job. After he suffers an unimaginable loss, Jimmy does his best to lead the Chuska Warriors to victory.
Rez Ball is Bratt’s first film role. His tribal affiliations are to the Quechua and Coahuiltecan Nations.
Jessica Matten
as Heather Hobbs
About the Character
Jessica Matten plays Heather Hobbs, the Chuska High basketball coach. A former professional basketball player herself, Heather strives to get the team back on its feet after tragedy strikes.
Matten’s tribal affiliation is to the Red River Cree Métis.
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Devin Sampson-Craig
as Bryson Badonie
About the Character
Devin Sampson-Craig plays point guard Bryson Badonie, who has a big mouth but even bigger basketball skills; he also has a child with girlfriend Dezbah, who’s a star player in her own right.
Rez Ball is Sampson-Craig’s first feature film appearance. His tribal affiliation is to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
Amber Midthunder
as Dezbah Weaver
About the Character
Amber Midthunder plays Dezbah, the point guard on the Chuska girls’ team and Bryson’s ride-or-die girlfriend. She’s a powerful athlete who juggles her floor skills with raising her six-month-old daughter with Bryson.
Midthunder’s tribal affiliation is Assiniboine-Sioux.
Previously In
Prey, The Ice Road, Dream Scenario, Reservation Dogs, Legion
Watch them on Netflix
River Rayne Thomas
as Tyson Yazzie
About the Character
River Rayne Thomas plays Tyson Yazzie, the center on the Chuska Warriors. He’s the strong, silent type with a certain rugged charm.
Thomas’ tribal affiliation is to the Plains Cree.
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Jojo Jackson
as Warlance Yazzie
About the Character
Jojo Jackson plays Warlance Yazzie, Tyson’s twin brother and the Warriors’ power forward. He’s the team intellectual — smart, bright, and perceptive.
Rez Ball is Jackson’s first film role. His tribal affiliation is to the Navajo.
Avery Hale
as Miles Martinez
About the Character
Avery Hale plays Miles Martinez, a reserve player who’s notorious on the reservation for his TikTok and Instagram accounts. He’s also popular with the ladies.
This is Hale’s first feature film appearance. His tribal affiliation is to the San Carlos Apache, San Felipe Pueblo, and Mandan, and Hidatsa.
Hunter Redhorse Arthur
as Kobe Nez
About the Character
Hunter Redhorse Arthur plays Kobe Nez, a reserve player whose parents are former basketball players — they named him after their favorite pro.
This is Arthur’s first feature film appearance, but he previously worked in the art department on Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. His tribal affiliation is to the Navajo.
Henry Wilson Jr.
as Leland Tom
About the Character
Henry Wilson Jr. plays Leland Tom, a speedy freshman who’s been recruited by the Warriors.
This is Wilson’s first film role. His tribal affiliation is to the Navajo.
Jaren K. Robledo
as Levi Silversmith
About the Character
Jaren K. Robledo plays Levi Silversmith, a reserve player who never misses a free throw.
This is Robledo’s first film role. His tribal affiliations are to the Navajo and Mohave.
Damian “LuvSmokeyy” Castellane
as Ruckus Largo
About the Character
Damian “LuvSmokeyy” Castellane plays Ruckus Largo, the team’s best defender. He also holds down a job as a sanitation worker.
This is Castellane’s first film role. His tribal affiliation is to the Puyallup tribe.
Kusem Goodwind
as Nataanii Jackson
About the Character
Kusem Goodwind plays Nataanii Jackson, the team’s star player and Jimmy’s best friend since childhood. He’s an incredible player, but he struggles with depression.
This is Goodwind’s first film role. He is of Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce descent.
Ernest David Tsosie
as Benny Begay
About the Character
Ernest David Tsosie plays Benny Begay, the former Rez Ball coach who trained Heather when she was a player. Heather asks him to help her bring the Warriors back to life in the wake of tragedy..
Comedian Tsosie appeared in Freeland’s first feature film Drunktown’s Finest. His tribal affiliation is to the Navajo.
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Drunktown’s Finest, Pete & Cleo, Dark Winds, Longmire, Touch the Water
Rez Ball is now streaming on Netflix.
