BREAKING NEWS: Netflix Release the underdog, a highly anticipated documentary about Dallas Maverick legend Steve Nash, set to be released on the…..

In a surprising but much-celebrated move, Netflix has officially announced the release date for *The Underdog*, a powerful new sports documentary chronicling the rise, resilience, and revolutionary playing style of NBA icon Steve Nash. The documentary is scheduled to premiere globally on **August 15, 2025**, and is already being called one of the most emotionally stirring and technically profound basketball documentaries of the decade.

Though Steve Nash is widely known for his two MVP awards during his time with the Phoenix Suns, *The Underdog* shifts the lens to a lesser-discussed yet crucial period of his career—his early years with the **Dallas Mavericks**, where he quietly laid the foundation for what would become a Hall of Fame journey.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava McDonnell (*Game 7: The Untold Story*, *Redemption: The Rise of WNBA Stars*), *The Underdog* spans more than two hours and weaves together archival footage, exclusive interviews, and never-before-seen home videos of Nash from his rookie season in Dallas in 1996 through his breakout performances between 1999 and 2001.

“Nash wasn’t supposed to make it,” McDonnell said in a press statement. “He was drafted 15th overall, and most people—even his coaches—weren’t convinced he belonged in the NBA. But he kept showing up. Every. Single. Day. He’s the definition of ‘underdog,’ and that’s the story we wanted to tell.”

The film dives deep into the struggles Nash faced as a Canadian athlete from Victoria, British Columbia, trying to find his footing in an American league that was skeptical of his background and physical attributes. Standing at 6’3″ and lacking what scouts at the time called “explosive athleticism,” Nash was often overshadowed in Dallas by the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley.

But behind the scenes, as *The Underdog* reveals, Nash was already reinventing how point guards approached the game.

### Early Mavericks Years: A Hidden Crucible

One of the more revelatory parts of the documentary is its emphasis on Nash’s transformation under head coach Don Nelson. Former Mavericks players and coaches, including Finley, Nowitzki, Nelson, and assistant coach Del Harris, provide candid interviews describing how Nash’s court vision and floor leadership began to quietly alter the team’s style.

“People remember him torching defenses in Phoenix,” Nowitzki says in the film, “but honestly, it started in Dallas. He was just as smart, just as dangerous—he just didn’t get the national love yet.”

The documentary doesn’t shy away from the hardship either. Nash’s back issues, fan criticism, and multiple trade rumors are explored in depth. One particularly emotional segment features Nash reading old letters he wrote to himself during the 1997–98 season, expressing frustration, isolation, and self-doubt.

“I didn’t know if I belonged,” Nash says, tearing up in the film. “I didn’t know if anyone believed in me besides my family. But I wasn’t going to quit.”

### The Turning Point: Nash, Dirk, and the Mavericks Revolution

While *The Underdog* is very much Nash’s story, it also functions as a rich tapestry of the Mavericks’ late-90s rebuild, including the drafting of Dirk Nowitzki and their developing chemistry.

The documentary explores their deep friendship and mutual growth, capturing the early signs of what could have been one of the most dominant duos in NBA history—had the front office made different choices.

NBA analyst Tim Legler comments in the film, “You look back and realize, if Nash and Dirk had stayed together another five years, they might’ve had a title before 2011.”

One riveting sequence shows the Mavericks’ 2000 playoff push and their near-upset of the Utah Jazz, featuring in-depth breakdowns of Nash’s game-winning assists and the pick-and-roll evolution that foreshadowed his later dominance with Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion in Phoenix.

### A Tribute from the Game’s Greats

Netflix spared no effort in gathering some of the sport’s biggest names for commentary. The documentary features appearances from LeBron James, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, and even Nash’s long-time rival Kobe Bryant, via archive footage.

“Steve made it cool to be a thinker on the court,” Curry says. “He made intelligence a superpower in basketball. I wouldn’t be here without him.”

The film also touches on Nash’s time post-Dallas, his rise in Phoenix, and his coaching journey with the Brooklyn Nets. But the heart of *The Underdog* is firmly planted in his formative years with the Mavericks—a tribute to persistence, personal growth, and the underrated origins of greatness.

### Netflix’s Expanding Sports Universe

With *The Underdog*, Netflix continues its strategic investment in sports documentaries, following the success of titles like *The Last Dance*, *Quarterback*, and *Formula 1: Drive to Survive*. Sports editor Kevin Reyes called the Nash documentary “a landmark achievement in storytelling,” noting that its nuanced approach could “redefine how we understand and value the early stages of athletes’ careers.”

In a bold promotional campaign leading up to the release, Netflix will host special screenings in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Vancouver—three cities closely tied to Nash’s personal and professional legacy. An accompanying podcast series, *Beyond the Arc: The Steve Nash Tapes*, will also debut on Spotify a week before the documentary, featuring extended interviews, audio diaries, and behind-the-scenes stories from Nash’s friends and teammates.

### A Canadian Hero Reclaimed

While Nash is celebrated across the basketball world, *The Underdog* makes a poignant effort to honor his Canadian roots. The film includes interviews with Nash’s high school coaches, family members, and Canadian national teammates. It highlights how he helped inspire a generation of Canadian talent, including players like Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and RJ Barrett.

In a moving scene near the end, Nash visits his childhood basketball court in Victoria, speaking candidly about the journey.

“I didn’t always feel like I belonged in the league. But I knew I belonged to the game.”