Kevin Bacon in a dashiki. That’s usually the first thing people remember. But if you actually sit down to watch The Air Up There, you realize it isn’t just some weird 1994 time capsule of Hollywood trying to figure out how to market basketball movies. It’s a strange, earnest, and surprisingly athletic piece of sports cinema that actually gets the "hoops soul" right, even when the plot goes a little sideways.
Jimmy Dolan is a desperate man. He's an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s University who basically blows his career chances by losing a high-profile recruit. So, what does he do? He sees a grainy video of a kid named Saleh playing in Winabi, Kenya, and decides to fly halfway across the world to sign him. It sounds like the plot of a modern-day YouTube scout’s fever dream. Honestly, the movie is kind of a miracle it even got made.
Why The Air Up There Still Hits Different
Basketball movies usually fall into two categories: the hyper-realistic ones like He Got Game or the pure cheese fests like Space Jam. This one? It’s stuck somewhere in the middle. When you watch The Air Up There, you’re seeing a version of the 90s where "streetball" culture was just starting to go global.
The Winabi people aren’t just a backdrop. The movie actually spent a lot of time (and Disney’s money) filming in South Africa, which stood in for the fictional Winabi territory. This wasn't some backlot in Burbank. You can see it in the dust. You can see it in the way the sun hits the court. Charles Gitonga Maina, who played Saleh, was a real 6'10" basketball player from Kenya who had never acted before. He was discovered at a basketball camp in Nairobi. That’s probably why the basketball scenes actually look good. Most actors look like they’ve never touched a ball in their life. Gitonga Maina looks like he could’ve actually played for a D1 school.
He actually did end up playing for Lynn University in Florida after the movie. Life imitating art, basically.
The Contrast of the Concrete Jungle vs. The Dirt Court
Dolan is a classic American "hustler" archetype. He thinks he can just walk into a village and buy a player with a few shiny trinkets and a scholarship. He’s wrong. The movie forces him to actually earn the respect of the tribe.
The mid-90s were a weird time for these "fish out of water" stories. Think about Cool Runnings or The Gods Must Be Crazy. There’s a lot of that DNA here. But unlike those, the stakes in the final game of The Air Up There feel weirdly high. It’s not just about a trophy; it’s about land rights and the survival of the Winabi way of life against a rival mining interest. Is it a bit melodramatic? Yeah. But if you’re a fan of the genre, that’s exactly what you’re signing up for.
The "Slam Dunk" Physics and 90s Cinematography
If you decide to watch The Air Up There tonight, pay attention to the editing during the final game. It’s fast. It’s frantic. It uses that classic 90s "shaky cam" before it was a cliché. They called Saleh "The Air Up There" because of his vertical, and the film uses every trick in the book to make him look like he’s literally flying.
People forget that this was directed by Paul Michael Glaser. Yes, Starsky from Starsky & Hutch. He had a very specific eye for movement. He didn't want the game to look like a televised NBA broadcast. He wanted it to feel like a battle.
- The Saleh Factor: Charles Gitonga Maina’s wingspan is terrifying on screen.
- The Soundtrack: It’s a mix of traditional African percussion and 90s synth-pop that somehow works.
- The Stakes: A basketball game for the rights to land. It’s basically Space Jam but with real stakes and no cartoons.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Film
Critics at the time were kind of mean to it. They called it "formulaic." And sure, it follows the sports movie beats—the loss, the training montage, the "big game" finale. But they missed the heart.
The relationship between Dolan and Saleh isn't just mentor and student. It’s two guys from completely different worlds realizing that the game of basketball is a universal language. It sounds cheesy, I know. But watch the scene where Dolan has to learn the Winabi "dance" to understand their rhythm on the court. It’s a metaphor for the fast-break offense. It’s actually pretty smart coaching if you think about it.
Does it hold up in 2026?
Honestly? Better than you’d think. In an era where every NBA star is a global brand and we see kids from South Sudan and France dominating the draft, the idea of an American scout finding a gem in a remote village isn't "crazy" anymore—it’s just how the league works now. Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Giannis... they all have stories that aren't too far off from the Winabi journey.
The film was ahead of its time in recognizing that the next great basketball frontier wasn't New York or LA; it was Africa.
The Logistics of the Winabi Game
The final game is played on a dirt court. No hardwood. No high-tech sneakers (at least not at first). This is pure basketball. It reminds you that you don't need a $100 million arena to have a legendary game.
The rival team, the Mingori, are played as the classic "villains," led by a guy who looks like he’s been training in a professional lab. The contrast between the Winabi’s fluid, tribal-inspired style and the Mingori’s rigid, powerhouse style is a great bit of visual storytelling. It’s the classic "art vs. machine" trope that works every single time in sports movies.
The "Buddha" character—the team's heavy hitter—is another standout. Every sports movie needs that one guy who doesn't talk much but does all the dirty work. He’s the enforcer. You need an enforcer.
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How to Watch The Air Up There and Actually Enjoy It
Don't go in expecting Schindler's List. Go in expecting a movie that loves the game of basketball.
- Ignore the "Mighty Whitey" Trope: Yes, the movie has some dated "savior" elements that were common in 94. If you can look past that, there's a genuine respect for the local culture.
- Watch the Feet: The footwork in the dance-to-basketball transitions is actually well-choreographed.
- Check out the Cameos: There are a few recognizable faces if you’re a deep-cut 90s fan.
If you’re looking to find where to watch The Air Up There, it’s usually floating around on Disney+ or available for a cheap rental on Amazon. It hasn't had a massive 4K remaster yet—which is a crime—but the slightly grainy 90s film stock actually adds to the atmosphere. It feels like an old VHS you found in your basement, and that's the best way to consume it.
The Legacy of Charles Gitonga Maina
It's worth noting that after the film, Maina didn't become a Hollywood superstar. He went back to basketball. He played for Lynn University and was a sensation there, leading the team in blocks and becoming a fan favorite. He eventually returned to Kenya.
There’s something poetic about that. He didn't get swallowed up by the industry. He was a ballplayer who happened to be in a movie, and he played the role with a sincerity that most professional actors couldn't touch. When he smiles on screen, it doesn't feel like a "take." It feels like a kid who loves the game.
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Actionable Insights for Your Next Movie Night
If you’re planning a sports movie marathon, you have to pair this with something like Blue Chips or White Men Can’t Jump. It fits right into that "Golden Era" of basketball cinema.
- Look for the "Jimmy Dolan Shake": Kevin Bacon actually spent time learning the moves.
- Observe the court construction: The way they built the "arena" in the village is a masterclass in low-budget practical effects.
- The "Winabi" Sign: Notice how the team identity is built through communal ritual. It’s a great lesson for real-life coaches on team building.
Go find a copy. Grab some popcorn. Forget about the modern, hyper-polished NBA for two hours and remember why we all started playing in the first place: because it’s fun to watch someone fly.
Final Next Steps:
- Check streaming availability: Search your local listings for "The Air Up There" on Disney+ or Hulu.
- Look up the 1994 Draft: Compare the scouting styles of the era to what Dolan was trying to do.
- Research Charles Gitonga Maina’s college stats: It adds a layer of reality to the film to see that Saleh was actually a monster on the court in real life.