Kaninn (2024)
Icelandic basketball has, since the 1970s, been closely intertwined with the arrival of American players who have enriched and elevated the sport in the country over the years. These episodes recount the adventurous early years of journeys across the ocean, when the first players, who had competed for prestigious U.S. college teams in front of thousands of spectators, began arriving in Iceland. They found themselves in the dark winters of a tiny community, continuing to chase their dream of making basketball their profession. The story is followed through the profound societal changes that took place in Iceland, the growth of basketball in the country and worldwide in the early 1990s, the rise of women’s basketball, and reflections on the impact and legacy of American players. Their influence extends into modern times, where Americans frequently play key roles on championship teams in both men’s and women’s leagues.
Kaninn: Season 1 - 2 Episode s
1x1 - Frumherjar
November 25, 2024
Here, the story covers the national team's unexpected trip to the United States in 1964, their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and the turning point in 1975 when the first American players arrived in Iceland. Suddenly, basketball was on everyone's lips, and in the following years, the Americans came in droves.
1x2 - Æðið
December 2, 2024
A true NBA craze gripped the nation in the early 1990s when Michael Jordan became the biggest sports figure in the world. Around the same time, foreign players were once again allowed in Iceland, and players like Frank Booker, Rodney Robinson, and John Rhodes became stars both on and off the court. Some of them left a lasting legacy and influence, both within the game and beyond, long after their playing days were over.