This article contains references to suicide and alcoholism.
Netflix’sRez Ballis deeply entrenched in Native American culture and issues, and its cast of characters is as well. Though it is a work of fiction,Rez Ballwas inspired by a true story, and its narrative is broadly applicable. To help show just how universal the themes and messages of the movie are to Indigenous people, most of the cast of the film are themselves Native Americans. That makesRez Balla great example of representation in film, but it also gave quite a few up-and-coming actors a chance to show how much star power they have.
On its surface,Rez Ballis a fairly familiar sports movie about teamwork, perseverance, and the will to win. On a deeper level, though, the film also touches on some serious topics like the problems that affect Native American reservations, the connective power of basketball for the Navajo nation, and the strength of Indigenous communities. Those deeper messages makeRez Ballone of thebest movies on Netflix, and the film’s cast made it possible for those messages to have the maximum effect possible.
Kauchani Bratt As Jimmy Holiday
Date Of Birth: Unknown
Actor: Kauchani Bratt was raised in San Francisco, California.Bratt had never acted professionally before, so his breakthrough role came inRez Ball. Prior to that, Bratt had only ever taken acting classes at his alma mater, the University of California at Santa Cruz. He graduated from UCSC in 2023, with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy (viaUCSC). Bratt also played collegiate basketball at another college, Cañada College, before transferring to UCSC, which certainly came in handy forRez Ball.
Rez Ball Review: Netflix’s Inspiring Sports Drama Takes A Challenging Subject & Fills It With Hope
Rez Ball is a beautiful and challenging sports drama that depicts the tragic true story of events that shaped a Native American community.
Character: InRez Ball, Kauchani Bratt plays Jimmy Holiday, the best friend of Nataanii Jackson, captain of the Chuska Warriors, and protagonist of the movie. Jimmy originally dreamed of leaving the Navajo reservation with Nataanii when they got into college, and his world was rocked by his friend’s death. Jimmy was then tasked with stepping up to replace Nataanii as the Warriors' captain and leading them to victory.
Jessica Matten As Heather Hobbs
Date Of Birth: Possibly August 14, 2025
Actor: Jessica Matten was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Matten is a popular actor in both Canada and the United States, and as such, has two breakthrough roles:Blackstonefor Canadian audiences, andDark Windsfor American viewers. Outside of those roles, Matten has taken on a variety of shows, from the historical fiction seriesFrontierto the modern day police proceduralTribal. Matten also engages in quite a bit of philanthropy aimed at helping Native American communities.
Blackstone
Gina
Character: InRez Ball, Matten plays Heather Hobbs, a former WNBA player and the current head coach of the Chuska Warriors. Initially, Heather was being antagonized by the Navajo nation for the Warriors' poor performance, and she could not find employment as a coach at the collegiate level. Then, to help build team spirit, Heather introduced her players to more traditional Navajo customs and training, like herding sheep.
Devin Sampson-Craig As Bryson Badonie
Date Of Birth: Possibly 2004
Actor: Devin Sampson-Craig graduated from White Swan High School in White Swan, Washington.Though his breakthrough role was inRez Ball, Sampson-Craig is one of the few young actors in the movie with a previous acting credit. In 2018, he starred in a short film,Guardian Ancestor, where he played Terrence (viaArtist Trust). Sampson-Craig has also been involved in other media projects outside of acting, as he also runs a podcast.
Guardian Ancestor
Terrence
Character: InRez Ball, Devin Sampson-Craig plays Bryson Badonie, the free-spirited shooting guard who often clashes with Jimmy. Bryson was one of the few players who knew Navajo fluently before Jimmy implemented the language into their play-calling, but he also provided some conflict for the Warriors by fighting with his teammates and prioritizing partying. Bryson had a child with a player on the girl’s team, Dezbah Weaver.
Julia Jones As Gloria Holiday
Date Of Birth: August 20, 2025
Actor: Julia Jones was born in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts.Jones' first major movie role was inThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse, where she played Leah Clearwater, a werewolf. Jones has had an extensive filmography since then, appearing in all manner of movies and shows, from science fiction likeThe Mandalorianto Westerns likeWind Riverand even drama series likeDexter: New Blood.
The Mandalorian
Omera
Character: InRez Ball, Julia Jones plays Gloria Holiday, Jimmy’s mother, a former basketball prodigy, and a recovering alcoholic. Gloria and Jimmy initially have a very contentious relationship, and she fails to provide for her son emotionally or financially due to her drinking habits. By theend ofRez Ball, however, Gloria learns to be better, face the consequences of her past, and shows up for her son.
Kusem Goodwind As Nataanii Jackson
Actor: Kusem Goodwind is a citizen of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.Rez Ballis Goodwind’s first time acting, but not his first time performing. In addition to acting and playing basketball, Goodwind also models, and recently walked in the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts' 2023 fashion event (viaSWAIA Native Fashion).
Rez Ballis available to stream on Netflix.
Character: InRez Ball, Kusem Goodwind plays Nataanii Jackson, Jimmy Holiday’s best friend and the star player of the Chuska Warriors. Early on in the film, Nataanii commits suicide due to his grief from losing his mother and sister. His death weighs heavily on his friends, teammates, and the entire Navajo nation, and though he was gone for the rest of the movie, his presence was palpable.
Zoey Reyes As Krista
Date Of Birth: July 16, 2025
Actor: Zoey Reyes is a black and indigenous actor and model.Reyes' breakthrough acting role isRez Ball, but she has made a name for herself in other areas as well. Like Kusem Goodwind, Reyes has also modeled for SWAIA Native Fashion and other modeling agencies, and she is also a contemporary artist (viazozoreyes on Instagram).
Character: InRez Ball, Zoey Reyes plays Krista, Jimmy’s coworker at Blake’s and his eventual love interest. Krista mentions that she tutors Kindergarteners in Navajo, and agrees to help Jimmy and some of his teammates learn how to call plays in the language. Krista also made a note of how important the Navajo community was to her, saying that it was a big reason she enjoyed her job at the restaurant.
Rez Ball Supporting Cast & Characters
Amber Midthunder as Dezbah Weaver: Midthunder plays Dezbah Weaver, a member of the girl’s basketball team, Bryson Badonie’s girlfriend, and the mother of his child.Midthunder is best known forPrey, where she played Naru, and for portraying Princess Yue in the live-action adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbender.
River Rayne Thomas as Tyson Yazzie: Thomas plays Tyson Yazzie, the center for the Chuska Warriors. Thomas has two acting roles outside ofRez Ball: inThe Adventure of A.R.I.: My Robot Friendand inThe Abandons.
Henry Wilson Jr. as Leland Tom: Wilson Jr. plays Leland Tom, a bench player for the Chuska Warriors who also ran for the school’s cross country team.Rez Ballis Wilson Jr.’s first and only acting credit.
Ernest Tsosie III as Benny Begaye: Tsosie plays Benny Begaye, the assistant coach Heather recruits who is also well-versed in Navajo traditions. Tsosie is most known for movies like5th PostandMile Post 398.
Sam Griesel as Mason Troy: Griesel plays Mason Troy, the star player of the Santa Fe Catholic Coyotes, and a rival of Jimmy in particular. Griesel has never acted professionally before, soRez Ballserves as his breakthrough role.
Rez Ball
Cast
After losing their star player, the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from New Mexico, must come together to keep their dream of winning a state championship alive. Directed by Sydney Freeland and produced by LeBron James, this underdog sports drama highlights the power of community and resilience.
