The 6th Man

Kenny and Antoine Tyler have played basketball together since childhood, and at the University of Washington the brothers form the core of the Huskies. When Antoine dies unexpectedly, Kenny is left to carry the team without him. Then Antoine comes back as a ghost that only Kenny can see, using his supernatural touch to turn the struggling squad into winners. The arrangement bothers Kenny, who wants the team to succeed on its own merits, while a skeptical sportswriter, R.C. St. John, begins asking questions and Kenny finds himself drawn to her.

The 6th Man is a comedy-drama with fantasy elements, released in March 1997 and running 108 minutes. Randall Miller directed it from a screenplay by Christopher Reed, Cynthia Carle and Don Rhymer, with David Hoberman producing for Touchstone Pictures. It was Miller's third feature, following Class Act in 1992 and Houseguest in 1995. Marlon Wayans plays Kenny and Kadeem Hardison plays Antoine, with David Paymer as Coach Pederson, Michael Michele as R.C. St. John and Octavia Spencer as Nativity Watson.

Made for about 11 million dollars, the film took in roughly 15 million worldwide, a modest return. On IMDb it holds 5.7 out of 10 from around 6,800 votes, and on TMDB 6.1 out of 10 from about 179 votes. A critics' rating of 4 out of 10 from 12 reviews is lower than the audience scores.