Life Through Basketball: Amazon Premieres Documentary on Military Basketball Association

Film Casts Spotlight on Invisible Wounds Linked to Harmful Behaviors in Military and Veterans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 1, 2025 – A documentary short featuring a Colorado Springs nonprofit working to combat military suicides and suicidal ideation, will air the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month, May 1, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video. ‘MBA: Life Through Basketball,’ a production by the Military Basketball Association (MBA), opens with a soldier’s heart-wrenching recollection of loss on an Afghanistan battlefield. “You just have to react and go into your training mode,” recalls a tearful First Sergeant Angel “Ace” Acevedo (retired), in the moving 15-minute video. “You can survive sniper fire, IEDs, all the different things that happen to you while you’re deployed. But your greatest threat is yourself when you get back home,” explains Major Mike Meyers, U.S. Army (retired) who was interviewed in the documentary.

Meyers and Acevedo co-founded the Military Basketball Association to prevent suicide, fight the stigma of mental health, build resiliency and provide an outlet for the trauma associated with military service. A year-round tournament league, the MBA supports nearly 1,000 players, both veteran and active-duty military, on 50 teams across the United States, Europe and Asia.

The latest annual report on military suicide by the Department of Defense reveals a 9-percent increase in service members taking their own lives, highlighting the need for mental health support to prevent harmful behaviors. The MBA utilizes sports to reestablish the camaraderie soldiers experienced while serving, bridging the loneliness and lack of community that can spawn thoughts of self-harm. The League not only showcases military athletes, but it also brings awareness to the combat-related post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) of military service. In its seven years, the MBA has not lost a single player or coach to suicide.

"At Amazon, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire, educate, and connect communities. We are honored to host 'MBA: Life Through Basketball' on Prime Video for Military Appreciation Month,” said Charlotte La Belle, Head of Amazon Global Military Affairs. “By featuring the journey of these dedicated athletes, we hope to spotlight the resilience, teamwork, and camaraderie that define our military community. Amazon Global Military Affairs and MGM are proud to support content that not only entertains but also raises awareness about the challenges our service members face and the innovative ways they find strength and unity."

“It means the world that Amazon Prime Video is publishing this documentary. The MBA is a global organization with a global mission. Amazon Military and Amazon Prime are seen all over the world, and they provide transition opportunities for our veterans. This is an extremely important moment for veterans,” said Meyers.

“MBA has changed countless lives of service members stationed around the world, and Amazon Prime Video will show the amazing talent of our service members with their love for basketball on full display,” said Dr. Vanessa J. Ramirez, PT, DPT, PhD. 

"It's exciting news that the documentary will air on Prime Video," said Command Sergeant Major Thomas Campbell, U.S. Army (retired). "This will bring awareness on the importance of utilizing sports to deter harmful behaviors and grow support for this fantastic organization."

“The work that the MBA is doing in helping keep our men and women Veterans and future Veterans safe through the sport of basketball is an important story to be told,” said Rita Chappelle, Chief of External and Congressional Affairs for the Philadelphia VA Healthcare System. “I applaud Prime Video for recognizing the need to educate the public about combat-related traumas our men and women suffer.”

Type “MBA: Life Through Basketball” in the search bar of Prime Video beginning May 1 to watch the documentary short about the Colorado Springs nonprofit saving lives one game at a time.

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About MBA
Military Basketball Association (MBA) prevents veteran suicide by utilizing sports to reestablish the camaraderie soldiers experienced while serving, bridging the loneliness and lack of community that can spawn thoughts of self-harm, and showcasing the military athlete to bring awareness to post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) and the invisible wounds associated with military service. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017, MBA supports players on varsity-level teams around the world. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact 
Military Basketball Association: Melissa Garcia, communicationsdirector@mymbaglobal.com, 720-618-7089