Is your golden retriever secretly a basketball prodigy? You might be sitting on the next four-legged hoops legend. Robert Vince, the creator of the beloved Air Bud movies, has just announced that auditions are officially open for the franchise’s 15th film, Air Bud Returns.

“We introduced the world to an incredible retriever called Air Bud,” Vince said. “For the first time ever, we’re opening up the auditions for the next Air Bud.”

The franchise first stole hearts back in 1997 with Disney’s original Air Bud, which followed Josh, a middle schooler who discovers that his stray golden retriever, Buddy, can sink baskets like an NBA star. The movie spawned a string of sequels—some in theaters, most straight to video—and despite mixed box office numbers, the series has pulled in over $220 million. Clearly, audiences can’t get enough of the basketball-playing pup.

🏀 How to Audition Your Dog

While there’s no official rule that a dog can’t play basketball, there are a few guidelines for hopeful Buds:

• Must be a purebred golden retriever

• Should be athletic and ideally enjoy a little court time

• Must know basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come”

Audition tapes should run 60–90 seconds and include your dog’s age, their skills, and any basketball tricks they can show off. Applications are open now, and details are available here.

🎬 What’s Air Bud Returns About?

The new film will follow a 12-year-old aspiring basketball star who, after losing his father, finds an original VHS copy of Air Bud in his childhood home. Just like in the first movie, a chance meeting with a golden retriever named Buddy sets off a quest for a championship—and a journey of healing that brings a team of misfits together.

Set to hit theaters next summer, Air Bud Returns will be the first big-screen entry in the series since 1998.

So, if your golden has some game, this could be their moment to shine under the bright lights—and maybe even win a championship… or at least a few treats.