The fact that this is grafted on to the plight of the African-American makes the message resound even more. But there is also religious symbolism. The character of Jesus is aptly named. This is because the film is about forgiveness. It's about a human's ability to change, to grow, to be worthy of forgiveness.
Basketball is the flavor of the story because forgiveness ties in so well to freedom.
Lee sets the film in Coney Island and the attraction of the famous amusement park there is in the foreground of the film often. This is a film about the magic of life, the magic of human existence. And in the marvel that is human existence what can be more freing than forgiveness. It is the singular theme that Judeo- Christian religion is based upon. Lee can make a mistake here and there.