You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out

Before Ray Allen secured the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth in the iconic movie ‘He Got Game’, filmmaker Spike Lee had considered numerous NBA players for the part. The list included names like Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Derek Anderson, Walter McCarty, and Allan Houston.

Lee and the movie’s producers reached out to these athletes, inviting them to audition. Many gave it a try but did not make the cut, and some declined the invitation altogether. Among those who refused was Stephon Marbury, who believed the movie was based on his life.

“It’s pretty obvious who they were doing the movie on,” remarked Marbury. “It doesn’t take rocket science to figure that one out. Who else are you doing it on? What other player…?”

There were undeniable similarities between the fictional Shuttlesworth and Marbury. Both hailed from the projects of Coney Island and were top high school players with numerous colleges vying for them.

However, Lee dismissed Marbury’s assertion. The Academy Award-winning director explained that Coney Island is a basketball hotspot, and the Shuttlesworth story wasn’t unique—it mirrored the experiences of many kids from that area, including Marbury.

“I just didn’t feel that I needed to audition to be me,” insisted Marbury. “Because I know that the movie was about me.”

Before the casting process began in earnest, Spike Lee offered the role to Kobe Bryant. The then-young Lakers star declined, wanting to concentrate on the upcoming NBA season rather than filming a movie.

“When you look at actors and what they have to go through, and the downtime that’s involved in that, it’s just too much. I wanted to play ball. I wanted to work out and train all the time. There was also a lot of pressure on me coming out of high school to perform well… I needed all my resources dedicated to preparing myself for the season. I didn’t really have time to do a film,” Kobe later explained.

With Marbury and Kevin Garnett both passing on the opportunity, Lee eventually cast Ray Allen. Despite his lack of prior acting experience, Allen proved to be an apt learner during the intensive eight-week acting course. While the movie may not have been a box office hit, Allen’s performance received high marks, earning him a grade of ‘A’.

Source: particle news