Adam Sandler's new Netflix movie Hustle features a great collection of past and current NBA players. The 2022 Netflix original movie is produced by Sandler and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Hustle is an original story written by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters, with Jeremiah Zagar directing the sports drama. Adam Sandler leads a cast filled with recognizable names - such as Queen Latifah and Ben Foster - but the combination of his star power and LeBron James helped deliver a recognizable ensemble for sports fans.
Thanks to the first Hustle movie trailer, audiences went into Sandler's new Netflix movie with a good idea of what to expect, including that it would feature a slew of appearances from familiar NBA faces. It is a more dramatic turn for the actor compared to his other Netflix original movies. Hustle follows Stanley Beren, played by Sandler, who is a former basketball talent scout. However, when he finds a potentially generational talent abroad, Stanely works to help the troubled prospect make it to the National Basketball Association. The underdog redemption story is quite common for the sports genre, but Adam Sandler's love of basketball makes Hustle a bit of a ion project for him.
From the first trailer, Hustled promised plenty of NBA action and cameos, and Sandler definitely delivered. The plot followed Stanley and his new recruit Bo Cruz as they go through the pre-NBA Draft circuit, which includes the combine and even some pick-up games. Since the movie is about people who love basketball, it only makes sense that actual professional players are involved. LeBron's producer credit sadly didn't translate into an on-screen appearance despite the hopes of some fans, but Hustle is loaded with other NBA players.
Juan Hernangomez
Outside of Adam Sandler, the main character of Hustle is Bo Cruz, played by Juan Hernangomez, a former Spanish professional basketball player. Hernangomez made the jump to the NBA in 2016 when he was drafted in the second round by Denver Nuggets. He was a rotation player primarily during his time in Denver, which ended after three and a half seasons when they traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019. Hernangomez stayed in Minnesota for one and a half seasons where he was a part-time starter. He was then traded to the Boston Celtics to start the 2021 season, who then traded him to San Antonio Spurs, who then traded him to the Utah Jazz.
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards, the high-flying scoring machine for the Minnesota Timberwolves, also appears in Hustle. Edwards plays Kermit Wills. Wills is one of Hustle's antagonists, and Bo Cruz's main rival on the court. Anthony Edwards was the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in 2020 after he was the SEC Freshman of the Year at Georgia. His play in the first year of his NBA career earned him All-Rookie First Team honors, and he's taken a leadership leap in year two.
Moritz Wagner
German-born Moritz Wagner has a successful NBA career and is currently with Orlando Magic. In Hustle he plays Haas, a prodigal import player touted as "the German MJ". Even though Moritz "Moe" Wagner is a danger on the court, his Hustle character Haas has a reputation built on smoke-and-mirrors. Stanley sees through his lack of game straight away, showing the audience that the once-great NBA scout has an insightful eye.
Julius "Dr. J" Erving
It's not only current NBA superstars that appear in Hustle. Basketball Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Irving, regarded by some as the best Sixer ever to grace the court, has a cameo that creates a pivotal plot moment. In Hustle, amateur and pro ballers alike are obsessed with the Boa Challenge, inspired by a viral video of Dr. J still dunking at 63 years old like nothing had changed since he retired in 1987. A true legend of the sport, Julius Irving ended his career as the third player in history to rack up a total of over 30,000 points across his 10+ years as an NBA pro.
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki, a two-time MVP in 2007 and 2011 respectively, is another NBA alumnus who plays a role in Hustle with a little more significance than a walk-on cameo. Nowitzki is another German player like Moe Wagner, and many consider him to be the greatest European baller of all time, having amazing success with the Dallas Mavericks. In Hustle, Stanley s Dirk to prove his credentials to a doubtful Bo. Since Bo is also a European hoping to succeed in the US, Stanley couldn't have picked a better NBA star to show that he's the right man to get Bo to the NBA.
Trae Young
Trae Young is another NBA player that appears in Adam Sandler's Hustle movie. The dynamic playmaker and scorer is in his fourth season playing point guard for the Atlanta Hawks. He was the fifth pick of the 2018 draft after becoming the Big 12 Freshman of the Year at Oklahoma. Trae Young was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first year with the Hawks. He's since become a two-time NBA All-Star and led his team to one Eastern Conference Finals appearance. In Hustle, he's on-court making highlight plays in the final pickup game.
Kyle Lowry
Current Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry is also in Hustle. Lowry began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. After being a rotation player for Memphis for two and a half seasons, he was traded to the Houston Rockets. Lowry spent the next three seasons with the Rockets before being traded to the Toronto Raptors. He played for the Canadian team for the next nine years, where he helped the franchise win its first NBA Championship in the 2018-19 season. Lowry then ed the Miami Heat during the 2021 offseason. He's a six-time NBA All-Star and a native of Philadelphia, where part of Hustle is set.
Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson also appears in Netflix's Hustle. His NBA career began in 2014 after being drafted in the second round and going to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan Clarkson stayed with the team for three and a half seasons until he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. He later went to the Utah Jazz during the 2019-20 season. Jordan Clarkson cemented himself as a great offensive sparkplug off the bench during his second season with the Jazz as he won Sixth Man of the Year. He appears in Hustle in the final pickup game alongside other NBA stars like Trae Young.
Khris Middleton
The 2022 Netflix movie Hustle also featured NBA star Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, including a fair few speaking lines during an interview at the NBA Draft Combine with Anthony Edwards, where he talks up Bo's athletic abilities to Stanley. Middleton was a second-round pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2012 but didn't play much before being traded to the Bucks. His time in Milwaukee vaulted Middleton to an efficient and versatile scorer alongside Giannis Antetokounpo. He's become a three-time NBA All-Star over the years and won a championship with the Bucks in 2021.
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon also appeared in Adam Sandler's Netflix movie Hustle. The high-flying and explosive dunker was drafted fourth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic after becoming the Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year at Arizona. Aaron Gordon spent six and a half seasons with the Magic, helping them to one playoff appearance, before being traded to the Denver Nuggets.
