Dilemma. I’m directing my original screenplay He Got Game, which is about the best basketball player in These United States. The baller is Jesus Shuttlesworth, small forward for the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters from Coney Island in Da Republic of Brooklyn.
It had been my observation that there was a plethora of basketball movies where their players’ skills were too weak to be believable. My numero uno priority with my film was to cast a true baller who looked young enough to be a high school senior. Henceforth and whatnot, I made a list of candidates, college ballers who would be getting drafted into Da League or ballers who were already in Da League.
I auditioned a lot of ballers, but the gem was Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks, my 1st and only choice. As I look back on this joint, at Ray’s performance, it still amazes me.
Peep this: not only had Ray never acted before, but he had to go up against Da Majestic, Da Mighty, and Da Magnificent Mr. Denzel Washington. That’s like goin’ up against Jordan, Magic, and Barkley combined. That is a terrifying task for a 1st-time actor and, as you might have witnessed, Ray Allen was not scared. Ray went in. Ray dove into this strained father-and-son relationship with all the heart and soul that he displayed throughout his entire career. I want to thank Ray for making He Got Game look very good and for bringing Jesus Shuttlesworth to life.
Spike Lee
Da Republic of Brooklyn
NYU Grad Film Tenured Film Professor