The Netflix film Hustle, directed by Adam Sandler, stars a number of real-life professional basketball players. However, the lead character, Bo Cruz, is not based on a genuine NBA player.
The movie Hustle portrays the narrative of Bo Cruz, a promising international basketball prodigy who aspires to play in the NBA.
As a result, many people have questioned whether or not Bo Cruz is really a player in the NBA.
So, is Bo Cruz a real NBA player? Bo Cruz is not a real NBA player, and the film’s plot is entirely fictitious and not based on any true events.
Adam Sandler plays the role of Stanley Sugerman, a recruiter for the Philadelphia 76ers in the original film produced by Netflix in the year 2022.
Stanley’s tale is totally centered on the discovery of Bo Cruz and the arduous process of attempting to have him picked by an NBA club, despite the fact that Adam Sandler is the primary attraction for the film “Hustle” and the man who serves as the protagonist.
The cast of Hustle is largely responsible for the film’s ability to confuse the boundaries of what is fantasy and what is genuine, despite the fact that the film is not inspired by a real tale.
Throughout the course of the film, genuine NBA players from the past and present make guest appearances, which is a special treat for fans of all various generations who follow the NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Dirk Nowitzki, Trae Young, and Luka Dončić are just a handful of the prominent NBA players that become a portion of Bo Cruz’s tale in the film Hustle. Nearly all of them portray themselves in the film.
Even if there are a couple of moments in which Hustle develops characters who are not genuine, the frequent appearances of NBA players more than makeup for it.
This applies to Bo Cruz as well. The promising international prospect does not currently have a contract with an NBA team. On the other hand, the role of Bo Cruz in Hustle was portrayed by a real-life actor called Juancho Hernangómez.
The fact that this is Juancho’s first acting job is something that viewers may find surprising, and the role gives him a much greater part of the world of NBA basketball.
Juancho Hernangómez’s Pro & NBA Career Explained
Juancho Hernangómez was born in Spain in 1995, and he signed a deal to play pro basketball with CB Estudiantes when he was only 17 years old. That contract was signed in 2012.
He was a member of the Spanish team that participated in the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in 2013, where they won the bronze medal and the Spanish team that contested in the European Under-20 Championship in 2014 and 2015, where they won the silver medal.
Hernangómez was recognized as the ACB’s Best Young Player for his efforts on the international stage by the time the 2016 basketball season came to a close.
As a direct consequence of this, he entered his name into consideration for the NBA Draft in 2016.
Juancho Hernangómez, a standout player for the Hustle, was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 1st round of the 2016 NBA Draft. The Nuggets chose him with the 15th overall choice in the draft.
During his three and a half seasons with the squad, during which he appeared in 191 games and started 37 of them, he was an important supporting player who contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Throughout the 2019-2020 NBA season, Hernangómez was the player involved in a deal that sent him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He began 20 of the 66 games that he played there during the course of one and a half seasons, which is when he was at his finest on the basketball court.
Juancho Hernangómez, the real-life NBA player who played Bo Cruz in the movie Hustle, has signed a contract to play for the Boston Celtics beginning in the 2021-2022 season.
He was first acquired by the San Antonio Spurs in January, but they promptly moved him on to the Utah Jazz in February.
A Lot Of NBA Players Appear in Hustle
The Adam Sandler movie “Hustle” has cameo appearances by a number of notable NBA players and coaches.
A few of these basketball players appear in the film as individuals, while others perform pivotal roles that have an effect on the story.
Anthony Edwards, a star of the NBA, plays the villain Kermit Wills. Juancho Hernangómez also plays a role in the story.
Edwards is well-known for his time spent playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and in his initial season in the NBA, he was recognized by the NBA as a member of the league’s All-Rookie First Team.
Moritz Wagner, who was born in Germany but now plays for the Orlando Magic, also had a role in the film Hustle, playing the role of the wayward import player Haas. Julius “Dr. J” Irving, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who is widely regarded as one of the best Sixers of all time, has a cameo appearance in the film Hustle.
The 63-year-old appears as a big part of the “Boa Challenge,” which was motivated by a video showing Dr. J dunking regardless of the fact that he was 63 years old.
The cameo was filmed before the athlete retired in 1987. A cameo appearance by two-time Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki is included in the fictitious film Hustle.
Stanley is able to demonstrate his worth to Bo with the assistance of the European ball player.
The involvement of the actual NBA all throughout the film provides a much-appreciated air of plausibility to what is otherwise a feel-good film that isn’t exactly easy on the dopamine receptors.
Final Thoughts
Hustle is a great and entertaining movie for every basketball lover, and anyone who hasn’t been a basketball fan will certainly become one after watching the movie.
