PDA

View Full Version : SI: Kobe Was Selected To Be Jesus Shuttlesworth in 'He Got Game'


G-Funk
10-17-2013, 03:30 AM
.. But Declined


That summer Spike Lee begins filming He Got Game, a movie with Denzel Washington about a basketball prodigy named Jesus Shuttlesworth. "I want you to be part of it," Lee tells Bryant. "Thank you but no thank you," Bryant says. "This summer is too big for me." Ray Allen lands the role as Shuttlesworth.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131016/kobe-bryant-lakers-si-cover-story/

It's an article reflecting Kobe's career and I thought I would share this little interesting tiblit. I never knew that and was pretty shocked to hear this. Not just him selected to play that role but to decline it at his really young age. I knew Kobe was really dedicated to his game most of his life but even at that age like many people would, I would have thought he would have jumped at the chance for this.
G-Funk
10-17-2013, 03:31 AM
Remembered reading about this. Heard there were scheduling conflicts or something.


Kobe Bryant had off-season commitments. Tracy McGrady auditioned but was found too reserved. Allen Iverson auditioned as well, but his acting chops didn’t impress anyone. Management for Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury wanted a guarantee that one or the other would be offered the part. Travis Best, Walter McCarty and Rick Fox auditioned and all won supporting parts. Lee approached Ray Allen during halftime of a Bucks-Knicks game and ultimately offered him the role of Jesus. Allen had never acted before, but went to work with an acting coach eight weeks prior to filming.
G-Funk
10-17-2013, 03:32 AM
Just adds to his legendary work ethic.
Eric Cartman
10-17-2013, 03:56 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9HjNWbJvA

People claim this video is "too much". I say it's not enough.
Myth
10-17-2013, 04:44 AM
Was he officially offered the part after an audition or was he just asked to audition and turned that down?
#number6ix#
10-17-2013, 06:26 AM
Kobe missed out on a sweet nickname
sportjames23
10-17-2013, 06:30 AM
Kobe coulda had two white women instead of settling on one a few years later. :oldlol:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21OFtWPXlAw/Tw3LyNwCBLI/AAAAAAAACE8/LsU_4KH0YXY/s400/he-got-game-jesus-gets-a-taste-of-what-college-is-like-for-the-student-athlete.jpg
chips93
10-17-2013, 06:38 AM
iverson turned it down too
OldSkoolball#52
10-17-2013, 06:51 AM
Kobe missed out on a sweet nickname


Well thats ok, he gave himself plenty later on.
longtime lurker
10-17-2013, 02:43 PM
Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/morbidthoughts/tags/chaseylain/

Well God damn she has not aged well at all....
sportjames23
10-17-2013, 02:47 PM
Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/morbidthoughts/tags/chaseylain/


Yup, they're both porn stars. The other chick is Jill Kelley.
NumberSix
10-17-2013, 03:02 PM
Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/morbidthoughts/tags/chaseylain/
Yikes.
DuMa
10-17-2013, 03:05 PM
I cant see anyone else being Shuttlesworth.
Pointguard
10-17-2013, 03:08 PM
iverson turned it down too

For shooting gawds only!
SamuraiSWISH
10-17-2013, 04:23 PM
Kobe as Jesus Shuttlesworth would've made way more sense at the time. He was one of the first true sensationalized HS products to go pro. Especially considering "Jake", aka Denzel worshipped Philly playground legend Earl Monroe aka Black Jesus. In real life, LeBron is Jesus Shuttlesworth.
NumberSix
10-17-2013, 04:31 PM
Kobe as Jesus Shuttlesworth would've made way more sense at the time. He was one of the first true sensationalized HS products to go pro. Especially considering "Jake", aka Denzel worshipped Philly playground legend Earl Monroe aka Black Jesus. In real life, LeBron is Jesus Shuttlesworth.
But Kobe was still a pretty mediocre NBA at that time. Perhaps Garnett would have made more sense.
SamuraiSWISH
10-17-2013, 04:33 PM
But Kobe was still a pretty mediocre NBA at that time. Perhaps Garnett would have made more sense.
He Got Game (my favorite bball movie) came out in '98, Kobe was a 19 year old all-star at the time. Mediocre? No. Just hadn't usurped another all-star caliber SG at his own position on the depth chart, Eddie Jones. Those '98 Lakers were stacked. Shaq's lazy ass couldn't do anything with them.
NumberSix
10-17-2013, 04:38 PM
He Got Game (my favorite bball movie) came out in '98, Kobe was a 19 year old all-star at the time. Mediocre? No. Just hadn't usurped another all-star caliber SG at his own position on the depth chart, Eddie Jones. Those '98 Lakers were stacked. Shaq's lazy ass couldn't do anything with them.
Yes, released, not recorded.

It was also released in May. Meaning, the 97-98 season, not the 98-99 season.
SamuraiSWISH
10-17-2013, 04:40 PM
Yes, released, not recorded.

It was also released in May. Meaning, the 97-98 season, not the 98-99 season.
Good point. Touche.

Either way, Kobe should've committed. He wouldn't become a true superstar until 2 - 3 years later in the '99 - 2000 season.