The National Basketball Association is a league of stars. Incredibly talented individuals step onto the brightest of stages and appear on the screens of millions of fans. It makes sense, therefore, that for as long as the NBA has been around its stars have made the leap from the hardwood to Hollywood.
LeBron James is perhaps the most headline-dominating example, as his remake/sequel of Space Jam came out in theaters recently on a wave of much marketing. He has not been shy about making his rounds through movies and television, launching his own production company and making sure his face is not simply limited to basketball broadcasts.
LeBron James is one of many NBA stars to appear in television and movies. Which NBA players also showed up on the screen?
Behind the prominence of James’ new movie, a number of other players have made less-public appearances in movies and in television shows. While most NBA players stick to showing up on sports talk shows or otherwise just appearing to be interviewed, a number have also appeared in scripted shows and even movies, whether playing themselves, a generic basketball character, or in some cases taking on legitimate acting roles.
Let’s walk through 30 players from throughout league history who stepped off the court to take on acting, be that for a single episode or a full-length feature film. You’ll be surprised by who shows up on this list. We’ll start with the most well-known actor among basketball players, and we will end with a truly iconic performance from one of the league’s earlier stars.