Kobe Bryant Turned Down the Role of Jesus Shuttlesworth Before it Was Given to Ray Allen

My favorite Spike Lee movie would have to be “He Got Game” which starred Ray Allen.  How would it have been if it starred Kobe Bryant?  Well we’ll never know since he turned the role down.

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Sports Illustrated‘s latest cover story is an in depth piece on the Lakers superstar.  Lee Jenkins touched on a variety of subjects throughout Bryant’s basketball career including this tidbit.

That summer Spike Lee begins filming He Got Game, a movie with DenzelWashington 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.

With three airballs and a playoff loss to the Utah Jazz fresh in his mind, the ultra-competitive Bryant was more focused on getting better than landing a movie role.  While it would’ve been interesting and completely changed things, I still think Allen did a great job and ended up being perfect for the role.

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)