Who plays Bo Cruz in the latest Adam Sandler movie ‘Hustle’? Is he a real NBA player?
A down-on-his-luck basketball scout (played by Adam Sandler) finds a potential superstar in Spain and sets out to prove they both have what it takes to make it in the NBA.
Co-produced by LeBron James, ‘Hustle’ (available via Netflix) features Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugarman, an aging international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers making a living looking for the next big star.
A trip to Spain sees Sandler’s character stumble across Bo Cruz who impresses him in a pick-up game with Bo working in a construction company and uses hustling at basketball to make extra cash.
Sandler (Sugarman) urges the 76ers front office to sign Cruz immediately but the franchise are unconvinced as Stanley takes matters into his own hands and brings Cruz to the United States at his own expense promising Bo that he will be signed by the ‘Sixers or enter the NBA draft. The film continues to explore the exploits of Cruz in the US and his efforts and those of Sugarman ensuring that the Spaniard triumphs in the world of basketball.
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) June 8, 2022
Who is Bo Cruz?
Cruz is played by Spaniard Juancho Hernangomez, with the 26-year-old an NBA player since moving to Denver Nuggets in 2016. The Madrid born power forward cut his teeth in the game with local ACB side Estudiantes before making the move (as did Cruz, to the USA). In his time in the NBA, the player has lined out for Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs before being traded to his current team (Utah Jazz) in February of this year.
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“I love basketball so much,” Hernangómez stated recently “I couldn’t, I can’t live without it. Acting, it was fun. It was a great experience, but that’s not my dream.”
Hernangomez is a gold medal winner with the Spanish national team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Juancho’s older brother is another NBA star and currently plays with New Orleans Pelicans.