Because the Los Angeles Lakers plays so close to Hollywood, seeing some of its players grace the big screen is no surprise. Here are some of the most notable film appearances of former Lake Show hoopsters:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
With Abdul-Jabar’s natural charisma and towering height, movie studios kept on approaching the seven-foot-two all-time NBA great to play bits and cameos in different films. His most notable appearances were in the comedy “Airplane!” where he spoofed himself and “Game of Death,” Bruce Lee’s last film, where Abdul-Jabbar showcased his martial arts skills.
Shaquille O’Neal
One of the most dominant centers to ever play the game, Shaq became the leading man in multiple movies, namely “Kazaam,” where the big guy played a 5,000-year-old genie, and “Steel,” where O’Neal became just the second African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a film. Even though these two movies were panned by critics and failed at the box office, that did not stop the Lakers legend from appearing in many more films.
Rick Fox
Rick Fox was not that known to casual basketball fans, but he played a key role in the Lakers’ three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. He took a bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures in college, which prepared him for life in front of the camera. While he appeared in many films, he is more known for his television acting career.
Hi, Clayton Hutson here, a thriving actor from California and a huge Los Angeles Lakers fan. If you want to read more articles about the acting industry or the greatest NBA team in history, subscribe to my blog.
Clayton Hutson 