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Is ‘Hustle’s’ Bo Cruz a Real Basketball Player?

October 6, 2023

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Bo Cruz was the main person in the basketball movie “Hustle” that came out on Netflix on June 8th. This movie is about Stanley Sugerman, played by Adam Sandler, who works for the Philadelphia 76ers and helps Cruz prepare for the NBA draft.

In “Hustle,” they show how hard it is to make it into the NBA, and Cruz is a talented player from Spain. LeBron James, who plays for the LA Lakers, helped make the movie as one of its producers through his SpringHill company. Now, let us learn more about the character.

In This Article hide

1 Who is Bo Cruz

2 Hustle Is Full Of NBA Cameos

3 The Entire Hernangómez Family Are Basketball Pros

4 Juancho Hernangómez’s family convinced him to take on the role of Bo Cruz in “Hustle.”

5 Some Questions

5.1 Is Bo Cruz a real NBA player?

5.2 Is Bo Cruz currently with the Raptors?

5.3 Is the movie “Hustle” based on a true story about Bo Cruz?

5.4 Who is the character Bo Cruz in “Hustle” inspired by?

5.5 What does it mean when an NBA player is waived?

Who is Bo Cruz

Bo Cruz is not a real basketball player but a made-up character created by Taylor Materne and Will Fetters. His story is not based on real events, but the basketball skills he has in the movie are real.

In the movie “Hustle,” Bo Cruz is played by Juancho Hernangomez, a real NBA player who represents the Spanish national team. He is now signed with the Toronto Raptors but has played for other NBA teams too.

Bo Cruz

In the story, Bo Cruz is from Spain, just like Juancho Hernangomez. Stanley Sugerman found him while he was looking for basketball talent in other countries. When Bo was a teenager, he had much potential, but his plans to come to the United States to play basketball changed when his girlfriend became pregnant.

Cruz had everything he needed to be a great basketball player, but he was easily upset and angry. Another guy named Kermit Wilts, played by Anthony Edwards, bothered him and almost ruined his dreams of playing in the NBA.

However, a person named Sugerman talked to Cruz and encouraged him to keep trying to achieve his dream. At the movie’s end, Sugerman helps the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach, and Cruz plays for the Boston Celtics.

Juancho Hernangomez played the character Bo Cruz in the movie. It was his first time acting, and he did really well. However, how did he get the role?

In an interview with Basket News, Hernangomez shared that he sent in a video audition and had to wait three months to see if he got the part. During this time, there was not much to do because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so he thought he would try acting.

Hernangomez does not have any more acting plans right now. He is putting all his attention on his basketball job in the NBA. He is playing for the Toronto Raptors, having agreed to a one-year deal with them during the break from games. He also did well in the EuroBasket competition and helped Spain win it.

Hustle Is Full Of NBA Cameos

“Hustle” is a movie about the tough world of NBA scouts and players, and it is full of appearances by real NBA players. Some of them play themselves in the movie, and others have roles that affect the story. For example, Anthony Edwards, who is a well-known player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, plays Kermit Wills, the bad guy.

Another NBA player, Moritz Wagner from the Orlando Magic, is in the movie as a talented international player named Haas.

Julius “Dr. J” Irving, a famous Hall of Famer known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, also makes a special appearance in the movie. Even though he retired in 1987, he shows up in a scene inspired by a video of him dunking despite being 63 years old.

Dirk Nowitzki, a two-time NBA MVP from Europe, also has a role in the movie. He helps the character Stanley prove himself to Bo.

Having real NBA players in the movie adds a realistic touch to the heartwarming story and makes it even more enjoyable for basketball fans.

The Entire Hernangómez Family Are Basketball Pros

The whole Hernangómez family is good at basketball. Bo Cruz from “Hustle” is a made-up character, but the real-life Hernangómez family also has a great basketball story.

Juancho’s big brother, Willy Hernangómez, has played in the NBA for a while and is now with the New Orleans Pelicans. Their dad, Guillermo Hernangómez Heredero, used to play basketball for Real Madrid and Estudiantes in Spain.

Even in the family, the girls like basketball too. Juancho’s mom, Margarita Geuer Draeger, used to play for Spain’s national team in the 1990s. And his little sister is now playing for Estudiantes’ youth team.

Unlike Bo Cruz in “Hustle,” who was found playing street basketball, the real Hernangómez family has been connected to professional basketball for a very long time.

Juancho Hernangómez’s family convinced him to take on the role of Bo Cruz in “Hustle.”

Juancho Hernangómez did a great job as Bo Cruz in “Hustle,” even though he had not thought about being an actor. He is an NBA player. He shared that he and his character, Bo Cruz, have something in common: they both care a lot about their families.

His family encouraged him to audition for the role in “Hustle.” During the pandemic, he was with his brother in Charlotte, and they were bored at home. His sister wanted to make videos as a family project, and that is how it started.

He did not plan to be in a movie, but he sent in an audition video. The casting agents liked it, and he went through interviews with the director, acting teacher, and even Adam Sandler. They saw something in him, and two years later, they made the movie “Hustle.”

The movie became a big success, and part of the reason is that Juancho Hernangómez, a real NBA player, played the fictional character Bo Cruz so well. It is nice that his family played a role in this journey, too.

Some Questions

Is Bo Cruz a real NBA player?

Two years later, we made the movie.” “Hustle” turned out to be a big success for Netflix and Adam Sandler, and a significant reason for this was Juancho Hernangómez, a real NBA player, who skillfully portrayed the fictional NBA player Bo Cruz – and it is only right, considering his real-life background.

Is Bo Cruz currently with the Raptors?

The era of Bo Cruz with the Toronto Raptors has come to an end. On Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Raptors are releasing veteran forward Juancho Hernangomez, who had just joined the team this season.

Is the movie “Hustle” based on a true story about Bo Cruz?

Even though “Hustle” is not inspired by actual events, it blurs the lines between fiction and reality due to its talented cast.

Who is the character Bo Cruz in “Hustle” inspired by?

In fact, Bo Cruz is a completely made-up character not modelled after anyone specific. He is an original creation by screenwriters Taylor Materne and Will Fetters.

What does it mean when an NBA player is waived?

When an NBA player is waived, he is released from his contract before it is supposed to end. He goes through a 48-hour waiver wire period during which other teams can reach him via trade. If no deal happens during this time, the player becomes a free agent without any restrictions.

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