Adam Sandler's Hustle Cast Guide - Netflix Tudum

  • Who’s Who

    The Cast of ‘Hustle’ Is Dribbling with Talent

    Meet the kings and queens of the court.

    By John DiLillo
    June 6, 2022

If the cast of Hustle were an NBA team, it would be an all-star lineup. Sure, they might not win any games (although the film features quite a few real-life NBA players, and Adam Sandler is a formidable pickup basketball player), but their acting talent is unquestionable. From old hands to new faces — and even down to a few real-life athletes — these Hustle headliners can’t be beat. It’s time to meet the team. 

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman

You know him, you love him, you’ve seen him in movies like Murder Mystery, The Ridiculous 6, Grown Ups, Hubie Halloween, Happy Gilmore and many, many more: Please join us in welcoming the great Adam Sandler to the court! Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who discovers a hotshot Spanish streetball player with a checkered history. As the pair bond over their passion for family and basketball, they find themselves struggling to make it out on top of the heated NBA draft competition. For Sandler, this is a deeply personal role: The man’s love of basketball is well-documented.

You can follow Sandler on Twitter and Instagram

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah as Teresa Sugerman

She’s a film and music icon, but the 5-foot-10 Latifah also made a name for herself in high school as a power forward on her school’s basketball team. You may have seen her performances in Girls Trip, Last Holiday, Beauty Shop, Bringing Down the House or her Oscar-nominated turn in Chicago. She’ll next be appearing in the upcoming Netflix thriller End of the Road. Here, she plays Stanley’s steadfast (and foul-mouthed) wife Teresa. 

You can follow Latifah on Twitter and Instagram

Juancho Hernangómez

Juancho Hernangómez as Bo Cruz

Up until Hustle, the Madrid-born Hernangómez wasn’t interested in acting. But his turn as untrained streetball player Bo Cruz is one of the dramatic linchpins in Hustle. It’s a convincing and wholly engaged performance. Hernangómez has been a professional basketball player for NBA teams like the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz, on which he’s currently a forward. If Hustle is anything to go on, however, Hernangómez may have an additional career path open to him.

You can follow Hernangómez on Twitter and Instagram

Watch Juancho Hernangómez Audition for Hustle

Kenny Smith

Kenny Smith as Leon Rich

The former NBA star and current sports commentator plays sports agent Leon Rich, Stanley’s best friend. Smith was surprised to get the call from Sandler to play the role. “​​He sends me the script, and I’m looking through it. I call him back and I’m like, ‘I don’t see my name.’ He’s like, ‘You're Leon.’ I’m like, ‘Leon’s got, like, 30 pages of dialogue, bro. I’ve never acted,’ ” Smith said. “He’s like, ‘No, you’ll be great at it. Don’t worry. We’ll get you an acting coach. I just know you’re great for the part.’ ”

You can follow Smith on Twitter or Instagram.

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards as Kermet Wilts

That’s right, Hustle has Ant-Man in its corner. No, not that Ant-Man — rather, rising basketball star Anthony Edwards. He plays the film’s antagonist Kermet Wilts, a formidable player who faces Cruz down on and off the court. This isn’t the first time Edwards and Hernangómez have shared a stage; they previously played alongside one another on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

You can follow Edwards on Twitter and Instagram.

Jordan Hull

Jordan Hull as Alex Sugerman

Hull is the rookie of the Hustle team, a 19-year-old performer previously known for her work on Showtime’s L Word sequel The L Word: Generation Q. Hull plays Sandler and Latifah’s Evil Dead-loving teenage daughter.

Ben Foster

Ben Foster as Vincent Merrick

Foster has spent the past few years carving out a space for himself as a truly intense character actor: His performances in Hell or High Water, Hostiles and Warcraft see Foster letting his freak flag fly, chewing scenery and stealing scenes with abandon. In Hustle, Foster plays Stanley’s boss Vincent, a slightly more subtle role than his usual fare. Still, this isn’t nearly as quiet as Foster’s work in something like Debra Granik’s melancholy Leave No Trace. He still sneaks in a little bit of manic energy.

Heidi Gardner

Heidi Gardner as Katherine Merrick

The scene-stealing Saturday Night Live star plays Vincent’s sister, an ally to Stanley who just doesn’t seem to have enough time to help out with the team. She’s also appeared as a judge on Is It Cake? For more Philly-flavored Gardner, her SNL character “Every Boxer’s Girlfriend from Every Movie About Boxing Ever” is always a delight.

You can follow Gardner on Twitter or Instagram.

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall as Rex Merrick

Duvall, who plays the owner of the 76ers, is the venerable legend of the Hustle cast. From his first roles in ’70s classics like Network, The Conversation, and The Godfather saga to his later appearances in 21st-century gems like Get Low and Widows, Duvall remains one of the most reliable actors around. He won a best actor Oscar for 1983’s Tender Mercies, but, if you’re in the mood for more sporty Duvall, his admirably committed work in the Will Ferrell soccer comedy Kicking & Screaming will probably do the trick.

Check Out The All-Star Roster In Hustle Trae Young, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Clarkson, and Seth Curry are just a few of the NBA cameos in Hustle.

Source Images: Scott Yamano/Netflix, Cassy Athena/Netflix
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All About Hustle

  • The Utah Jazz player makes his film debut in the new Adam Sandler sports drama.
  • As Juancho Hernangómez learned on Hustle, a basketball court isn’t the only place you need a coach.
  • From street-ball courts to cheesesteak joints, they’re all here.
  • The making of an athlete, from start to finish.
  • The Utah Jazz player makes his acting debut as Bo Cruz in the new sports drama.
  • “Adam goes hard,” says his on-screen wife, Queen Latifah.
  • Another slam dunk for your watch list.

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