Last scene, last frame. A tearful Juancho Hernangomet accepts the EuroBasket Finals MVP trophy. It could have been the perfect epilogue to Hustle, but it’s the happiest end to a very difficult two years for the Spanish basketball player. A script written not on a computer, but from the very life and career of a player who was trained to replace a role-player until he became a star, both on the big screen and on the courts.

Before the tournament and before the Spaniards won the gold medal, Juancho Hernangomet was better known, mostly outside the NBA, as Bo Cruz. Here’s how Adam Sandler presented it via Netflix and “Hustle” in the movie, which shows a Philadelphia 76ers scout discovering a rough basketball gem in Mallorca, Spain, playing in the streets, betting and putting in effort at his own expense. the team “cut” him to turn him from a construction worker into a professional basketball player and place him in the magical world of the NBA.

Even here, though, the planets seem to have conspired to get the 26-year-old Spaniard in the role, as the original script, according to the Independent, wanted Sandler to go not to Spain but to China and find the baby there. prodigy there. However, Netflix in China does not show this, so the producer and star asked to adapt his story for either Latin America or Europe, which he did.

The Spanish basketball player became famous thanks to the cinema and “resurrected” his career in the national team of his country.

In the film, Bo Cruz experiences constant disappointments and rejections until he finally manages to find a home not with the 76ers, but with the Celtics, which he of course also played in his basketball life, not only in the film.

However, the frustrations he endured in the last two years of his career continued when he looked more like an adventurer. In fact, there have been quite a few accusations against him that he decided to forego being on the dance floor for a role in The Hustle, since in September 2020 he received permission from the Timberwolves to take part in the filming of the film. So these two years he wears the jersey of the Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-2021), Boston Celtics (2021-2022), San Antonio Spurs (2022), Utah Jazz (2022) and, finally, 27 On July 2022, the Raptors hand him the opportunity by offering him a one-year minimum veteran contract.

However, he certainly remained a fighter. After all, he grew up on the courts, as he comes from a family that lives and breathes basketball. His older brother Willy, who was named EuroBasket MVP, also plays in the NBA (New Orleans Pelicans), his mother, Margarita Geyer, won the 1993 Women’s EuroBasket with Spain, and his father also played for Real Madrid and “Students”.

In the last scene of the film of his life, Juancho Hernangomet saw that happy endings are not limited to Hollywood. Like him, they also had the Spanish national team… scrapped at the recent EuroBasket. However, Rocha, contrary to the forecasts of experts, solemnly reached the top of Europe, while scoring 27 points with 2/2 shots, 2/2 two-pointers, 7/9 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 2 interceptions and 2 fouls in 26:12, he remained on the floor, scoring 30 points in the rating system, which allowed him to be recognized as the MVP of the match, reminding himself of … Bo Cruz.

“Hustle” themed NBA Parade

Almost… the entire wizarding world of the NBA appears in Hustle. In addition to Adam Sandler, LeBron James was also a producer, and from that point on, Boban Marjanovic, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Jordan Clarkson, Aaron Gordon, Seth Curry and Chris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s teammate. Also featured are NBA legends Julius Erving, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Dirk Nowitzki. As for the cast, Adam
Sandler and Juancho Hernangomet were joined by Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall, Ben Foster and Heidi Gardner. At least the NBA knows very well how to “sell” and exaggerate their product every time…