SI: Kobe Was Selected To Be Jesus Shuttlesworth in 'He Got Game'

[G-Funk]

.. But Declined

That summer Spike Lee begins filming He Got Game, a movie with Denzel Washington about a basketball prodigy named Jesus Shuttlesworth. "I want you to be part of it," Lee tells Bryant. "Thank you but no thank you," Bryant says. "This summer is too big for me." Ray Allen lands the role as Shuttlesworth.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba...i-cover-story/

It's an article reflecting Kobe's career and I thought I would share this little interesting tiblit. I never knew that and was pretty shocked to hear this. Not just him selected to play that role but to decline it at his really young age. I knew Kobe was really dedicated to his game most of his life but even at that age like many people would, I would have thought he would have jumped at the chance for this.

[G-Funk]

Remembered reading about this. Heard there were scheduling conflicts or something.

Kobe Bryant had off-season commitments. Tracy McGrady auditioned but was found too reserved. Allen Iverson auditioned as well, but his acting chops didn’t impress anyone. Management for Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury wanted a guarantee that one or the other would be offered the part. Travis Best, Walter McCarty and Rick Fox auditioned and all won supporting parts. Lee approached Ray Allen during halftime of a Bucks-Knicks game and ultimately offered him the role of Jesus. Allen had never acted before, but went to work with an acting coach eight weeks prior to filming.

[G-Funk]

Just adds to his legendary work ethic.

[Eric Cartman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9HjNWbJvA

People claim this video is "too much". I say it's not enough.

[Myth]

Was he officially offered the part after an audition or was he just asked to audition and turned that down?

[#number6ix#]

Kobe missed out on a sweet nickname

[sportjames23]

Kobe coulda had two white women instead of settling on one a few years later.

[chips93]

iverson turned it down too

[OldSkoolball#52]

Kobe missed out on a sweet nickname

Well thats ok, he gave himself plenty later on.

[longtime lurker]

Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mor...gs/chaseylain/

Well God damn she has not aged well at all....

[sportjames23]

Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mor...gs/chaseylain/

Yup, they're both porn stars. The other chick is Jill Kelley.

[NumberSix]

Girl to the left I believe is this chick: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mor...gs/chaseylain/

Yikes.

[DuMa]

I cant see anyone else being Shuttlesworth.

[Pointguard]

iverson turned it down too

For shooting gawds only!

[SamuraiSWISH]

Kobe as Jesus Shuttlesworth would've made way more sense at the time. He was one of the first true sensationalized HS products to go pro. Especially considering "Jake", aka Denzel worshipped Philly playground legend Earl Monroe aka Black Jesus. In real life, LeBron is Jesus Shuttlesworth.