Being an NBA player is something everyone dreams about, but there’s one thing that comes with the job that makes it slightly unattractive. As an NBA player, you have to make your peace with the fact that no matter what you do, there will be some fans that hate you. This is a universal issue for athletes at the highest level, and in the NBA, there’s only one exception.
Boban Marjanovic is possibly the one and perhaps the only player in the NBA that no fan can bring themselves to hate, regardless of team loyalties. Marjanovic is over 7’3 and a gentle giant. His lovely personality has made him a fan favorite, which is unsurprising when he does things like spending time on his vacation helping farmers.
His popularity has seen him earn roles in movies and on television too. Marjanovic has appeared in multiple Serbian productions. His cameo in John Wick Chapter 3 is unforgettable, especially for Shaquille O’Neal, who brings it up whenever he gets the chance to speak with Boban. And now, Marjanovic will make another movie appearance, in the Adam Sandler and LeBron James produced movie, Hustle.
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Marjanovic has a hilarious scene that can be seen in the trailer, where Sandler’s character, a scout for the 76ers, asks him if he’s 22 so he can be included in the NBA draft.
Adam Sandler: “I’m a scout for the 76ers. So you’re 22 years old? Because you can’t be in the draft if you are over 22.”
Boban Marjanovic: “Yes, I’m 22 years old.”
Adam Sandler: “Who’s this?”
Boban Marjanovic: “That’s my son.”
Adam Sandler: “How old is he?”
Boban Marjanovic: “He’s 10 years old.”
Hustle is a movie about a former basketball scout trying to revive his career, with Adam Sandler playing the main character in the movie. He’s worked with basketball stars before, like Kevin Garnett in Uncut Gems. The trailer for the movie looks great, but how it turns out remains to be seen. At least fans can know for sure that there are a few nice moments with Boban that’ll be fun to watch.
