In November of 1996, Space Jam hit theaters nationwide. It was a resounding success and remains the highest-grossing basketball movie of all time. The film stars the greatest basketball player of all time, in his prime, Michael Jordan.
The film depicts Looney Toon characters who are in need of some help. In an attempt to avoid getting abducted and forced to work at a failing amusement park, Bugs Bunny and friends challenge a group of undersized aliens, the Nerdlucks, to a game of basketball. The Nerdlucks steal the basketball powers from NBA players Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, and Shawn Bradley. The Looney Toons enlist the help of recently Jordan to help against this new-look team, now known as the Monstars.
The New-Look Space Jam 2
On the horizon is Space Jam 2, starring Lebron James, set for a July 2021 release date. Outside of a tweet by Shams Charania, not much else is currently known about the film. The tweet suggested that key roles will go to NBA player’s Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson. Also having roles will be WNBA players Diana Taurasi, Chiney Ogwumike, and Nneka Ogwumike.
When looking at the 1996 players cast to oppose Jordan, it’s a mix between superstars (Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing) and popular role players (Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, Shawn Bradley). Barkley and Ewing were starting the descent of their impressive careers, Larry Johnson was wildly popular despite not reaching the heights many expected of him, and Bogues and Bradley were likable players on the opposite size-spectrum, likely cast for their unique physical stature, standing at 5’3 and 7’6.
Assuming Space Jam 2 stays similar to the original, and Lebron James is going to be tasked with teaming up with a rag-tag group of characters to face-off against professional-level basketball players, let’s take a look at who should be included. Even though we know of a few players who will have some type of role with the movie, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right selection.
The Starting backcourt for the Monstars:
Diana Taurasi. Taurasi is one person potentially in the new film that is spot on. Taurasi is an accomplished WNBA star who has won multiple championships. She is also a finals MVP’s and is the all-time leading scorer for the WNBA. Taurasi has been in the league for some time but you can’t leave out one the greatest of all time.
Stephen Curry. Curry is absolutely banana’s as a shooter, he seems to be able to hit from any distance on the court. He’s changing the way young kids grow up learning to play the game. The NBA is moving towards launching three’s at a rapidly growing rate. Curry could also play the villain against LeBron. Though there doesn’t seem to be any animosity between the players, they have faced off against each other in the finals four times in a row with Curry finishing on top three out of four times.
The Starting Frontcourt for the Monstars:
Montrezl Harrell. Harrell might not be a household name just yet, but he is a rising star in a big market. Every team also needs a junkyard dog-type player that will do the dirty work. He is a gritty player who is the glue to his team and a monster on the court. Plus, he has a cool look and his name is fitting to be on the Monstar’s squad.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is nicknamed the Greek Freak for a reason, Antetokounmpo is ridiculously athletic. He’s coming off an MVP season and at 6’11 can play multiple positions with ease. For the past few seasons, fans and commentators alike have been itching to crown Antetokounmpo as the leagues best player. This title normally belongs to James. Beyond his basketball abilities, he is one of the league’s most popular and most likable players.
Boban Marjanovic. While Boban may not be the most physically gifted basketball player, standing at 7’3 and nearly 300 pounds, he is a giant human being capable of destruction. Legend has it, he completely swallowed Donovan Mitchell in the FIBA World Cup. This is not his first time in a movie either, he recently starred against Keanu Reeves in John Wick 3. Marjanovic is also beloved by nearly all NBA fans.
As you can see, I tried staying away from casting a starting five full of superstars. I went with a more balanced, well-rounded roster, similar to the original movie. With a movie of this nature, it’s pretty challenging building a roster that NBA fans will flock to see that will also work on the court.
A few honorable mentions:
Russell Westbrook. Westbrook’s motor seems to always set on full throttle. His ability to accumulate stats at a staggering rate is almost as impressive as his wardrobe. He is a unique talent for sure, yet when assembling the roster, I went with shooting ability over Westbrook’s sheer force and determination.
De’ Aaron Fox. Fox is an upcoming player who looks like he will be a star for the next decade. He is one of the fastest players in the league. What makes Fox an appealing play here is that it’s not his strength that is on display, but his speed.
Joel Embiid. When healthy, Embiid is an opposing force on both ends of the court. He can dominate in ways many other big men just can’t. He’s also got a good sense of humor and he likes to use it as frequently as possible.
Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis owns the nickname the Unicorn for a reason, he’s a rare breed when it comes to NBA big men. He can shoot, he’s a good defender, and he can run the floor pretty well. With all of the offseason workout photos circulating lately, his beefed-up Ivan Drago look would work well in the movie.
Last Few Space Jam 2 Roles:
As we wrap things up, to follow suit from the original film, there is a scene where Michael Jordan is playing golf with his friends, NBA legend Larry Bird, and comedian Bill Murray, and his assistant played by Wayne Knight.
In Space Jam 2, the NBA legend role should go to Lebron’s real-life friend, Dwyane Wade. Wade is recently retired and he mentioned how he would be hanging out in Los Angeles around the Lakers facility. This match only makes sense.
The comedian role goes to Kevin Hart, who is a four-time NBA Celebrity All-star Game MVP. Hart has starred in a few family films recently too, and his energy and hijinks could pair well next to a player like Lebron.
Last but not least, the assistant role goes to Rebel Wilson. Back in December Lebron photo-bombed a photo of Wilson at a Lakers game, and the two have a shared appreciation of each other.
