Willy Hernangomez of the New Orleans Pelicans is used to casting a shadow over his little brother.
Willy and his brother Juancho are just over a year apart in age and both joined the NBA the same year after playing in the Spanish league.
They’ve both bounced around but Willy has had the better career so far and has carved out a role as a third big man for the New Orleans Pelicans, though they have both been journeyman role players to this point in their respective careers.
He also established himself as a big part of the team chemistry, while his younger brother played for three different teams this season, ending the year playing with the Utah Jazz, where he has a partially-guaranteed contract for next season.
But Willy’s younger brother has been getting all of the attention of late for his work off the court.
Pelicans: Hernangomez starring in Adam Sandler film “Hustle”
Juancho Hernangomez has a major role in the Netflix film “Hustle” which stars Adam Sandler as NBA scout Stanley Sugerman.
Hernangomez plays Bo Cruz, a player he is scouting, and is clearly aimed at NBA fans, as there are a number of appearances from NBA players and personalities including Anthony Edwards, Boban Marjanovic, Aaron Gordon, Kenny Smith and many others.
Despite my instincts to run away from this film, it currently has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Hernangomez’s acting has gotten favorable reviews by some top film critics.
There is a history of NBA players getting roles in movies, with “He Got Game” probably being the best example and anything with Shaq being an example of the worst (remember Kazaam?). Sandler is an avid basketball fan, so wanted a real basketball player for the role rather than an actor.
The story of how Hernangomez landed the role is an interesting one, as he auditioned for Sandler via Zoom while in lockdown during COVID.
Juancho may be the star, but Willy got a brief cameo himself, which I am sure he will hear about from his Pelicans’ teammates. Who knows, maybe if things don’t work out in the NBA the two brothers could have a second career on Spanish soap operas or in “Hustle 2: Sugarman’s Revenge.”
I’ve talked myself into checking it out and will give a review of the Hernangomaii’s performance and their potential as movie stars.