Basketball fans remember where they were when the first video dropped. A disguised Kyrie Irving, covered in layers of prosthetic skin and a gray wig, wandered onto a streetball court and proceeded to embarrass every "youngblood" in sight. It was magic. But by the time we got to Uncle Drew Chapter 4, the stakes had shifted. Pepsi wasn’t just making a funny commercial anymore. They were building a cinematic universe before that term was even annoying to hear.
Honestly, Chapter 4 is where the series peaked in terms of pure star power and narrative ambition.
The Miami Connection and the Hype of Uncle Drew Chapter 4
Released in 2015, this installment moved the action down to Miami. If you watch it back now, the vibe is distinct. It’s sun-drenched, loud, and features a showdown that fans had been begging for since the beginning. We weren’t just watching Kyrie move anymore. We were watching a legit ensemble cast.
The plot? It’s simple. Drew needs to settle a score. He heads to a legendary court in the 305 to face off against "Skinny" Walt.
Now, "Skinny" Walt wasn't played by some random extra. It was Ray Allen. At the time, Ray Allen was fresh off his stint with the Miami Heat—the team that had just been to four straight Finals. Seeing Uncle Drew (Kyrie) go head-to-head with a guy who arguably hit the biggest shot in NBA history (Game 6, 2013) was a masterstroke of casting. It felt real. It felt like playground lore coming to life in a way that corporate branding rarely achieves.
Why the Ray Allen Casting Mattered
Ray Allen brought a different energy to the makeup chair. While Kyrie’s Drew is flashy and talkative, Ray’s "Skinny Walt" was clinical.
People forget how much work went into these transformations. We’re talking six hours in a makeup chair. Six hours of having silicone glued to your face just to play basketball in the Florida heat. It’s brutal. But the chemistry between the two was undeniable. They weren't just "playing" old men; they were embodying the specific archetypes you find at every park: the guy who thinks he’s still got it, and the guy who actually does.
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- The Cameos: We also got Baron Davis as "Louis" and JB Smoove as "Angelo."
- The Trash Talk: It was scripted, sure, but much of the dialogue on the court felt improvised.
- The Stakes: This chapter wasn't about "getting the band back together" like Chapter 3; it was about the rivalry.
The production value skyrocketed here. Director Jon Watts—who, interestingly enough, went on to direct the Spider-Man trilogy for Marvel—brought a cinematic eye to a YouTube ad. You can see the shift. The camera angles are wider. The pacing is tighter. It stopped looking like a prank video and started looking like a short film.
The Cultural Impact of Uncle Drew Chapter 4
Basically, this was the peak of the "Old Man" trope in sports media. After this, everyone tried to copy it. You saw brands trying to disguise "old" skaters, "old" soccer players, "old" powerlifters. But none of them hit like Uncle Drew. Why? Because Kyrie Irving has the most aesthetic game in the history of the league.
His handles are hypnotic. Even under 30 pounds of prosthetics, his crossover is unmistakable. In Uncle Drew Chapter 4, when he starts "getting his buckets," the reaction from the crowd—who mostly didn't know it was Kyrie until the very end—is authentic. That’s the secret sauce. You can’t fake that kind of jaw-dropping reaction when a 70-year-old man does a double-clutch reverse layup.
The H-O-R-S-E Game That Defined a Decade
The centerpiece of Chapter 4 isn't a full-court game. It’s a game of H-O-R-S-E.
Think about that. In an era of dunk contests and high-flying highlights, Pepsi bet on a game of trick shots. It worked because it showcased the technical skill of both players. Ray Allen’s shooting stroke is a work of art. Even in a gray wig, that release is lightning fast. Seeing him trade shots with Kyrie’s creative finishing was a treat for basketball purists. It stripped the game back to its essentials: a ball, a hoop, and a lot of ego.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Production
A common misconception is that the crowd was entirely "planted." While there were definitely extras to ensure the filming went smoothly, a huge portion of the people at the park were just locals who thought they were watching a mediocre streetball documentary.
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The production team, including the creators at the agency SharedX, had to be incredibly sneaky. They hid cameras in Gatorade coolers and fake equipment boxes. If the players saw a professional camera rig, the jig was up. They needed that raw, "what is happening?" energy.
- Makeup: The prosthetics were handled by Tony Gardner’s Alterian Inc. They’re the same people who worked on Bad Grandpa.
- Location: Margaret Pace Park in Miami. It’s a real spot. If you go there today, people still talk about the day Uncle Drew showed up.
- The Shoes: Sneakerheads were squinting at their screens trying to identify the kicks. Kyrie was wearing the "Uncle Drew" colorway of the Kyrie 1, which eventually became a massive collector's item.
The Transition to the Big Screen
Uncle Drew Chapter 4 was essentially the proof of concept for the 2018 feature film. Without the success of this specific chapter—and the chemistry between the NBA stars—Lionsgate probably wouldn't have greenlit a full movie.
It proved that the character had legs beyond a 5-minute YouTube clip. It proved people cared about the story of Drew, not just the prank. We wanted to know who he was. Why was he so grumpy? Why did he care so much about "the game being played the right way"?
Honestly, the "Chapter" format was brilliant. It created a sense of appointment viewing. In 2015, you didn't just "happen" upon a video; you waited for the next Chapter to drop. It was social media marketing before the algorithms took over everything.
Behind the Scenes: The Heat and the Hustle
Filming in Miami in the summer is a nightmare. Now imagine doing it while wearing a full face of latex. Kyrie has mentioned in interviews that the heat inside the suit was unbearable. You’re sweating, the glue is itching, and you still have to play at an NBA level so you don't look like a fraud.
Ray Allen was a pro about it, but the physicality of playing "old" is actually harder than playing "young." You have to change your gait. You have to hunch. You have to move slower—until the moment you don't. That "burst" is what makes the video work.
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How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re going back to rewatch Uncle Drew Chapter 4, don’t just focus on the baskets. Look at the background. Look at the faces of the guys on the sidelines.
Specifically, watch the moment Ray Allen hits his first deep three. The shift in the atmosphere is palpable. You can see the exact second the "youngbloods" realize they’re in trouble. It’s a masterclass in tension and release.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan or a student of sports marketing, there's a lot to learn from this specific era of content:
- Authenticity over Polish: The reason Chapter 4 worked wasn't because it looked like a $100 million movie. It worked because it felt like a legendary day at the park that someone happened to catch on camera.
- Respect the Craft: Pepsi didn't just hire a random shooter. They hired Ray Allen. Using actual legends adds a layer of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that you can't fake with CGI or clever editing.
- The Power of Narrative: Stop selling the product; sell the character. Notice how little "Pepsi" is actually shoved in your face? It’s there, but the focus is on Drew’s quest for respect. When you build a character people love, they’ll associate that love with your brand naturally.
- Legacy Matters: Almost a decade later, we’re still talking about these videos. That’s the definition of "evergreen content."
To truly appreciate what Kyrie and Pepsi built, go back and watch the transition from Chapter 1 to Uncle Drew Chapter 4. The evolution is staggering. It’s the difference between a funny viral hit and a piece of sports culture that defined a generation of fans.
To get the full experience, look for the "Behind the Bucket" footage often released alongside these chapters. It shows the grueling makeup process and the interactions between Kyrie and Ray Allen when the cameras weren't officially rolling. It adds a whole new layer of appreciation for the work that went into making a "simple" YouTube video.