It is actually kind of wild when you think about it. A soda commercial—a three-minute Pepsi Max ad from 2012—somehow turned into a full-length feature film starring some of the greatest athletes to ever touch a basketball. Most people just remember the old-man makeup. But the cast for Uncle Drew is actually a deeply weird, high-energy blend of NBA royalty and some of the best comedic timing in Hollywood.
Honestly, the chemistry shouldn't have worked. You have Kyrie Irving, who was basically at the peak of his "Young Hollywood" era, acting alongside a Shaq who runs a karate dojo. It’s absurd. Yet, it’s that specific mix of legendary athleticism and genuine comedic chops from people like Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish that keeps this movie in the rotation for sports fans years later.
The Big Names Leading the Squad
Kyrie Irving is the engine here. He plays the titular Uncle Drew, a streetball legend who disappeared after a falling out with his team. Kyrie actually does a decent job under all that prosthetic skin. He brings a certain "get off my lawn" energy that feels authentic, mostly because he’s actually getting to school people on the court while looking like he's 80.
Then you have the actual supporting backbone: Lil Rel Howery as Dax. He’s the heart. Dax is a guy who lost everything—his life savings, his girlfriend, and his dignity—to his rival. Lil Rel plays the "distressed straight man" perfectly. He’s the one dragging these seniors out of retirement.
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The Legends Behind the Makeup
The real magic of the cast for Uncle Drew happens when the old team gets back together. It’s a literal Hall of Fame lineup.
Shaquille O'Neal plays Big Fella. In the movie, he’s a martial arts instructor who hasn't spoken to Drew in decades because of some "personal" beef involving a woman. Shaq is Shaq. He’s massive, he’s loud, and he’s surprisingly good at physical comedy—especially the scene in the hospital that I won’t spoil if you haven't seen it, but let’s just say it involves a lot of Shaq's backside.
Reggie Miller plays "Lights." This is peak casting. Reggie, known for being one of the greatest shooters ever, plays a character who is legally blind. Watching him fire off shots that miss the backboard by ten feet is a hilarious nod to his real-world accuracy.
Rounding Out the Roster
Chris Webber shows up as Preacher. He’s a literal minister now, complete with a choir and a very protective wife.
Speaking of the wife, Lisa Leslie plays Betty Lou. She’s the only one who can actually keep Preacher in line. It’s great to see a WNBA legend getting to show off her personality here. She’s tough, she’s fast, and she’s probably the most disciplined person on the court.
Nate Robinson plays Boots. He starts the movie in a catatonic state in a nursing home, but the second he sees a basketball, his handles come back. Seeing Nate—one of the most athletic "short" guys in NBA history—portray a frail old man who can still dunk is a highlight.
The Comedic Heavy Hitters
You can't have a movie like this without professional jokers. Nick Kroll plays Mookie, the primary antagonist. He’s oily, he’s annoying, and he wears those terrible tracksuits that every "villain" coach seems to own. He’s the perfect foil for Lil Rel.
Tiffany Haddish plays Jess, Dax’s materialistic ex. She is 100% Tiffany Haddish in this movie. High energy, loud, and totally unapologetic. She leaves Dax for Mookie the second things go south, which sets the whole plot in motion.
J.B. Smoove and Mike Epps also make appearances as Angelo and Louis, the two guys at the park who act as a sort of Greek chorus for the streetball scene. If you've watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, you know exactly what J.B. Smoove brings to the table. It's frantic and hilarious.
Why This Cast Worked (and Why It Almost Didn't)
Usually, when you put athletes in movies, the acting is... wooden. Stiff. We've all seen those local car commercials. But the cast for Uncle Drew avoids this because most of these guys already have "big" personalities.
Shaq has been a brand for thirty years. Reggie Miller is a broadcaster. Chris Webber has been in front of cameras since he was a teenager. They weren't just playing characters; they were playing exaggerated, elderly versions of their own public personas.
A Quick Reality Check
Not everything is perfect. Some of the jokes feel a bit "2018," and if you aren't a basketball fan, half the cameos will go right over your head.
The movie features cameos from:
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- Jerry West (The Logo himself)
- Bill Walton
- George "The Iceman" Gervin
- Dikembe Mutombo
- Steve Nash
- David Robinson
If you don't know who those people are, those scenes just feel like random old guys nodding at the camera. But for the hoop heads, it’s like a giant Easter egg hunt.
Fun Facts About the Production
One of the wildest things about the cast for Uncle Drew is the makeup process. It took roughly three to four hours every single day for the actors to get into their "old man" gear. Imagine being Shaq and having to sit still for four hours while someone glues skin to your face.
The movie was filmed in Atlanta, mostly during the NBA offseason. There’s a famous story that Kyrie Irving actually found out he was being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics while he was on set, dressed as an 80-year-old man. That is a surreal mental image.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Night
If you're planning on revisiting this or watching it for the first time, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
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- Watch the original Pepsi ads first. It gives you the context for why the character of Uncle Drew became a cultural phenomenon. You can find them easily on YouTube.
- Look for the "Time Out" joke. There is a very specific moment where Drew tells Preacher (Chris Webber) that they have no timeouts left. This is a direct, savage reference to Webber’s infamous 1993 NCAA championship mistake.
- Pay attention to Aaron Gordon. He plays Casper, the young star on Mookie's team. His dunks in the final scenes are some of the most impressive "real" basketball footage in the movie.
- Check the soundtrack. The music is actually great, featuring Khalid, Wiz Khalifa, and even a track by Kyrie Irving himself (which is surprisingly not bad).
The cast for Uncle Drew is a rare example of a "gimmick" movie that actually has a heart. It’s a love letter to the game of basketball and the legends who built it. Whether you're there for the crossovers or the comedy, it delivers exactly what it promises: a bunch of legends having the time of their lives.
To dive deeper into the world of basketball cinema, check out the behind-the-scenes documentaries on Rucker Park, the legendary Harlem court where the movie’s climax takes place. It'll give you a whole new appreciation for the "streetball legend" trope.