The first trailer for Adam Sandler’s ‘Hustle’ is brimming with Philly faces and places
Several Sixers players are featured in the forthcoming basketball flick, which is co-produced by LeBron James.

Juancho Hernangómez, current NBA forward, plays the pivotal roles in 'Hustle'
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser💌 Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
There are lots of great actors and cool cameos in Adam Sandler’s latest movie, but the real star? The City of Philadelphia.
“Hustle” is not only set in Philly, many scenes were actually filmed here. Netflix just released the first teaser, and even though it’s only a minute long, it contains plenty residents will recognize, including several current Sixers players.
Basketball is key to the movie’s plot, in which Sandler plays a washed up scout who finds a diamond in the rough in Spain and tries to help him make it in the NBA. Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall, and Ben Foster co-star.
With LeBron James as co-producer, basketball authenticity is already built in, but it goes further: the film’s up-and-coming athlete is played by real-life Utah Jazz forward Juancho Hernangómez.
The Philadelphia cred comes courtesy of the director, Jeremiah Zagar. He’s the son of mosaic muralist Isaiah Zagar, of Magic Gardens fame, and talks about growing up roaming around South Philly and renting movies from TLA Video.
“Hustle” is set for release on June 10.
Meantime, check out the teaser clip — appropriately soundtracked with Meek Mill’s “Ima Boss” — and look for these local faces and places as you watch.
People
- Tyrese Maxey — Second year Sixers guard, won over the city this season handling point guard duties in the absence of Ben Simmons
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Tobias Harris — SIxers forward acquired in 2019, signed a controversial maximum contract the following offseason, has averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds per game during his four seasons with the team
Sixers forward Tobias Harris
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Matisse Thybulle – Sixers forward, one of the best defenders in basketball in just his third year in the league
- Kyle Lowry — Miami Heat point guard who grew up in North Philadelphia, played college ball at Villanova, and once started a now-defunct Philly-based drink company named Famjuice
Philly native and Heat guard Kyle Lowry (left) and Sixers guard Matisse Thybulle
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Boban Marjanović — Former Sixers center during the 2018-2019 season, 7’4″ tall, best friends with Tobias Harris, has ridiculously massive hands, currently playing center for the Dallas Mavericks
Boban Marjanović
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Seth Curry — Former Sixers sharpshooting guard, brother of Steph Curry, casualty of the James Harden swap with Brooklyn
Adam Sandler and former Sixers/current Nets guard Seth Curry
Netflix 'Hustle' teaserPlaces
- Basketball mural — Located at Broad and Federal, Mural Arts’ “Beyond the Court” was completed in 2017 by artist Ernel Martinez, following a design by local fifth grader Brendan Dougherty. It features Sixers legends including Allen Iverson, Dr. J, Bobby Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, and Charles Barkley
'Beyond the Court' mural at Broad and Federal
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Capitolo Playground – This is the South Philly playground right above Cheesesteak Vegas, the Pat’s and Geno’s intersection at 9th and Federal.
Capitolo Playground in South Philly
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- PHL Airport – Terminal A is where international flights land at Philadelphia International Airport (it’s unclear if that’s where this escalator actually is, since there’s a wayfinding sign pointing to A)
- Sixers practice facility — The Philadelphia 76ers opened their new training complex in Camden in 2016
76ers Training Complex
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Wells Fargo Center — Home arena of the SIxers, Flyers, and the Philadelphia WIngs of the National Lacrosse League
Wells Fargo Center
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- City Hall — Sandler and Hernangómez are seen together at the corner of 13th and Market, with City Hall in the background
- Federal Donuts — The actual shops don’t make the preview, but the brand does — Sandler is wearing it in the underlying scene that opens and closes the trailer
Sandler wearing a FedNuts shirt
Netflix 'Hustle' teaser- Manor College — This Jenkintown school is home to the gym that forms the backdrop for that underlying scene, where Sandler gives his motivational speech