NBA: 30 NBA players you forgot acted in movies or TV shows

NBA: 30 NBA players you forgot acted in movies or TV shows – John Salley

In the late 1980s and through the 1990s, if you wanted a solid two-way big man to come off the bench and hold up in high-pressure situations, you wanted John Salley. If you wanted an intelligent and entertaining interview, you wanted John Salley. And, perhaps surprisingly, if you wanted a basketball player to star in your movie, you wanted John Salley.

Although he won four championships with three different franchises, Salley was best known for his role on the Bad Boys Pistons. Perhaps initially intended as some sort of inside joke or homage, Salley was cast in the 1995 film “Bad Boys” starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith.

Was Salley an ex-basketball player in the film? Nope. Was he a thug among the muscle of some gang? Nope. He was a glasses-wearing computer nerd who helps the stars with their various hacking needs. He became a fan favorite, appearing in Bad Boys II and later in a spin-off television show.

He also appears in a more traditional ex-player role alongside Whoopi Goldberg in “Eddie” where she became the coach of the New York Knicks, and in a variety of other minor roles in television and film. For most, though, he will always be Fletcher, glasses and all.