Kyrie Irving is a long-term player.

At least not in Hollywood. Uncle Drew, a full-length feature film based on the wildly popular online shorts he has been doing since 2012 as part of a Pepsi promotion, will be his first attempt at a leading role in a motion picture. The film was shot last summer by the All-Star point guard for the Celtics. Right before a significant choreographed dance sequence that takes place in the midst of the movie, Irving received word that he had been traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to Boston. And as Lil Rel Howery, Drew’s co-star, made fun of earlier this year, just before the 90th Academy Awards, Irving’s joy on the dance floor is genuine. Irving, though, is a real actor. Even with layers of prosthetic makeup covering his face and a gray beard and mane, he looks terrific in the film. We converse.

At the Oscars, I asked Lil Rel if he had to coach you in any way for this role as an actor, and he responded no! It turns out that you’ve always wanted to be an actor.

Since I was a child, my appreciation for movies and performers has been [growing]. Playing in High School Musical during my senior year of high school was a risk I took. To get over a fear of public speaking, this was done. I was incredibly passionate about musical theater. I used to listen to and sing Rent songs before games all over my house.

In high school, did you really perform in the musical High School Musical?Yes, In a way, I played Corbin Bleu; I was attempting to transcend the stereotype of being an athlete alone. It was a truly amazing experience.

“I’ve been transparent with [Celtics general manager] Danny Ainge. Transparent with the ownership of what my intentions are going into this season. And after the season, what conversations are going to be needed to have in order for us to get on the same page.”

What was that like being both a jock and thespian at the same time?

Well, my personality’s been pretty quirky for a while, so I felt if anyone could get away with it, I probably could. I mean, what athlete is saying that their favorite musical is Rent?

This is the first movie starring a current hoops star of this magnitude, certainly, in 20 years. He Got Game would be the last one. Were you worried that people wouldn’t take you seriously?

I was nervous about leading the movie. My cast members would remind me, like, ‘You know you are Uncle Drew, right?’ I was more or less happy to be part of this project regardless. I really hope the reception is well in terms of the life lessons in it, the comedy, the romantic scenes, the humor. We had some … comedy scenes that we just kind of had fun with.

From where did you start creating Uncle Drew the character? Do you know a guy like this? He feels very familiar.

I got my inspiration from watching my dad [Boston University star Drederick Irving] still loving to play. He still has a passion. Even though his body necessarily can’t go, his mind is just as sharp as ever. Talking to past athletes, older-generation athletes … they still have a competitive edge. They know … where their respective sport took them and the life lessons that came with it and the relationships they’ve built. I thought that it would be awesome to pay homage to that generation by embodying someone who has a youthful exuberance still. I just tried to do a great job of just conveying that.

“What I really want is to bring our team, all of us together, to a championship with us all being healthy. That’s where my focus is, and when that time comes, I’ll be ready to answer.”

The cast is great. Did you have a hand in which real-life athletes you wanted to be a part of this film?

Yes, They meshes rather well together. Nate Robinson seemed like a wonderful addition. I also believed that having Lisa Leslie, Shaq, C. Webb, and Reggie Miller would be fantastic. Because those four legends truly represent various historical junctures within the league. Through their voices, they have also changed in the game, and they now make a profession by analyzing it. It would be fantastic, in my opinion, for viewers to get a glimpse of their personality apart from their analysis of basketball plays. They actually just spoke to me; it made sense. However, I did have a role in who is in it.

The decision to having Lisa Leslie’s character dress up and play basketball in the movie is very clever.

I had both Maya Moore and Lisa portraying Betty Lou in my own Uncle Drew shorts. I didn’t have to make an effort to fit in. It was always going to happen naturally. I’ve always been a champion for the WNBA’s respect. Basketball is a universal game. Of course, there are leagues for men and women, but regardless of gender, there should always be equal appreciation for our superiority as athletes and players.

Who in Hollywood are your role models?Spike Lee is one of my favorite filmmakers. He truly has a knack for coming up with original solutions to urgent problems. He actually came and spoke with me after I was selected; I took a film course at Duke. When he came to our film class, I told him I was going to give the Knicks 40 that year—that was just a little trash talk!

Do you have a preferred category for movies?

I adore the way that movies utilize music. It’s simply one of the purest modes of communication. Lease. The Most Amazing Performer. I adore the way some musicals are put together. I aspire to that. Though I enjoy reading in many genres, musicals and dramas are arguably my favorites.

EDITORS’ CHORES

Kobe Bryant: “I can do something other than dribble and shoot,” as evidenced by my Oscar nomination.Kyrie Irving: No. 1 is one and done.Reggie Miller speaks with authority.Broadcaster Lisa Leslie adores ‘Gidget,’ remembers Prince, and loves Nilla wafers.Chris Webber and Jason Williams on the ‘SLAM’ cover from March 2000

Was Kobe Bryant’s Oscar victory an inspiration to you? You won’t watch this movie once and then be done with it, I promise.In general, he has motivated me throughout my life. He is multilingual—speaks four or five languages. Speaking with him has been amazing for gaining fresh insight into artistic expression because of his extraordinary intelligence and the way he answers questions and converses. Some people think of athletes as someone who sometimes feel like they’re trapped in a box and wish to show others that they have other interests. I enjoy putting the ball in the hoop and playing basketball. It ranks among the highlights of my existence. However, I enjoy interacting with people, taking pictures, and participating in it when I’m not working on it. It’s a component of my personal development.

According to previous statements, Kevin Durant sees himself retiring at age 35. Do you think you’ll retire at that age?The funny thing is that I have discussed that with him in person. I believe that basketball is a really amazing way to go to different locations in life, and that with time, the value of it may alter for different people. It answers the same questions each time you enter a new season, which can seem rather repetitive at times. repeatedly saying and doing the same things. After a while, you stop being fascinated by the lifestyle of an NBA player and instead become devoted to the craft’s excellence. That, in my opinion, is a component of not wanting to be limited to being an NBA player any longer. commercial objectives. Artist. A real estate career is an option. You have a plethora of options to choose from, and you are given the freedom to take your time when you decide you aren’t as invested in the game. Personally, I’d like to return to school. I aspire to actively participate in culture and society and bring about positive change.

“After a while, you just become dedicated to the perfection of the craft rather than being enthralled with the lifestyle of being an NBA player.”

While you were sitting on the bench and watched the Celtics defeat the Cavaliers in seven games, what were you thinking about? Were you annoyed at not being able to help?It was awful for me to not be able to play. What made me feel good was admiring these individuals and giving them recognition for what they managed to do. I was happy to see that, on the largest platform, the identity we had been working so hard to develop during the season was finally taking shape. The boys took the initiative. They grabbed hold of the chance. I felt incredibly proud of them. It goes without saying that when you are unable to perform, you must set yourself aside and emotionally distance yourself from it because it gets difficult. As an athlete, I genuinely, genuinely I just don’t know how to convey to you how much I love performing on those kinds of stages. since my childhood. I find that those are the most fulfilling experiences because you gain so much knowledge from them. I’ve spent my entire life trying to play with the greatest players, and that guy is truly the greatest. .. Postseason play is like… woof! It’s amazing how it feels, how prepared it is, and how mentally stimulating it is. I’m in love. You push yourself to unimaginable limits in an attempt to win a title. Though I was there to encourage the boys as much as possible, I really wanted to be a part of that. Just showing them my love. My knee had a difficult two months.