Spike Lee originally wanted
Kobe Bryant to play the part of Jesus Shuttlesworth. While Bryant liked the script, and the idea of working with Lee, he had just finished his rookie year in the NBA (the 1996-97 season), and had shot several air balls in a brutal playoff loss by the Lakers to the Utah Jazz. For this reason, Bryant planned a workout program that would help him maintain his strength through the longer NBA seasons (a major adjustment, as Kobe went straight from high school to the pros). After Bryant consequently turned the movie role down, noting that the summer of 1997 was too important to spend time making the film, Lee promptly sought out
Ray Allen, who quickly accepted the lead role.
