Casting the NY Knicks Movie From Carmelo Anthony to Isiah Thomas

If you're a New York Knicks fan, then you're definitely not a stranger to drama.  Seriously, for the past decade, the Knicks have looked less like a professional basketball team and more like a soap opera that never ends.  I'm talking one that lasts longer than All My Children.

The crazy part is that I'm not even joking.  Ever since Isiah Thomas arrived in New York in 2003, the Knicks went on a downward spiral that saw them go from being a respected franchise to the laughingstock of the NBA.  There was so much drama in both the locker room and the front office that it was almost movie-like.

Thus, while I was in the shower last week, and I wish I was joking about that part, this idea came to me.  Let's cast the potential movie of the New York Knicks, starting with Isiah's entrance and ending with the arrival of Carmelo Anthony.

Terrence Howard as Isiah Thomas

As much as I hate the man, I have to give Isiah Thomas this much credit.  The man has great confidence and some stride.  Thus, it's only right that an actor with equal badassitude play the role of the Hall of Famer.

Sure enough, there is no better man to play Thomas than Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard.  This guy first won our hearts in the hip-hop classic Hustle & Flow and showed that not only is he intense, but he's got soul. 

He has further exhibited his versatility in his turn as a psychopath in Big Momma's House and a victimized Hollywood director in Crash.

Howard doesn't look 100 percent like Thomas, but he has the swagger and the confidence to capture his essence perfectly.  I mean, come on.  Would Denzel Washington be able to justify signing Jared Jeffries to a long-term deal and keep a straight face?

John Goodman as James Dolan

There are a few things to keep in mind when casting the part of Knicks owner James Dolan.  We need a big guy who is kind of loud and obnoxious and seems to be more concerned with having a good time than running a team effectively. 

Based on his performances in classics like The Big Lebowski and King Ralph, I don't think there's a better option than John Goodman.

First off, in this particular picture, it's kind of frightening how much Goodman resembles Dolan.  On top of that, his loud and boisterous (yet reserved) personality that we first fell in love with on Roseanne is a perfect match for the infamous owner of the Knicks.

More importantly, and this is a total hunch, but I just think that Goodman and Terrence Howard would have great screen chemistry.

Mekhi Phifer as Stephon Marbury

Next up is Thomas's first big acquisition as GM, the volatile point guard Stephon Marbury.  This is a tough role to cast, as there is no actor out there who off-camera has the arrogance and head-case vibe that the Coney Island native has.  Yet, on looks alone, the answer is simple in Mekhi Phifer.

Phifer has a wide range of roles on his resume but the one that jumps out in this case is his role as the title character in O.  A modern take on Shakespeare's Othello, Phifer played a troubled basketball player in this movie.

Were he to play Marbury, he'd basically be playing the same role but with a less tragic ending.  Even more importantly, Phifer just has that cool stare that just screams Marbury.

Ron Glass as Lenny Wilkens

Many of you have probably never heard of Ron Glass.  He achieved a sort of cult status playing Shepherd Book on the short-lived TV series Firefly and some of you may recognize him as Duncan from the comedy Death At A Funeral.  Based on looks and mannerisms alone, I'd pick him to play Lenny Wilkens.

Wilkens was the second of Thomas' big moves with the Knicks, having the legendary coach replace the complete and utter joke that was Don Chaney.  Sure enough, Wilkens led the team to the playoffs after taking the helm, though they were swept out in the first round.

Sadly, Wilkens' time in New York was short, as he did not even last a full season.  Supposedly, he could not handle both Marbury and the volatile front office at the same time and resigned in January 2005.

With his calm yet fiery demeanor, Glass is the perfect man to play the Hall of Fame coach.

Which leads us to casting the next part...

Martin Sheen as Larry Brown

To cast Larry Brown, we need an actor who is on the short side, looks good in glasses and seems like he could get exasperated easily.  For that, we turn to the ever-popular Martin Sheen.

Sheen is no stranger to playing a basketball coach, having performed that role alongside the aforementioned Mekhi Phifer in O. 

There is no reason to believe he couldn't capture that essence again in a supporting role as Brown, who constantly clashed with Stephon Marbury in his one forgettable season in New York before essentially being forced out.

Plus, who doesn't want to see Sheen look defeated on the court?  Call me cold, but something tells me his face would be perfect for this part.

Nick Nolte as Donnie Walsh

All right, folks.  It's time to cast the man who ultimately became the savior of the Knicks franchise, Donnie Walsh.  For this part, we need someone with street smarts and a stoic attitude, yet could also bite your head off in one fell swoop if you get on his bad side.

After much consideration, Donnie Walsh should be played by Nick Nolte.  Here is a man who has made a living out of playing hard-nosed and gritty characters, from his role as a grizzled cop in 48 Hours and a torn army colonel in Hotel Rwanda.

On top of that, Nolte's face just has some very Walsh-ish qualities.  Slick his hair back and put some glasses on him, and they could look related.

Matt Dillon as Mike D'Antoni

Matt Dillon is easily one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood.  From serious turns in The Outsiders to downright hysterical ones in There's Something About Mary, he has proven that he can basically do anything.

Seeing as how he is already a basketball fan and has similar facial features, Dillon is the perfect man to play Mike D'Antoni, the first big hire Walsh made after firing Isiah Thomas.  I can just imagine him with the signature Coach D mustache and yelling at the players to run up and down the court faster.

He might have to put on a wig or grow his hair out for the even more signature bowl-cut, but Dillon as D'Antoni could be perfect.

Morris Chestnut as Amar'e Stoudemire

I know I'm about to get some hate for the next couple of slides, but I'm going to respectfully ask that you hear me out.  The easy route would be to cast tall unknowns as 'Melo and Amare, but that's just a slap in the face to you, my beloved readers.  Thus, let's discuss why Morris Chestnut is the man to play Amare Stoudemire.

Chestnut has already earned his sports movie stripes with the kids' classic Like Mike and clearly has an appreciation for the game.  He's nowhere near as tall as the 6'11" man he'd play, but the magic of movies can make him appear so. 

Hell, Hollywood made Brendan Fraser look 7'7" in Bedazzled, so why couldn't they do the same for Chestnut?

Will Smith as Carmelo Anthony

Again, we have an actor who is nowhere near the height of the man he's playing.  Yet, Will Smith just has a charisma about him that could make him perfect to play Carmelo Anthony.

He is no stranger to sports films, having scored an Oscar nomination for playing the title role in Ali, and something tells me he could just capture Anthony's demeanor and tenacity with utter perfection.  Plus, he has proven himself to be a marketable name both as an actor and a human being.

To put it bluntly, people love the guy.  Hell, I thought Hancock was terrible and I was able to forgive Smith for it in about three minutes because he's just THAT awesome.  Thus, he's the man to play 'Melo.

Spike Lee as Himself

Come on, people.  Did you really think we'd be casting a movie about the fall and rise of the New York Knicks and not include their biggest fan?  A Knicks movie without Spike Lee is like making a Los Angeles Lakers film and not including Jack Nicholson.

Lee has made a name for himself not just as the successful director of films like Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, but as the biggest Knicks fan on the planet.  He takes in every home game at Madison Square Garden and has even been known to follow the team on the road every so often.

That being said, to not include him in this movie, particularly as himself, would just be wrong.  Also, I wouldn't at all be shocked if he also directed it.