NBA players have popped up in sitcoms as themselves, played fictional roles, and even voiced animated versions. The examples below include Charles Barkley on The Goldbergs, Roy Hibbert on Parks and Recreation, and a group of stars on The Cleveland Show. The available reporting supports these notable appearances, but does not establish a definitive or ranked list of eleven.
Live-action cameos in sitcoms
Charles Barkley as a substitute teacher on The Goldbergs
Barkley played Neelo Greene, a substitute gym teacher, on ABC’s The Goldbergs. NBA.com’s January 11, 2019 report describes students trying to score against him, only to have Barkley reject and block their shots. The show’s creator, Adam F. Goldberg, said, “Having Sir Charles Barkley on set was a thrill.” (NBA.com)
Chris Bosh on Go On
Bosh made a cameo in NBC’s sitcom Go On, whose lead character is a sports-talk radio host. NBC Sports confirmed the appearance in a November 14, 2012 report; it offered little scene detail, so the cameo is best noted without embellishing what Bosh did on screen. (NBC Sports)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on New Girl
Abdul-Jabbar appeared in two brief scenes on New Girl as an assistant to a brash radio host, according to the Los Angeles Times on April 10, 2012. The paper noted that he had played himself in many television appearances as well as taking character roles. In a phone interview with the paper, Abdul-Jabbar explained the comic premise: “It’s all about the humor of me doing whatever I’m doing. It all has to do with what it would be like if an NBA player were a sitcom. You have to understand that and how people would react to that.” (Los Angeles Times)
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Roy Hibbert on Parks and Recreation
Hibbert appeared in two episodes of Parks and Recreation, playing a basketball player paid to “hang out” at the fictional Entertainment 720 offices. NBC Sports reported on December 31, 2011 that Hibbert had pursued the opportunity: in an interview with the National Post, he said he watched the show, contacted his agent, and wanted to be on it. (NBC Sports)
Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr on Mr. Throwback
Curry appeared as himself in Peacock’s six-episode mockumentary-style sitcom Mr. Throwback, with then-Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr also making a cameo. Axios reported on August 21, 2024 that the role marked Curry’s television debut and that he was an executive producer. The report establishes the show’s availability on Peacock at that time; streaming catalogs can change, so it does not confirm present-day availability. (Axios)
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Animated NBA players on The Cleveland Show
One episode of The Cleveland Show brought several NBA stars into an animated All-Star Game storyline. TV Guide reported on February 10, 2011 that Dirk Nowitzki voiced an animated appearance, alongside Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. In the episode, Cleveland heckles the players, who later get their own back. This is a group appearance rather than six unrelated cameos. Nowitzki told TV Guide, “That’s an honor. If all those guys are in, I’d love to be a part of it.” (TV Guide)
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How these appearances differ
| Player or players | Show | Appearance format | What the reporting establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Barkley | The Goldbergs | Named live-action character | Substitute gym teacher Neelo Greene; students try and fail to score against him. (NBA.com) |
| Chris Bosh | Go On | Cameo; specific role details not stated | NBC Sports confirms the cameo but provides little scene description. |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | New Girl | Named role | Assistant to a radio host in two brief scenes. (Los Angeles Times) |
| Roy Hibbert | Parks and Recreation | Player character | Appeared in two episodes, as a player paid to spend time at Entertainment 720. (NBC Sports) |
| Stephen Curry; Steve Kerr | Mr. Throwback | Curry plays himself; Kerr cameo | Axios confirms both appearances in its 2024 report. |
| Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade | The Cleveland Show | Animated appearances; Nowitzki voiced his animated version | TV Guide identifies all six players in the All-Star Game episode. |
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