O’Shea Jackson Jr. is nervous more than some might assume.
The actor and extremely vocal supporter of Los Angeles sports and professional wrestling gets that uneasy feeling whenever a new project is released. Jackson gained acclaim as an actor when he played his father, legendary rapper and actor Ice Cube, in “Straight Outta Compton” in 2015. He’s also appeared in “Den of Thieves,” “Just Mercy” and “Cocaine Bear,” among other projects, and he is working on “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” which is slated to release in 2024.
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Jackson also is one of the more outspoken celebrity sports fans on social media, where he doesn’t shy away from repping his favorite Los Angeles teams, the Lakers and the Rams, or celebrating WWE Superstars like Roman Reigns — who will headline SummerSlam in a match against his cousin, Jey Uso, Saturday in Detroit.
Jackson plays basketball coach Ike Edwards on the Apple TV+ series “Swagger” that releases new episodes on Fridays. The show is loosely based on Kevin Durant’s high school career and stars Isaiah Hill as hoops phenom Jace Carson.
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Jackson, while in the Canary Islands filming “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” spoke to The Athletic about playing a coach in “Swagger,” as well as why he has so much energy as a superfan of his sports teams and his favorite in the WWE.
Editor’s note: The following has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
What does O’Shea Jackson Jr. have to be nervous about?
I get butterflies for everything of mine that comes out. I got my daughter right now. She just finished kindergarten. She’s going out into the world … it’s the same (feeling) when it comes to projects I’ve worked on. I think about my cast mates and all the hard work we put in, all the long days and things that we hope hit, things we hope people will recognize and take in. It’s the same feeling that a chef has when he puts a plate out. He probably has cooked that a million times, but you’re still waiting for that positive response.
I mean, my dad still gets butterflies going out on stage. It’s just how I am, and I can’t shake it.
What is it like to be on a show like “Swagger,” which deals with the changing landscape of high school and college sports and how NILs have altered the world of sports?
I remember coming to set and we had an exterior scene, and the kids pull up in their cars. I remember thinking, “Wait a minute … how?” And they’re like, “NIL, NIL, NIL.” It’s a new ballgame, and I’m happy that young athletes are able to get the benefits or the rewards from their hard work a little bit earlier. There’s so many situations where we see athletes give their all with their bodies for what they choose as their professions. A lot of times, they don’t have nothing to fall back on (financially), and some people can’t handle the impact of a dream not coming true or an injury taking them out or anything that might cut a dream short. So, to be able to have something early is always a plus, something to have in your pocket to support the families they have, the situations they’re in.
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At the same time — you know, being an older guy — it makes me a little nervous, man. Please watch your money and (how) it is spent. It’s just all about the teams that they have around (them) and the people, the support systems keeping their heads on straight. The same thing works in “Swagger” with a strong lioness like Jenna Carson (played by Shinelle Azoroh).
What do you want viewers to take from the development of Ike this season?
Recognize exactly how much that I’ve put into the development of the kids. Ike is not just a basketball coach. He was never strictly about the X’s and O’s. I think that’s what makes Ike such a powerful character; he is a support system that a lot of young players don’t have from a coach. He wants to be the big brother figure, the father figure. It’s a real love that he has for each player. It’s something I’m sure parents of athletes want their kids to have, and it comes from a real place because of the chemistry that I have with all the young actors of “Swagger.” I love those dudes. We’re all in a group chat. I’ll be watching their careers for years to come. Anything I write, I’m going to throw them in — and they can’t say no because I’m “Coach.” It’s a real bond, and it is real emotion that you see this year in “Swagger.”
I took some risks that I don’t normally do. I went for it this year, and a lot of it was due to real-life situations where I was either dealing with loss or a realization of watching my young guys kind of grow into young men — leaving the nest, if you will. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful show that talks about real human interaction, the underlying meaning of sports and teamwork and all that hoopla.
Does watching all these young players grow as people and actors make you feel like the OG of the group?
When I finally became a part of the project, I was a new dude trying to figure out where I stood in all of this. I never came in thinking, like, I’m going to have these guys under my wing, but if you ask me, I’ll give you the world. Whatever you want from me, I got you. … I’ve had lunch with a couple of players even after we’ve been done shooting. You’re in L.A.? Let’s talk it up, talk about your career. What are you thinking? Have you been auditioning? You ever need me to read with you? Hit me up.
We have a guy this season, Shannon Brown — not to be confused with Los Angeles Lakers champion Shannon Brown. Our guy Shannon Brown helped me win an audition I had to do just a couple of weeks ago. It is not necessarily a full-level responsibility, but I feel it to all of my players where I worry about them. I want them to be all right. I want them to be the best they could be, and whatever any of them need from me, I’ve always been there to see them from where I met them to where they are now. It is crazy; they’re older now. Some already got a little taller. My little brothers are turning into beasts. I love those dudes.
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Let’s talk sports. Your father is a big Raiders fan. You’re a Rams fan. What’s that like?
Hey, I love the Raiders. You know, I respect the Raiders because that’s what I grew up with. But they’re not L.A., and I don’t remember them from L.A. It’s not disrespect, but I don’t remember these stories that everybody keeps talking about.
When they lost that Super Bowl to Tampa Bay (Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003), I went to school the next day head-to-toe in Raider stuff for my dad. You know the type of jokes I heard, in sixth grade, head-to-toe in the team that lost the Super Bowl? Did that for my father, bro. I can’t take that abuse.
You rep the Rams nonstop. Talk about that.
Back in 2015, there were whispers of who was going to join Los Angeles: the Raiders, Rams or Chargers? I said whoever comes, I’m going to give my all to. … Whoever we get, whoever comes here, I’m going hard for (them). I’m giving it everything.
I mean, how could I not choose them? It’s not like they got here and were good. They were terrible. People don’t remember that we had the No. 1 pick. That doesn’t go to a good team, but it is still just to support the city. I’m L.A. all day, and the Rams showed up here first.
I’m rocking with Sean McVay. I’m rocking with Cooper Kupp. Aaron Donald, one of the greatest of all time. My man Matthew Stafford is getting it done. … They know that I’m a huge supporter. They picked me up to be the spokesperson for the ticket campaign, which is a big honor for me. As you know, the Raiders have always openly embraced my father, so to be able to be openly embraced by the team in Los Angeles is a great feeling for me. I watch the promo, like, every two or three days because I still can’t believe it. Rams all day and twice on Sundays.
You’re very outspoken on social media. How much fun do you have with back-and-forths about the Lakers, Rams, Raiders or even Roman Reigns?
I love it. The reason why I act like this is because, naturally, I’ve got mad energy. I live for that “Oh my God!” moment. Just the sound of a crowd. I think it’s because my mom was pregnant with me at concerts. The noise of the crowd gets me going. When I was growing up, like, I would never see a Laker fan go as hard as we (should) have every right to go. They always go on these sports shows and let these hosts talk them down. So, I wanted to be the most aggressive Laker fan that any of these shows has ever seen.
I don’t care who you root for. I don’t care that you used to watch the games with your dad when you were younger, and that’s why you root for the Bucks. Who gives a damn? Like, Denver right now: Go ahead and get your shine. I love when you pathetic, single-digit championship-having franchises got something to be happy about, so y’all can shut the hell up.
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You got (Denver coach Michael Malone) talking reckless. It is good for the league. Well, I’m gonna let you know: It don’t mean nothing because the Lakers will be back, and y’all all will be upset again. It’s that aggression that I wanted from other stars, and they wouldn’t give it to me. So, until Jeanie (Buss) announces that I am the new Jack Nicholson, I will be this aggressive tyrant on Twitter.
Let’s talk WWE. You’ve got to break down why Roman Reigns is your greatest of all time.
It’s plain to see. It’s right in front of your eyes. If you can’t see, open up a little bit. Roman Reigns is the alpha; he is the omega. He is everything that you need and more. Over a thousand days as champion: I’ve never seen nothing like that. I hear people say that a lot of it was due to The Bloodline. Well, guess what? That’s how a heel works. This dude, the way that he performs in the ring is solid, believable.
You have somebody in the ring who knows how to handle business and do it in a way that is not only effective, but you can still have the pieces that you need to be the dominant company that WWE is. He is the best heel that I’ve seen in years. We all know Triple H is one of the best heels ever. I put him in that same level of you love to hate him. The thing is, I don’t hate Roman Reigns. I don’t hate greatness.
I know Jey and Jimmy (Uso) are tripping right now with him about that. But Roman Reigns, bro … if you don’t like it, just stop him. But you can’t, because he’s the greatest of all time.
(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
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