Jeremy Piven is best known for his role on the hit show “Entourage,” where he played a fictionalized version of Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor. Endeavor is UFC’s parent company and owner.
Piven is starring in a new film about a man who changed the game of basketball.
Piven stars as former Knicks coach Joe Lapchick in his new film ‘Sweetwater,’ which is a story of the first African-American to sign an NBA contract. Lapchick became the Branch Rickey in this tale, pushing for Clifton’s signing in 1950 while working against the surrounding forces of racism.
He is currently promoting the movie and ended up going on UFC Unfiltered where he shared how ‘humbling’ it was to grapple Rashad Evans:
“I was stupid enough to train with Rashad Evans back in the day. You know, I have to be honest with you. Attempting to take him down was the most humbling thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s years, years as solid as they come.”
When asked how long he’s trained he answered:
“I had dabbled in Muay Thai for a while and then I was just boxing. And then what happens is when you’re a dummy like me, you don’t roll your shoulders properly and then you tear off your super splint itis because you’re a slave to your ego and you’re throwing power punches when you don’t need to.”
“So, you know, I started grappling with Rashad because he’s a buddy of mine and my God, I mean, it’s just that’s one of the reasons I love the game is because I have a perspective, because I know what these guys, these guys with the sacrifices they have to make and the level that they play on is frightening.”
Rashad Evans competed in the light heavyweight division and Piven is known to be very short so the match up was a shoe in to be very awkward.
Piven spoke with Phil Jackson and current Sixers coach Doc Rivers. Despite being shorter than Lapchick, Piven was able to play the role with the help of movie magic and apple boxes.
With the film opening on April 14, Piven’s next stop is Madison Square Garden. He plans to catch noted Entourage fan Julius Randle and perhaps float the idea to the team owner about the next retired jersey.