With the success of Entourage, HBO was forced into a situation where they went looking for another hidden gem in terms of wheeling and dealing. Ballers focused their attention on the backroom business dealings and behind-the-scenes lives of the NFL elite. With guests stars plentiful, the main focus of their attention was on the bread and butter of the cast.
The Rock, already with a slew of movies under his belt did a wonderful job portraying the role of Spencer Starsmore while newcomers like John David Washington made his splash as the egotistical Ricky Jarret. What made Ballers such an appealing show, despite claims of copyright infringement, was their ability to break down each character and how they dealt with success and failure on and off the field.
Boss Man
He's a hard-nosed businessman and he has every right to be. Owning an NFL team is no small feat and Boss Man is not the guy for small talk. If he says jump, you jump. It appeared that he and Spencer were friends but Boss Man was out for himself.
He ranks as one of the least liked characters, just for that trait alone. His interests are his pockets, nothing more. He uses people to get what he wants and it almost cost Spencer his shot as the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jason
Jason is one of the boys but is that out of necessity or love? He's the agent for Ricky and Vernon so he gets a pass to be in their company. He and Spencer share a love/hate relationship but what makes Jason valuable to the group is his no-nonsense approach. He wants the best for his clients and will do whatever he can to get it.
Not a bad guy at all but to be in his line of work, it takes a certain mental toughness. Jason is about money. And at times, he will shun his friends or girlfriend if it means getting to the big-money deal.
Spencer
As the main attraction of Ballers, one would think that Spencer should be higher on this list. But no. Throughout the show, Spencer was self-centered and a bit aloof. His life was a train-wreck and anyone in it was bound to get demolished along the way.
He blew off deals due to personal grudges and while he did some smooth-talking to get back into the graces of others, it wasn't until the end where he saw and admitted the error of his ways. A good guy but just got in his own way too many times to rank higher on this list.
Ricky
Ricky is that character that at times you want to strangle but you can't because he's just him. Ricky is ambitious, hard-headed, good-hearted, and a brat all at the same time. But without him, Ballers just doesn't work. He has gone from great receiver to just average.
His work ethic is strong but it's his mental stability that causes him issues. Now out of the game, Ricky had to find another way to make an impact. His Podcast was a bit rough in the beginning but he and TTD found their niche and a way to reconcile with the football community.
Joe
From the beginning, Joe has always come across as weird but likable. The little guy who runs to the back while the big work gets done. But that has been the way he and Spencer have handled their relationship. If needed, Joe can be a bit of a terror in negotiations. Once the two parted ways, joe became a boss of his own and actually succeeded.
Joe was able to find himself, launch a successful business, and find a good woman. It was rough for him in the early goings as he was more party than business.
Reggie
Being the best friend/manager of an NFL star seems like a walk in the park. But for Reggie, it was always a proving ground. Not well respected in the presence of the heavyweights, Reggie tried his best to make it known that he was more than just a person riding Vernon's coattails.
All Reggie needed was a swift kick to get his juices flowing. Throughout his time on Ballers, Reggie was more comedy than realness. In the end, he more than proved his worth with his business savvy and belief in Vernon.
Vernon
Vernon is the character who just needs to stay out of his own way. Not a bad guy at all but he had too many people in his ear. Reggie has been there from the beginning but there are times where the situation seems to be more about Reg than Vernon. A great player on the field, it's his off the field issues that have viewers stuck between love and hate.
Towards the end, Vernon led viewers on a wild chase that he was ready to give up the game of football and $90M for the ever-popular League Of Legends lifestyle. It was all a ploy to get Reggie to become the manager he knew he could be.
Charles
Charles is the good guy of the bunch. The ex-football player hung it up to be with his family. While the going was smooth at first, Charles began to miss the game. He played but then realized that coaching may be a better option. From there, Charles moved up the ladder but that stressful feeling never resolved itself.
Hampered with missing his family and dealing with an overbearing owner, Charles encountered health problems that almost made him walk away from the game and job he loves.
TTD
What exactly does TTD do? In the early stages, he comes off as more of a freeloader than anything but as the seasons wore on, he grew into a more vital role. His job has been to keep Ricky in line but let's be honest, who can really keep Ricky in check? Either always eating or smoking weed, TTD is the friend who was there from the beginning.
He does have Ricky's best interest at heart despite the many setbacks he has put them both in. For Ricky to have such a commanding persona, he often leans on the shoulders of TTD.
Julie
It takes a strong woman to handle the ego of a football player. For Julie, she fit the bill just fine. The wife of Charles, Julie has her hands full on different levels. Never becoming second-fiddle to Charle's great career, the family has never been the one to splurge on lavish expenses such as yachts, 22-room mansions, and Bentleys.
Julie is the leader of her home and she still manages to maintain a career. She's smart, beautiful, and understanding. If it's one thing Ballers was missing, that would be more stable female characters like Juile.