Netflix’s Hustle (2022) Best Movie Quotes

Starring: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, Robert Duvall, Juan Hernangómez, Jordan Hull, María Botto, Ainhoa Pillet, Kenny Smith, Kyle Lowry

OUR RATING: ★★★★☆

Story:

Netflix sports drama directed by Jeremiah Zagar. Hustle (2022) centers on former pro basketball scout, Stanley Sugarman (Adam Sandler), who discovers Spanish amateur baller, Bo Cruz (Juan Hernangómez), playing in a park outside Madrid. Charged with new found purpose, Stanley makes it his mission to groom Bo for the NBA and bring him to the States.

Our Favorite Quotes:

'Obsession is going to beat talent every time.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Best Quotes

Stanley Sugerman: Taking me to see basketball or a cockfight?
Mr. Everything: We do everything.

Stanley Sugerman: [to the big Serbian player] I do have to ask something. So it says in my files, you’re twenty-two years-old.
Mr. Everything: Yeah.
Stanley Sugerman: This is accurate? You’re twenty-two years-old?
Big Serbian: Yes. I’m twenty-two years-old.
Stanley Sugerman: The reason I’m asking you, he’s speaking English? So, you understand my English? Because you can’t be in the draft if you’re over twenty-two years, if you’re from overseas. So, do you have a birth certificate?
Big Serbian: It was big fire.

Stanley Sugerman: Who’s this?
Big Serbian: It’s my son.
Stanley Sugerman: It’s your son?
Big Serbian: Yes.
Stanley Sugerman: How old is he?
Big Serbian: He’s ten years-old.
Stanley Sugerman: He’s ten years-old. Okay. Okay.

Rex Merrick: [referring to the office] So what do you think?
Stanley Sugerman: I can’t believe you made your uncle work in this closet. Thank you. Feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life to become a coach.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Alex] Not a side hug. What’s with the side hug? When did you stop hugging me?
Teresa Sugerman: Honey, you got to be more gentle. Your baby’s got titties now.
That’s disgusting.
Stanley Sugerman: Yeah, I don’t want to hear about that. That’s between you two.

Teresa Sugerman: [referring to allowing Alex to go out] Why the hell would you do that?
Stanley Sugerman: Because I was happy she was actually excited about something for a change. And to be honest with you, I wanted to be alone with you.
Teresa Sugerman: Oh, you think you’re going to get some love over here after that bulls**t you just pulled? Hell, no.

Stanley Sugerman: I’m worried about you. You against you, baby. You can get it done. You just got to do what you love.
Alex Sugerman: Did you love being away from home all the time?
Stanley Sugerman: That’s what you got out of this. Of course, I hated being away from home.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Kat, at Rex’s funeral] Trying to think of something to say to you besides, “I’m sorry.” It doesn’t seem enough.

'Guys in their 50s don't have dreams. They have nightmares and eczema.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Vince Merrick: I f***ed up. I shouldn’t have drafted Haas.
Stanley Sugerman: I wouldn’t say that.
Vince Merrick: To my face?
Stanley Sugerman: I would say it to your face.
Vince Merrick: You know, my father always appreciated your honesty. I’m working on it. I really am.

Vince Merrick: To be champion requires sacrifice. Manu coming off the bench. That’s this. That’s you. You’re valuable as a coach, you’re indispensable as a scout.
Stanley Sugerman: I don’t want to be out there anymore. I never wanted to be out there.
Vince Merrick: I’m not asking.
Stanley Sugerman: You know, I haven’t been home on my daughter’s birthday for nine years running, Vin.
Vince Merrick: Stan, you find me that missing piece, you’re right back on the bench coaching.

Teresa Sugerman: So what you going to do, Sugerbear?
Stanley Sugerman: What can I do?
Teresa Sugerman: Call Vin right now and say, “Kiss my fat a**, and f*** your five-star hotels.” You don’t need this.
Stanley Sugerman: It’s not as simple as that.

Stanley Sugerman: How can such a beautiful woman have such horrifying feet? What is this yellow thing?
Teresa Sugerman: It’s a callus from exercise. Remember exercise?

Teresa Sugerman: So you’re just going to give up on your dream?
Stanley Sugerman: Guys in their 50s don’t have dreams. They have nightmares and eczema. There was only one guy who knew what I was capable of, and he died.

'You got to be an iceberg out there, all floating around, and sharp, and taking down ships.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Leon: [referring to the topless girls at the pool] One look. Just one look.
Stanley Sugerman: No, no, no. I’ll get in trouble. Teresa will kick the s**t out of me.
Leon: One look.
Stanley Sugerman: I swear to God, I saw a Victoria’s Secret mannequin one time, and T was pi**ed off at me.

Leon: Why don’t you come and just be an agent with me? Got an open spot. I got all the partners on board.
Stanley Sugerman: For me? If I do that then, there’s no room for growth. I still want to coach.
Leon: And this Philly thing. There’s room to grow there?
Stanley Sugerman: At least I’m still in the league, you know.

Leon: Do me a favor, please look at these titties. I’ll take the blame. Just check them out.
Stanley Sugerman: [turns to look at the older couple sat by the pool] Alright. Okay, those are my titties.
Leon: Those are yours! They actually kind of look like yours.
Stanley Sugerman: I’m about two sandwiches away from those titties. Yeah.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] I haven’t sprinted like that in thirty years. Just waiting for my Achilles to pop.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] Are you really a construction worker, or is that all part of the hustle? I mean, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. It got me so excited. You’re a fantasy for a guy like me.
Stanley Sugerman: [as his app translates, Bo gets up and leaves] What? Did that sound dirty or something? No, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant it like you’re an amazing basketball player.

'It's you against you out there.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Dirk Nowitzki: [over Facetime] What’s your name, kid?
Stanley Sugerman: Bo, Bo Cruz.
Dirk Nowitzki: Where you play at, Bo Cruz?
Stanley Sugerman: Nowhere. I just work construction.
Dirk Nowitzki: Well, not for long if Stan is calling me about you.
Stanley Sugerman: That’s right. You see, this is mi amigo. Amigo. Thank you so much, Dirk. And say hi to your grandmother for me.
Dirk Nowitzki: My grandma died.
Stanley Sugerman: That’s right. You told me that. My bad.

Stanley Sugerman: There’s 450 NBA players, another hundred just waiting to get called up. It’s my job to know every other great player in the world. I’m very good at my job.

Paola: [referring to Bo] But with basketball, he played with the big kids when he was still small. Biggest hands though. They tease him. The movie with the little alien. Phone home.
Stanley Sugerman: E.T.
Paola: Yes. Very mean boys. But also, he kind of looked like an alien.
Stanley Sugerman: I bet.

Paola: [referring to Bo] He played every day. After his father, well, he went away. We don’t have him anymore.
Stanley Sugerman: I’m sorry. Losing your dad at any age…
Paola: Oh, no. He’s not lost. He moved to Portugal with whore.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] Basketball years are like dog years. If we’re going to do this, we actually got to do this now.

'A good player knows where he is on court. A great player knows where everybody else is.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Paola: [referring to Bo] And how much money will you pay him?
Stanley Sugerman: To come to Philly? It’ll be a prorated league minimum.
Paola: But you say he was great. For great, you pay the maximum, no?
Stanley Sugerman: Yeah. Yes, NBA contract of any kind is maximum, no?
Paola: And how much is the minimum?
Stanley Sugerman: Minimum salary in the NBA is nine hundred thousand dollars.
Paola: He will call in sick.

Stanley Sugerman: Here’s my man, the Cruz Missile.
Bo Cruz: What?
Stanley Sugerman: What? You don’t like that? I thought you’d love that. No? Alright, I’ll keep thinking.

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to Bo] He’s incredible! Did you watch the workout?
Vince Merrick: Of course, I watched. Kid’s impressive. But there are other considerations. Character, mentality. Playing within a system. I sound like you right now.
Stanley Sugerman: Vin, this kid is the new Freak. He’s a unicorn, a mythical creature.

Vince Merrick: [referring to Bo] It’s not going to happen, Stan.
Stanley Sugerman: I’m indispensable. So valuable, right? You told me if I wanted to get back on the bench to find the missing piece. Well, here I am delivering him for no money. And it’s not going to happen?!
Vince Merrick: I pay you to find players, not tell me what to do with them.
Stanley Sugerman: Pay me.
Vince Merrick: You got something to say, Stan?

Stanley Sugerman: [after discovering Bo has a criminal record] Anything else you need to tell me? Now is the time. I mean, we all have stuff from our past, but having a criminal record’s a pretty big detail to leave out. Just no more secrets from now on, alright? No big deal, moving on.

'It's good to be nervous. It means you give a s**t.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Stanley Sugerman: Philadelphia, baby. You’re going to love it. Best sports fans in the world. Actually the worst, but that’s what makes them the best.

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to Bo] I just want to make sure I do what’s right for the kid. What?
Teresa Sugerman: The Sixers don’t know you stashed him.
Stanley Sugerman: You don’t get it. The kid is like if Scottie Pippen and a wolf had a baby.
Teresa Sugerman: So what are you saying? He has a hairy face.
Stanley Sugerman: I’m saying if this kid puts it together, when he puts it together, he will be top ten in the league. And being the guy who finds the guy matters in this business.

Stanley Sugerman: We’re not here to hustle, man.
Bo Cruz: Why not?

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to the cheese steaks] But you only took one bite of each one.
Bo Cruz: Yeah, you take one bite, and you don’t eat it all, because if not, you get fat.
Stanley Sugerman: Why were you looking at me when you said that?
Bo Cruz: Come on, Stanley, I don’t say that.

'They can't kill you if you're already dead.' - Stanley Sugerman (Hustle) Share on X

Stanley Sugerman: What the f*** did you do to the minibar?
Bo Cruz: Sixers are paying, don’t worry.
Stanley Sugerman: Yes, but we don’t eat nine dollars Pringles. A man must have a code.
Bo Cruz: I literally just eat one chip. They are not that good.
Stanley Sugerman: It’s still nine dollars! They don’t charge you per chip.

Vince Merrick: [referring to Bo] He’s like a giraffe on roller skates.

See more Hustle Quotes

Leon: [referring to Bo] He had his moments, man. I saw it.
Stanley Sugerman: That wasn’t him. That wasn’t even close to him. It’s my fault. I rushed this whole thing.

Vince Merrick: You’re going to have to pick up the tab on the Spanish kid, Stan. I’m not interested. It’s time to get back out there and keep looking. I’m sorry, but you’re going to miss another one of your daughter’s birthdays. The Sixers will send something nice for her though.
Stanley Sugerman: Hey, I never asked you to pick up the tab on him, Vincent. Quite frankly, I’m not interested in working for a smug, born-on-third f***ing b**ch. So how’s this? Kiss my fat a**, and f*** your five-star hotels. I quit!

Bo Cruz: I fly home tomorrow.
Stanley Sugerman: Is that what you want to do? You come all this way, have one bad day, and you’re ready to back down?
Bo Cruz: No, but I suck.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] Do you love this game? I mean, love it with your whole heart. Because if you don’t, let’s not even bother. Let’s not open that door. They’re just going to slam it right in our face.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] I love this game. I live this game. There’s a thousand other guys waiting in the wings who are obsessed with this game. Obsession is going to beat talent every time. You got all the talent in the world, but are you obsessed? Is it all you ever think about?

Stanley Sugerman: Let’s face it. It’s you against you out there. When you walk on that court, you have to think, “I am the best guy out there. I don’t care if LeBron’s playing.” So let me ask you again. Do you love this game?
Bo Cruz: Yes.
Stanley Sugerman: Is there a newborn kitten purring in here right now? I couldn’t hear you. Do you want to be in the NBA?
Bo Cruz: Yes!
Stanley Sugerman: Well, let’s make that happen. Never back down.

Stanley Sugerman: [as he’s training Bo] I had no idea this stopwatch went that high. I’m not s**tting you. When we were teaching my daughter to walk, she got up this hill faster than you.

Stanley Sugerman: The only thing in your way is that big brain of yours. You’re sensitive. I get that. I’m sensitive too. I cried at the end of Titanic, but I’m not in the NBA. You? You can never be soft again.
Bo Cruz: I’m not soft.
Stanley Sugerman: Please. Kermit, a guy named after a frog, said some mean words to you, and you basically wanted to take your ball and run home.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] You know what’s not cool? A grown man letting another grown man hurt his feelings. Players are going to try to get in your head every time you step on the court. You got to be an iceberg out there, all floating around, and sharp, and taking down ships.

Stanley Sugerman: [in Spanish, as he’s training Bo] Son of a thousand sluts.
Bo Cruz: Stanley been working on his Spanish.
Stanley Sugerman: Yeah. That’s right. I looked it up so I can insult you, my friend.
Stanley Sugerman: [in Spanish] Get f***ed by a fish, dumb-a**.
Bo Cruz: I love it.

Stanley Sugerman: Your mom’s not a whore, by the way.
Bo Cruz: Thank you.
Stanley Sugerman: Yeah. Whores get paid. She gives that fat a** out for free.
Bo Cruz: What?
Stanley Sugerman: [as Bo comes after him] Come on! We’re building a callus!

Teresa Sugerman: [referring to Bo] Two hundred dollars worth of Pringles? These are meals for the week. Tell him to rinse the containers, so I can reuse them. And also, tell him p**nography is free on the Internet.
Stanley Sugerman: He’s paying for p**no?

Stanley Sugerman: He’s got a daughter to support.
Teresa Sugerman: You got a daughter to support!

Stanley Sugerman: He’s an investment.
Teresa Sugerman: We don’t have money to invest.
Stanley Sugerman: You told me to quit.
Teresa Sugerman: I know. And I meant it until you actually did it! Now I’m kind of freaked out about it.
Stanley Sugerman: Well, I’m not! I know what I’m doing. You’ll see. I’ll show you.
Teresa Sugerman: Yeah. You do that.

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to the untouched steak] Was there something wrong with this?
Bo Cruz: I told you, just one bite.
Stanley Sugerman: On a forty dollar steak? You’re going to throw thirty-nine dollars away. I don’t know.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] It’s you against you out there. And right now, you is kicking your a**.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo] I don’t care about that shot. It’s about the next shot. And the next shot. And the next shot.

Stanley Sugerman: A good player knows where he is on court. A great player knows where everybody else is.

Stanley Sugerman: [as he’s training Bo] Damn. Smells like a truck full of s**t emptied itself into your mouth. Nothing affects this young man. I like that.

Stanley Sugerman: I knew right when I saw you. That’s a hardworking fool. That you’re going somewhere.
Bo Cruz: We’re going together.
Stanley Sugerman: We’re going together.

Bo Cruz: Stanley! We did it!
Stanley Sugerman: Yeah! Rocky!

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to Bo as he’s eating] For God’s sake, get the kid more butter.
Teresa Sugerman: I mean, it’s almost the whole stick of butter.

Bo Cruz: So, anyway, Mrs. Sugerman, tell me how you met this guy.
Stanley Sugerman: “How did she become so lucky?” He’s asking.

Teresa Sugerman: [telling the story of how they met] Stanley sat next to me for three hours, the entire ride home, and he didn’t say one word.
Stanley Sugerman: I didn’t think she wanted to talk to me. I was scared.
Teresa Sugerman: And then, as everybody is walking off, he just says crazy loud, “One day, I’m going to marry you, and we’re going to have very athletic children!” I’m like, “What?”
Bo Cruz: You really say that?
Stanley Sugerman: I did. Yeah, it worked. Right? Look, I do. We both have a, well, not athletic at all.
Alex Sugerman: Hey! What the heck?
Teresa Sugerman: Not even badminton. Not Frisbee.
Stanley Sugerman: You should see her play checkers, she falls down. I’m just saying.

Bo Cruz: [after finding out that the Sixers never wanted him] I quit my f***ing job for you! You said “trust,” and I f***ing trust you.
Stanley Sugerman: I’m sorry.
Bo Cruz: You gambled with my life!
Stanley Sugerman: I didn’t gamble. It wasn’t a gamble. It was a sure thing.
Bo Cruz: It’s f***ing over. You and me is f***ing over! You hear me? Over!

Bo Cruz: [referring to his assault charges] I know I make a mistake. But I’m not how they say I am.
Stanley Sugerman: I get it.
Bo Cruz: You don’t get s**t, man. You live in your perfect world, with your perfect family.

Stanley Sugerman: [after he’s not able to get Bo into the combine] You know what? I have been in this league for thirty years, and it’s like I’m nothing. It’s like I wasn’t even here.
Teresa Sugerman: Stanley, it’s not about the last play. It’s about the next one, right?
Stanley Sugerman: That’s if you’re in the game, T. I wasn’t even in the game.

Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving: That’s my friend Bo Cruz over there. They call him the Boa. You know why they call him that? Because he squeezes the life out of his prey.

Stanley Sugerman: [to reporters, referring to Bo] This guy is as if Scottie Pippen and a wolf had a baby, and Lisa Leslie raised him. And Allen Iverson was the babysitter.

Stanley Sugerman: When you train for a marathon, you don’t run twenty miles the day before the race. You do nothing. All we could do now is get you hurt, or wear you out. So we’re going to do this.
[we then see he’s brought Paola and Lucia to be with Bo]

Stanley Sugerman: This is all for you, pal.
Bo Cruz: That’s for us.
Stanley Sugerman: Okay, it’s for us. Let’s get them.

Stanley Sugerman: [referring to the combine] Tomorrow, they’re going to be watching you though. Every move you make, the camera’s on you. And it’s not just about how you play. It’s the intangibles. More important than making a shot is how you handle missing a shot. S**t’s going to go wrong. So what? You’ve dealt with adversity your whole goddamn life. It’s Bo’s turn.

Stanley Sugerman: It’s good to be nervous. It means you give a s**t.

Stanley Sugerman: You’re going to Cruz-ify them tomorrow. Huh?
Bo Cruz: It’s still not funny. Get out.
Stanley Sugerman: It’s no good?

Paola: [as they’re watching Bo during the combine] It’s from football.
Stanley Sugerman: Okay. Well, then, soccer is good. I hate soccer. I can’t say that. I really do hate that sport.

Leon: [after Bo looses his temper at the combine and walks out] You know, everybody loves a redemption story.
Stanley Sugerman: Some people don’t get one. Just keep falling. S**t, he was playing too. Goddamn it.

Paola: [to Bo, in Spanish] Don’t you see how incredible you are? You carry this weight. All that you do for Lucia, for me, it’s never enough. All this love, and no love for yourself. When I first saw you here, the day we arrived, you looked different. You looked lighter, like the weight was lifted. And I think that Stanley does for you what you do for us. He put all the weight on him so you can be you. He is your oak tree. You can say goodbye to pro basketball here, but you don’t need to say goodbye to what this man has given you.

Bo Cruz: So, if Sixers weren’t paying, who was paying?
Stanley Sugerman: Me and T.
Bo Cruz: I ate so much minibar.
Stanley Sugerman: On top of the po** addiction, yes.
Bo Cruz: I’m going to pay you back.
Stanley Sugerman: What? No. Coaching you. That was the best month of my life.

Stanley Sugerman: [as Bo is hugging him goodbye] Mr. Cruz Missile. Now you like the Cruz Missile?
Bo Cruz: No. Still stupid.

Stanley Sugerman: [to Bo, after getting a chance to play at a private game] And I’m going to say one last inspirational thing to you. They can’t kill you if you’re already dead.

Stanley Sugerman: [over phone, to Alex] You’re voluntarily watching a basketball game. Well, now we got to win.

Doc Rivers: [five months later, after Stan is rehired at the Sixers as a coach] Nice suit, Stan.
Stanley Sugerman: Just trying to look like you, Doc.
Doc Rivers: You think that’s working?
Stanley Sugerman: Not even close. Don’t worry.

Bo Cruz: [as he’s now playing for the Celtics who are playing against Sixers] After we kick your a**, you should try to coach soccer.
Stanley Sugerman: Soccer? Alright. I’ll move to Spain and shack up with your mother.
Bo Cruz: [gives Stanley a hard stare] That doesn’t work anymore.
Stanley Sugerman: [as they embrace] Aw. I thought I had you there. Okay. Good to see you, son. You be aggressive tonight. Play hard, alright? Don’t tell these guys I’m pulling for you.

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