Congratulations, Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Ballers, the sports comedy that brought Dwayne Johnson to television, has arrived on Netflix. All five seasons of the series are streaming now.

Created by Entourage producer Stephen Levinson, Ballers was an HBO stalwart during its five-year run, diving deep into the often-absurd but always glamorous world of sports representation. During its original run, the series found plenty of fans, but perhaps none were more prestigious — and passionate — than Warren, a current senator from Massachusetts. Even as she campaigned during the 2020 Democratic primary, Warren found time to talk about her favorite TV show. Her very public fandom paid off; in the Season 5 premiere, Johnson’s character was spotted reading one of Warren’s books. 

Of course, you don’t need to be a Warren-tier fan to enjoy the ride. Even if you’re just starting out with the Anderson Financial Management team, here’s everything you need to know about Ballers.

What is Ballers about?

Ballers follows Spencer Strasmore (Johnson), a former Miami Dolphins star who turns to sports representation in his retirement. Soon, he’s facing down the biggest personalities in sports with nothing but his slick charm and his imposing frame to get the job done.  

Is Ballers based on a true story?

Ballers is not based on a true story; the idea for the show originated with Entourage producer Stephen Levinson. But authenticity was key for the cast and crew. “The most valuable asset was speaking to professional football players both current and retired face-to-face,” showrunner Evan Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2015 interview. “We’ve had the benefit of having Rashard Mendenhall, who retired early, in our writer’s room. We have guys like Terrell Suggs, who’s a current player, come into our writer’s room and talk to us.” 

And the character of Spencer Strasmore was personally appealing to Johnson, who has his own football history. As a college student at the University of Miami, a young Johnson was a member of their 1991 national championship team. He wasn’t drafted in the 1995 NFL draft and instead went on to an iconic career as a professional wrestler. In Ballers, he reconnects with his roots. “I was embracing a game that has been so very good to me personally,” Johnson said in an Instagram video posted as Ballers wrapped its five-season run. “And even though things didn’t work out for me and my NFL dreams, and those that I failed at, it was still an opportunity to play a character that loved the game.”

Who’s in the Ballers cast?

Alongside Johnson, Ballers features an impressive ensemble of comic and dramatic performers, including Rob Corddry, Omar Miller, John David Washington (a real-life football player turned actor himself), Donovan W. Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown, Jazmyn Simon, Arielle Kebbel, Brittany S. Hall, Carl McDowell, Dulé Hill, Christopher McDonald, Taylour Paige, Richard Schiff, and many more.

When can I stream Ballers on Netflix?

Ballers Seasons 1–5 started streaming on Netflix on Aug. 15. And keep an eye out for more HBO series hitting Netflix soon, including Insecure (streaming now), Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Six Feet Under. 

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