Wood Harris on The Wire, Above the Rim & Feeling Pressure Acting With Denzel Washington

Wood Harris sits down with Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide for a conversation that moves between basketball, acting and the discipline behind both.

He breaks down how he really landed Motaw in Above the Rim, why hooping separated him from other actors and what it was like filming The Wire in Baltimore at a time when the city felt exactly like the show. Wood reflects on stepping onto set with Denzel Washington for the first time, feeling the pressure in that moment and why he believes sports is more honest than acting.

He talks about Tupac’s presence during Above the Rim, playing Spencer Haywood in Winning Time and the mindset that carried him from the west side of Chicago to a 30-year career. Wood also opens up about being kicked out of NYU, nearly losing everything and the turning point that forced him to bet on himself.

This is a rare look at the competitor behind the characters and the perspective that shaped one of the most consistent careers in black cinema.
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