Jay Ellis Talks Basketball Coaching Role in Netflix Comedy “Running Point”

NEW YORK, New York — Actor Jay Ellis joined TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and guest co-host Heather McMahan on Feb. 25, 2025, to discuss his new role as a basketball coach in the Netflix comedy series “Running Point,” co-starring Kate Hudson.

Ellis, 43, revealed that he was first approached to play Coach Jay Brown by series co-creator Ike Barinholtz in 2023, but his official invitation came unexpectedly while he was dropping off his daughter at school. He reminisced about how Mindy Kaling, who also co-created the show, cornered him in the school hallway to gauge his interest. “I’m like, ‘Bye, baby. I love you.’ And Mindy’s like, ‘Jay Ellis,'” he recalled. “And she’s like, ‘Are you going to do my show?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, I’m going to do your show.'”

During a panel discussion at the Paley Museum on Feb. 26, Ellis expressed his excitement about working with Kaling, stating, “It’s like working with friends.” He said that filming on a basketball court was a dream come true, considering his long-standing passion for the sport, which dates back to his college days at Concordia University in Oregon.

Ellis shared how working on “Running Point” combined his professional experience with basketball and acting. “Like every single day, I was out there like, ‘Oh, I got it.’ I’m like splitting my pants. I’m sweating through my makeup… You don’t get to do a lot of jobs like this that bring together so much of your life experience and things you love,” he said.

The series follows Isla Gordon, portrayed by Hudson, who unexpectedly takes over her family’s Los Angeles basketball franchise. The plot thickens as Isla, the underestimated sister among her brothers, strives to prove herself while managing personal and professional challenges, including a mischievous younger half-brother.

Ellis remarked on the show’s dynamic, stating, “It’s very rare that that happens and I was lucky to be able to do it,” referring to the blend of comedy and drama that resonates throughout the series.

At the recent screening, Ellis discussed his family life, sharing that his daughter, Nora, is adjusting to being a big sister to his son, Noa, who is seven months old. “She’s still working on it. She loves him a lot,” he said. “We got to back her away from him because she just wants to hug him. She wants him to be a teddy bear, basically. That’s what we’re usually fighting against.” He added that Noa is already getting big and may have an athletic future ahead.

Running Point is now available to stream on Netflix, promising an engaging blend of humor and familial bonds amid the high-stakes world of professional basketball.