Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest movie/sports entertainment stars on the planet. The 50-year-old former professional wrestler is better known by his stage name The Rock. He has featured in over 20 movies and the total collection of his movies stands at a staggering $10.5 billion worldwide. The Rock is also huge on social media platforms with over 369 million followers on Instagram only. His journey to this stardom is inspirational for people from all walks of life.

Johnson always talks about positivity and self-improvement, using his platform and influence to help others get better. The list of people inspired by the superstar also includes the Los Angeles Lakers according to a story told by an ex-Laker. Brook Lopez sat down for the Thanalysis podcast, remembering the time when Rock motivated the Lakers locker room with his story of becoming The Rock.

Former Lakers star on The Rock

The Podcast is hosted by Thanasis?Antetokounmpo, Lopez and Antetokounmpo are teammates for the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez recalled the time when he met the movie star during his time with the Lakers. The 2021 NBA Champion said that at the time the Lakers used to organize a series called the Genius Talk for their players. They would invite great individuals from different fields to talk to the players and inspire them for greatness. Actor Will Smith, rap legend Kendrick Lamar and magician David Blaine be some of the other greats who were also a part of the Genius Talk.

The 34-year-old ex-Laker said about meeting The Rock, “We had a series of “Genius Talks” with like different people. The Lakers would bring people in and one of the people they brought in was him. He was amazing…hearing him tell his story how he made it and stuff like that.” Lopez said that he was surprised by the story about how The Rock started his production company with $7 Dollars and where he has reached. “That’s cool,” Lopez said in excitement and amusement.

The genius talk worked on the Lakers as they won the next game by 9 points. Here is what the superstar said that motivated the players.

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What Dwayne Johnson said during his Genius Talk

When someone as successful as the big man himself says something, you are bound to listen. Knowing the talk is coming from a person who has struggled to achieve what he has today helps connect everyone with the story. The Rock said to the Lakers, “You guys are on the come-up, you’re on the rise. But at some point, you gotta be f*cking tired of not being number one.”

The Rock connected this to his life on set and on the business front. He said that life on set is easy but when it’s about his business, he feels like his back is against the wall. He added, “Every day my back is up against this motherf*cker. And when my back is against this motherf*cker, I don’t give a f*ck who’s in front of me. I won’t stop.”

The idea for Genius Talk came from Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson.

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