The trajectory might sound like the plot of a classic Hollywood coming-of-age movie: a rising collegiate student-athlete unexpectedly discovering his true calling as he fiercely juggles a passion for both the basketball court and the dramatic stage. Yet, for 28-year-old actor Jaalen Best, this narrative is not a fictional script reminiscent of Disney’s High School Musical, but rather the genuine, high-stakes beginning of his remarkable journey to the professional screen. That unexpected path, which officially commenced during his junior year at East Carolina University in 2019, has now culminated in a monumental breakout role portraying the legendary boxing icon Muhammad Ali in Prime Video’s upcoming biographical series, The Greatest.
Best’s entry into the world of acting was entirely accidental. While navigating his undergraduate studies, he stumbled into an introductory acting class simply to fulfill a requirement, an elective choice that quickly caught the sharp eye of his professor. Remembering those early formative interactions, Best recalls how the instructor recognized raw talent almost immediately. She repeatedly praised his facility for improvisation, noting that he possessed a distinct visual presence suited for television and strongly encouraging him to consider relocating to a larger metropolitan market to genuinely pursue a professional acting career.
At the time, however, the young student was entirely unreceptive to the suggestion. Deeply entrenched in his athletic identity, Best brushed the compliments aside. He firmly viewed himself as a dedicated basketball player, completely dismissing the notion that an entirely different career path might be unfolding right before him.
The pivotal push toward the stage eventually arrived from a different source—his girlfriend at the time. She successfully convinced him to audition for a local community production of Pocahontas in his hometown of Clinton, North Carolina. Though initially skeptical and hesitant about stepping so far outside of his athletic comfort zone, Best decided to give the audition a legitimate chance. To his own surprise, he secured a prominent role in the cast, landing the part of Pocahontas’ father, Chief Powhatan.
Balancing the demands of collegiate athletics, academics, and regional theater required an extraordinary level of discipline and exhaustion. Best describes a daily routine that tested his physical and mental limits to the absolute core. He would wake up early at 5 a.m., endure rigorous basketball practices for the first three hours of his day, attend his standard university classes, and then drive an hour and a half back to his hometown to participate in grueling two-hour evening rehearsals.
Despite the chaotic and punishing schedule, a profound realization struck Best while standing under the theater lights. During one of the rehearsals, it suddenly dawned on him that he was deriving significantly more genuine joy and fulfillment from the theatrical process than he was from playing basketball.
While recounting this transformative period of his life during a recent Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Best playfully acknowledges the striking parallels to the beloved Zac Efron-led Disney franchise, though he is quick to highlight a humbling reality check regarding his athletic status. He quips that unlike the cinematic star athlete who carries the entire team, he was merely riding the bench and patiently waiting for any opportunity to prove himself on the court. Much like how the character of Troy Bolton eventually ventured away to college to pursue new horizons, Best ultimately made the definitive decision to move to Los Angeles following his graduation to chase his own burgeoning artistic dreams.
Arriving in Tinseltown presented the classic, sobering challenges familiar to thousands of aspiring performers who migrate to Southern California each year with identical ambitions. The initial years were marked by relentless hustle, consisting of background extra work, occasional minor guest-starring roles, and the ongoing process of securing proper talent representation. It was not until 2023, after years of persistent groundwork, that he secured the high-profile audition he had been eagerly anticipating.
Reflecting on the extensive casting journey for Prime Video’s The Greatest, which is scheduled to premiere on November 4, Best reveals that the selection process was remarkably exhaustive. He notes that he participated in roughly seven or eight rounds of auditions over a span of several months. Compounding the professional tension was the disruption caused by the industry-wide actors’ strike, which introduced significant delays and pushed production timelines back repeatedly.
As months dragged on without any definitive word or confirmed offers from The Greatest production team, Best pragmatically pursued other professional opportunities to sustain his career. He successfully secured an offer for a six-month contract on the long-running daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. Even as that television deal materialized, however, he quietly maintained a persistent hope for the Ali biopic. Recognizing his lingering attachment, Best’s talent representation proactively flagged the pending soap opera contract to the producers of The Greatest. The reaction was immediate. Within moments, studio executives intervened, flying him directly to Los Angeles to conduct a high-stakes network test.
The dramatic climax of the audition process occurred just a day after the network test, as Best was preparing to head back to the airport. He received an urgent call requesting a meeting at the office of The Greatest showrunner, Ben Watkins. Upon arrival, Watkins offered a candid and surprising assessment of the studio’s reservations, explaining that certain executives remained skeptical about whether an emerging actor could successfully sustain the distinct vocal cadence and presence of the legendary athlete, suspecting that his previous auditions might have simply been isolated flashes of strong preparation.
To resolve any lingering doubts on the spot, Watkins proposed an impromptu test. He placed Best on camera, engaged him in unscripted conversation, and asked him to replicate specific phrases, including Muhammad Ali’s iconic and defining declaration: "I am the greatest."
Best immersed himself completely in the exercise, meticulously focusing on matching the precise dialect and rhythmic cadence of the legendary boxer. As he finished repeating the requested phrases, Watkins delivered the final line of the meeting, casually telling him, "Jaalen, you got the role." Completely locked into the performance mindset, Best initially misunderstood the statement, simply repeating the phrase back to the showrunner in Ali’s distinctive voice. When Watkins clarified that he was delivering real-world news rather than an acting prompt, the reality of the moment finally set in, sparking an emotional celebration as production staff rushed into the room.
Before he could officially step into the athletic shoes of the historic champion, however, Best understood that one crucial step remained: earning the personal blessing of Muhammad Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali. Following a meeting with her in Louisville, Kentucky, a deeply nervous Best boarded his return flight to Los Angeles. Before the airplane even departed the tarmac, he received a text message from Ben Watkins relaying a powerful message from Lonnie Ali: "He’s the one in more ways than you know."
Stepping into the legacy of one of the most celebrated and culturally significant figures of the 20th century required an intense and immersive preparation process. When asked about how he balanced honoring Ali’s historical footprint while forging an authentic individual portrayal, Best explains that he embarked on an exhaustive archival deep dive. Rather than relying solely on existing cinematic representations, he sought to absorb the subjective human impact Ali left on everyone he encountered. Whenever acquaintances shared personal anecdotes about meeting the boxing legend, Best would halt his activities to listen intently, fascinated by how lasting impressions were forged through simple gestures, such as a raised fist or playful air punches.
While acknowledging that he could never truly become Ali, Best focused on achieving the closest possible approximation. He discovered unexpected physical parallels during rigorous athletic training, noting that coaches and observers had frequently remarked throughout his life that he bore a striking resemblance to a young Muhammad Ali—a sentiment that only truly resonated once he began physical conditioning. To foster a deeper connection to the role, he adopted specific routines, such as wearing white athletic boots during every training session because Ali famously favored them. Under the guidance of his trainer, who supplied extensive archival footage for nightly study, Best broke down every punch, every spatial movement, and the distinct rhythm of Ali’s footwork in the ring, allowing him to internalize the character physically before eventually stepping away from archival viewings to trust his own artistic instincts.
The production also benefited from the close involvement of actor and executive producer Michael B. Jordan, whom Best warmly regards as a mentor and refers to affectionately as "Big Bro." Beyond the immediate professional collaboration, Best expresses deep gratitude for Jordan’s guidance in helping him navigate the complexities of building a sustainable, long-term career in the entertainment industry. He credits Jordan with actively championing the advancement of younger Black artists, providing a vital blueprint for achieving success while maintaining a positive and influential community impact.
For audiences discovering his work through The Greatest, Best describes himself as a remarkably grounded individual who genuinely enjoys simple routines. Away from the intense physical demands of set life and athletic training, he prefers quiet downtime at home, visiting local parks, or engaging in hobbies such as horseback riding and learning the game of tennis. He admits to a lighthearted daily struggle with coffee, often debating his caffeine intake late into the night while maintaining a profound appreciation for the beverage.
The Greatest premieres on November 4 on Prime Video.