Despite the title, this story is not about casinos, or blackjack. If you are looking where to play blackjack online and ended up here, click on this website instead.

Instead, we are talking about another ‘Black Jack’, the almost-had it all Jack Ryan. Described by some people as the best basketball player you’ve never heard of Jack Ryan had the kind of talent that captivated on-lookers at their first sight of them. 

Yet, he never made it to the NBA despite being described as being possibly the best 3-point shooter to ever play the game.   

Black Jack Ryan’s Story

Ryan’s story has been told in several documentaries, such as the 2019 Netflix series Losers that covered sports stars who have turned negative experiences into something more positive.

In 2020, a movie titled Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story showed the world more about this player’s background and struggle to break through. He is described as being hot-tempered and self-centered, with his love of partying stopping him from making it as a pro.

The film shows how he ended up working in the construction industry but got spotted playing street basketball and given a chance to try out for the New Jersey Jets. He just missed out on entering the final selection of players chosen.

Another version of his life story is shown in the 49-minute Release: The Jack Ryan Story from 2007, which took more of a documentary-style approach to his life. Here, a variety of personalities from the basketball world talk about Ryan’s skills and the Brooklyn street basketball scene where he made his name.

We can hear in this documentary how he played as a quarterback in his school’s football team, mainly to keep his demanding father happy. After plucking up the courage to tell his family that he didn’t want to play football, Ryan was able to spend hours enjoying his true passion on New York’s public basketball courts but lost the support of his father. 

The West 4th Street courts are where Blackjack honed his skills, gaining the respect of other players with his skills and toughness. Known for outrageous tricks and for entertaining the crowds with funny moves and gestures, Ryan became famous for his unique style and larger than life personality. 

Among his achievements, he won the ESPN City Slam National 3-point Shooting Contest in 2005. Ryan was also known for amazing trick shots and famously scored 44 points in a street basketball game against the former Detroit Piston Phil Sellers. He also earned the honor of becoming the first white Harlem Wizard in history.

What Went Wrong?

By watching these films based on his life, it is clear that Jack Ryan had immense talent but that things always seemed to go wrong just as he was about to break through to the big time. For instance, his college career started off strongly but fell apart as he started drinking regularly and stopped going to classes.

The time when he was at the peak of his talents coincided with a period when the NBA became far more professional, with a greater emphasis on player fitness and a responsible approach to looking after themselves than before.

Perhaps Ryan just appeared on the scene at the wrong time, but the player himself admits that he didn’t take the sport seriously enough. Certainly, none of the coaches or players who have spoken about him in the different documentaries have ever doubted his skills. In fact, some of them think that he is one the best players ever and possibly even better than he himself believed he was. 

What Is He Doing Now?

A look at Jack Ryan’s own LinkedIn page reveals that he still plays basketball every day. Rather than being disillusioned by the fact that he never made the breakthrough into the NBA, he has played to his strengths by forming a company that lets him carry on playing.

Ryan says in his profile that he travels the world showing off his ball skills in the likes of showcase tournaments, half-time shows, and other events. Apart from his legendary shooting skills, his one-man shows also include eye-catching tricks where he spins up to nine balls at once. 

Motivational speaking is another activity that he carries out now, largely aimed at Elementary and Middle School audiences. Perhaps the most positive aspect of the entire Blackjack Ryan story is that he has managed to make a career out of the sport of basketball while also inspiring others with his talent and positive outlook.

In those documentaries mentioned earlier, the player himself admits that he made lots of mistakes but that he now has a good level of self-esteem and a grounded approach for the first time in his life. 

We will never know how good Jack Ryan could have looked in the NBA, as he never fully seized the opportunities that his massive basketball talent opened up for him. Yet, his life story has to be considered to be a story of success in the end, considering that he has managed to make a living from the game he loves and has entertained a great many people over the years.