'Ballers' Returns with Andy Garcia and Plenty of Rock

Producer Mark Wahlberg has claimed that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told Wahlberg that he wouldn't be able to have NFL players appear on his football-themed HBO comedy series Ballers. Goodell didn't make good on the alleged threat during the series' first season, and it probably won't be in force for the upcoming second season, either. Even without cameos from real athletes, though, the second season of the series has plenty of star power going for it.

The biggest new addition to the cast is Andy Garcia in the role of Andre Allen, Spencer Strasmore's (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) biggest competition in the field of sports management. Garcia's Allen is the guy that Strasmore has to beat if he wants to be the manager in town, and that's exactly what he intends to do. At the same time, he's going to have to deal with his increasing reliance on pain killers to get him through the day.

Back this season also are Ricky Jerret, the charismatic baller played by John David Washington, Denzel's son, and Strasmore's business partner, Joe Krutel, played by Rob Corddry.

Ballers performed well for HBO last season, turning in the network's best ratings for a comedy series since 2009's Hung. The second season of Ballers begins July 17 on HBO.