Character Relationship Map: Fast Break

Characters

• David Greene (played by Gabe Kaplan) — protagonist

  A Brooklyn basketball fanatic and former junior high coach who takes a high-stakes job coaching at Cadwallader University. He recruits a diverse roster, negotiates a landmark game against an elite opp...

• D.C. (played by Harold Sylvester) — protagonist

  A former high-school basketball star who turned to running numbers. David and Hustler recruit him to the team, and he eventually secures a deal with police to play in the crucial championship game.

• Preacher (played by Michael Warren) — supporting

  A player with a bounty on his head for impregnating a cult leader's teenage daughter. He joins the squad to escape his past, though a hitman follows him to Nevada, creating tension before the final ma...

• Hustler (played by Bernard King) — supporting

  David's talented friend and skilled pool player. He assists in recruiting teammates and organizes a billiards sting operation to force the elite Nevada State coach into accepting a challenge match.

• Bull (played by Reb Brown) — supporting

  Sam Newton, nicknamed Bull, is a physically imposing athlete recruited as the fifth man. He compensates for his lack of technical skills with strong lane-clearing ability, rounding out the starting li...

• Howard (played by Richard Brestoff) — minor
• Swish (played by Mavis Washington) — supporting

  A female finesse player with an exceptional jump shot. David recruits her and convinces her to disguise herself as a male to meet team eligibility requirements, adding a unique dynamic to the roster.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• David Greene → Howard (Professional Coach And Manager) — Howard provides an administrative perspective on David's ambitious challenge.

  Howard is identified as the team manager and comments that arranging the elite matchup would be extremely difficult.

• David Greene → Bull (Professional Coach And Player) — David selects Bull for his physical strength and lane-clearing ability.

  David settles on Sam Newton, nicknamed Bull, as the fifth man for the Cadwallader team.

• David Greene → Swish (Professional Coach And Player) — David directly enables Swish's participation despite eligibility obstacles.

  David visits Swish, recognizes her basketball ability, and convinces her to pose as a male to play on the team.

• David Greene → D.C. (Professional Coach And Player) — David attempts to restore D.C.'s basketball career through team membership.

  David recognizes D.C. as a former high-school star and recruits him to play for Cadwallader.

• David Greene → Preacher (Professional Recruiter And Player) — David gives Preacher a route into the team and a chance to flee his situation.

  David and Hustler recruit Preacher, who joins the squad while trying to escape the danger connected to his past.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Swish → Bull (Alliance Teammate) — They contribute contrasting skills to the same developing lineup.

  Swish and Bull are both selected for David's Cadwallader roster, with Bull filling the fifth-man role.

• Hustler → Preacher (Alliance Recruiting Partner) — Hustler participates in bringing Preacher into the team.

  David and Hustler recruit Preacher as part of their effort to assemble a viable basketball squad.

• Hustler → Swish (Alliance Recruiting Partner) — Hustler supports David during the recruitment of Swish.

  David and Hustler visit Swish together while searching for players to form the team.

• Hustler → D.C. (Social Acquaintance) — Hustler's prior connection helps bring D.C. into the team.

  David and Hustler find D.C. through Hustler's acquaintance with him.

• David Greene → Hustler (Social Friend) — Their friendship becomes the foundation of David's recruiting and coaching efforts.

  The plot identifies Hustler as David's friend and shows them working together in Brooklyn before traveling west.

Story Analysis

A determined coach assembles an unlikely basketball team and risks personal stability to pursue his lifelong professional dream.

Plot Progression

1. A Coach Without A Court — David balances pickup basketball and delicatessen work while pursuing coaching opportunities. His dream strains his marriage before an unexpected university offer arrives.
2. Building An Unlikely Roster — David and Hustler recruit Preacher, D.C., and Swish from difficult circumstances. Swish's disguise and the players' troubled backgrounds make the new team unconventional.
3. The Western Experiment — The quartet travels to Nevada and David adds Bull as the fifth player. Despite cultural differences, the coach shapes the group into a contender.
4. Forcing The Impossible Game — The team attracts the attention of an elite coach, but arranging a matchup seems nearly impossible. David and Hustler exploit the coach's interest in billiards to secure agreement.
5. The Dream Takes The Court — Preacher faces a lethal threat and D.C. needs temporary legal permission to play. The team reaches the decisive game as David's wife and mother witness his dream becoming real.