Ep 1. Pilot

Former football superstar Spencer Strasmore, played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, tries to find his footing in retirement as a financial consultant for players in the NFL. Strasmore is determined to make a successful transition from football to the business world and forge a new career for himself. He is now helping other retired and active football players too, who's just as clueless about their finances as he was.

As the episode begins, we see Spencer driving up to Miami Dolphins’ training facility. Spencer is struggling financially after retirement since he invested in a business that didn't turn out the way he had hoped, and he is hoping to land a job as a financial advisor for the NFL. Strasmore has a meeting with the Dolphins’ GM, who offers him a consultant’s job with the team. After Spencer's initial pitch to the GM did not go as planned, he manages to land the job after making the GM’s wife's day. Once he takes a peek inside the facility to watch the players in action, he becomes more motivated to make the transition to the business world.

As Spencer is making his rounds through his new workplace, he bumps into one of his former teammates — Ricky Jerret, played by John David Washington. The two former footballers share drinks and reminisce about old times. Ricky is also struggling financially after some bad investments, and he is looking for someone who can help him get back on track. Spencer offers to help, and Ricky agrees.

Spencer then pays a visit to another retired football player Charles Greane,(played by Omar Benson Miller) who is now a train operator. Charles is initially hesitant to speak to Spencer since they were not close on the field. After a bit of cajoling, Charles agrees to listen to a pitch from Spencer. After giving him a financial assessment, he advises Charles not to spend his remaining savings and instead save it for his kids’ college.

Meanwhile, Ricky has a meeting with a scout who is interested in him playing for the Green Bay Packers. He convinces Spencer to travel with him to Green Bay for the meeting. Once there, Spencer and Ricky meet with the Packers’ GM, but the meeting does not go as well as expected. Back in Miami, Spencer goes out with a girl named Chloe and confides in her about his troubles with Ricky’s failed transaction. Chloe advises Spencer to go AWOL beside for only to call Ricky because by this time it becomes ‘all or nothing’ situation. He takes her advice and goes to Ricky’s house. They talk about Ricky’s past and the decisions that have led to his current situation. Spencer then offers to help Ricky, and the episode ends with Spencer determined to get his hustle on and turn things around for himself and Ricky.

The pilot episode of Ballers sets up the groundwork of the show and establishes Dwayne Johnson as a charismatic and engaging lead. The show delves into the difficulties that pro-athletes face after retirement, such as the sudden loss of income and lack of financial expertise. The show also explores the dynamic relationships between players, agents, and financial advisors. Ballers season 1 episode 1, ‘Pilot,' sets up the rest of the season with intriguing plot points introduced for the viewer.