For all its comedic moments, Ballers makes no bones about the dark world it portrays. No character better embodies this than Rob Corddry's Joe, Strasmore's two-faced colleague. Joe is a kiss-ass on the surface, attempting to fit in with the decidedly cooler gaggle of athletes (and ex-pros) in his line of work. Behind closed doors, however, he is a far more formidable, potentially dangerous customer. He encourages Spencer to become Ricky's financial advisor, explaining that he's weak - the best time to strike. Strasmore appears initially to be a far more caring character, but could find himself corrupted in future episodes by Joe's self-serving influence.