Suicide Squad: 30 Easter Eggs & References You Must See
4. Phil Jackson
Will Smith's Deadshot brings up legendary basketball icon and Knicks president Phil Jackson up a couple of times in the film. First, when he's castigating Rick Flag for his poor leadership and public speaking skills, he alludes to Jackson's legendary oratory and inspirational skills.
And then later after he's helped Diablo unleash the beast, he refers back to Jackson, saying he was only trying to draw out his "best" using similar techniques.
Smith would have been all too familiar with Jackson's techniques: he saw his side (the Philly 76ers) beaten in the 2001 NBA Finals by Jackson's Lakers, after he nullified the threat of Sixers star Allen Iverson by having one of his own players dress up as him in training to prepare the team. He wasn't called a genius for nothing.