The HBO series “Winning Time,” a fictionalized account of the Showtime-era Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, debuted last year to rave reviews from fans, even if some of the key figures of those real-life Lakers didn’t like the way the show portrayed the team and its members.
Many feel season two was even better than the initial season. It covered the span of time beginning with the aftermath of L.A.’s 1980 NBA championship all the way up to its showdown with the Boston Celtics in the 1984 finals.
Buy Lakers TicketsThe season two finale aired Sunday night, and it covered that classic 1984 championship series, which the Lakers lost in seven agonizing games. Of course, they came back to get revenge on Boston in 1985 and 1987, but it looks like viewers won’t get to see those title victories.
It has been confirmed that “Winning Time” will not continue for a third season.
HBO's ‘Winning Time’ will not return for a third season, per @JacobRude. pic.twitter.com/8QAyhp28hD
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 18, 2023
Jeff Pearlman, the author of the book the series is based on, warned this could happen about a month ago. In fact, two endings for the season two finale were produced in anticipation that it could, in fact, be the final episode of the series.
In the one that aired, then-owner Dr. Jerry Buss and his daughter Jeanie envisioned a future in which she could inherit the team and keep it at the top of the league. Of course, that vision finally came true in 2020 when the Lakers, owned by the younger Buss, won it all against the Miami Heat.
The episode then closed out with a photo montage that outlined what each key member would go on to do and accomplish after 1984.
Creator Max Borenstein admitted on X, formally known as Twitter, that it wasn’t the way he wanted “Winning Time” to end.
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love. #winningtime— Max Borenstein (@MAXBORENSTEIN) September 18, 2023
But for a brief period of time, hard-core basketball fans were treated to something very special that went back in time to tell the story of the NBA’s greatest era and arguably its greatest team ever.
