The HBO series “Winning Time,” which is a fictionalized account of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, has been a big hit with fans.
It has garnered some criticism along the way, most notably from members of those Lakers “Showtime” teams such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who have said the series is not an accurate account of what actually happened back then.
Jerry West, who became L.A.’s general manager in 1982, has gone so far as to threaten to take serious legal action because he has been portrayed by the show as an ogre who had severe anger management problems.
But what seems to matter most for television executives is ratings, and HBO recently announced that “Winning Time” will be back for a second season.
The dynasty continues#WinningTime will return for a second season pic.twitter.com/aFSUZiPtoq
— Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (@winningtimehbo) April 7, 2022
Jeff Pearlman is the author of the book that “Winning Time” has been based on, which is entitled “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.”
He has given an early glimpse into what the second season of the HBO series will feature.
Via Lakers Nation:
“I don’t know that much of it,” Pearlman admitted. “They’ve been really good about keeping me in the loop, keeping me involved, blah, blah, blah. I know it definitely involves sort of the transition to Paul Westhead becoming the coach and kind of Westhead and then Riley dynamic, and Riley kind of moving into power over Westhead, but I don’t… I mean, they’re writing it as we speak, literally writing as we speak. They’re probably in the room right now writing it. So my guess is almost as good as yours.”
