Magic Johnson, legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers, was not among those who were saddened by HBO’s decision to cancel Winning Time.
The five-time NBA champion, who was the face of the Showtime era Lakers and was the focus of the Adam McKay-produced series, recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he “never watched” the show because “nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story.”
The Showtime story?” he continued. Nobody! As a business owner, Dr. [Jerry] Buss was decades ahead of his time. Our group? Unbelievable! Paula Abdul and the Laker Girls? Unbelievable! No one is allowed to share that tale.
Johnson, portrayed by relative unknown Quincy Isaiah, went on to add that none of his old teammates or colleagues had watched Winning Time, a two-season series titled The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Because it was made up, he continued, “none of us watched it.” You simply cannot share that tale. But that’s on them, so shut up.
Former Lakers player Johnson (1979–1991, 1996). Johnson had previously voiced his displeasure with the show in an interview with Variety. “What’s your plan? He firmly stated, “You can’t do it.” I have no idea what this [Winning Time] is and have no intention of finding out. This was echoed by every single male participant. Hello, everyone, and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]. You just can’t pull that off.
In a conversation with EW before the series premiered last year, McKay accurately foretold the former Lakers’ disappointment with the show. “We know that a bunch of them are not happy,” they stated. I doubt I’ll be able to score Laker tickets for the first few performances. But I hope they stick with the show because we’re making an effort to convey their tale with respect.
The show, which was adapted on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, had Johnson’s first involvement. In a recent THR guest essay, series co-creator Jim Hecht recalled that Overbrook, the production firm, contacted Johnson about the concept. “The next thing I knew, I was in a meeting with my childhood idol and he’s saying, ‘Yes, I wanna do this, this way, with you guys,’” Hecht recalled. For the next six months, I dived in headfirst and worked on my interpretation.
It seems like Johnson “backed out” after the first day of pitching the show, according to Hecht. “I never heard from him directly, but I was told it was about money,” he continued.
Not only did Jerry West, another Lakers legend, call out the show for its “baseless portrayal” of West (as played by Jason Clarke), but he also sought an apology.
However, Jeanie Buss, president and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is portrayed on Winning Time by Hadley Robinson, eventually became a fan of the show and made an appearance on the podcast that accompanied it. Jay Mohr, her new spouse, also made an appearance in the second season.
