The HBO series “Winning Time”, which traces the legendary exploits of the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 80s, has been strongly criticized by former NBA glories!
The Winning Time series didn’t just end the friendship between Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay, it also pissed off several iconic former Lakers players! Currently airing on OCS City, the new HBO production traces the legendary journey of the famous Californian team and its two star players: Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Adapted from the bestseller Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman, the series also paints a portrait of colorful characters who also participated in the grandiose epic of the Lakers: former players Pat Riley and Jerry West, coach Jack McKinney and his assistant Paul Westhead, or even the owner of the Jerry Buss team.
Acclaimed by critics and already renewed for a second season, Winning Time has nevertheless been talked about following criticism from several former Lakers. In the first place the former point guard and coach Jerry West, whose silhouette inspired the famous logo of the NBA. Hardly satisfied with the portrait that is made of him in the series (in the guise of Jason Clarke), the latter regrets being portrayed as “someone enraged, uncontrollable and carried on alcohol”.
The former Lakers coach was able to benefit from the support of his former player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, still to this day holder of the highest number of points scored during an NBA career (38,387 points). “Instead of exploring his problems with compassion to better understand the man, they made a cartoon out of it (…) Of course, these actions make for dramatic moments, but it smacks of the easy exploitation of the man rather than the exploration of the character” deplored the latter in a press release sent to the American press.
The HBO channel did not wish to apologize, preferring on the contrary to defend the work of its screenwriters and its actors. “Winning Time is not a documentary and was not presented as such. However, the series and its portrayals are based on extensive research and reliable sources, and HBO stands behind its creators and talented actors who brought to screen a dramatization of this epic chapter in basketball history.”
One everywhere, ball in the center? Series Winning Time is offered every Monday in US+24 on OCS City; its episodes can also be found in replay on the OCS platform on demand.