As the season two finale of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” concluded, viewers began to notice that the closing moments of the episode bore a striking resemblance to a series finale. Shortly thereafter, news broke confirming the show’s cancellation, leaving fans stunned and disheartened.
“Winning Time,” an HBO series adapted from Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers,” serves as a dramatization chronicling the ascent of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. The ensemble cast, spearheaded by John C. Reilly, features notable actors like Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Quincy Isaiah, Sally Field, and Jason Segel, among others.
The first season of the series delved into Magic Johnson’s arrival at the Lakers for the 1979-80 season, while the second season explored the years from 1980 to 1984, highlighting the intense rivalry between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, which endured throughout the decade. Season two also delved deeper into the complex personal lives of Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and his daughter, Jeanie Buss, who eventually assumed the role of the team’s president.
Despite receiving positive reviews from both critics and viewers, author Jeff Pearlman had expressed concerns about the ongoing writer’s strike and a potential lack of viewership, fearing that these factors might lead to the show’s cancellation. Regrettably, HBO’s recent announcement confirmed these apprehensions.
Viewers, for the most part, were caught off guard by the news and took to social media to express their disappointment.
Adding to the frustration for many fans was the fact that the series concluded with a Lakers loss to the Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals. Subsequent years saw the Lakers triumph over the Celtics twice, but the show did not have the opportunity to depict these victories.
This ironic turn of events led to a flurry of jokes, considering the show’s title, “Winning Time.” However, Max Borenstein, the series’ showrunner, executive producer, writer, and co-creator, expressed genuine sentiments on social media in response to the cancellation.
While some viewers promptly implored other streaming services like Netflix to rescue the show, no such developments have been reported thus far. Given the ongoing actor and writer strikes, any potential decisions of this nature may be delayed.
