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Season 1 – Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

Play trailer 2:38 Poster for Season 1 – Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty 2022 Drama Sports & Fitness Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A fast-break drama series that goes back in time to chronicle the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports' most revered and dominant dynasties. Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, the show takes a look at a team that defined its era, both on and off the court.
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Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — Season 1

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Gleefully excessive in both form and function, Winning Time pairs a larger-than-life roster of characters with whiplash style to deliver an absolute slam dunk.

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Critics Reviews

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Graeme Blundell The Australian Like Magic, may it run and run. Mar 30, 2022 Full Review Nick Hilton Independent (UK) For all its super stellar glamour and the exquisite Seventies and Eighties production design that’s very à la mode, Winning Time is just a whirlwind of benign energy. Rated: 4/5 Mar 29, 2022 Full Review Anita Singh Daily Telegraph (UK) There is some good stuff here. Rated: 3/5 Mar 28, 2022 Full Review Luigi Benedicto Borges El Mundo (Spain) The best series of 2022. [Full review in Spanish] Jan 10, 2023 Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com One of the best fictional sports series, Winning Time has great narrative power, impeccable production design in tune with the aesthetics of the time, excellent use of ruthless humor, and a brilliant ensemble. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Dec 20, 2022 Full Review Bill Brioux Brioux.tv At its heart this miniseries is really about risk-takers and dreamers, told with style and humour and plenty of the kind of showmanship Jerry Buss just instinctively knew would turn on the fans. So, yes, a slam dunk. Aug 30, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Scott W Reilly is hilarious as Buss. My only complaint is that they COMPLETELY ignored the actual schedule, results, and game scores from Magic's rookie season. They beat Boston easily at home, 123-105, then again, 100-98, at Boston just after Christmas. Magic barely played in his first game at Boston Garden--only twenty minutes and one point. Bird played badly too, ending with fourteen in the loss. The series also has them losing to Detroit that year, when in fact they beat them easily both time, home and road. This could have worked with the films but they chucked it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/25 Full Review Ed R Interesting take on the Lakers 1970 era. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/25 Full Review eric s One of the best spirt series, it's a shame it got cancelled Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/24 Full Review lisa s Winning Time The Rise of the .Lakers.Dynasty , if you want to really feel like you are there in the world of the Lakers in the early 80s , then you need to watch this HBO series , STARTS OFF with the press conference were magic revealed he had HIV, and then process to go back to show when he was first signed with the Lakers. Then you meet JERRY BUSS the new would-be owner of the Lakers , having a very good time in the playboy mansion, and the series just rolls from there . Shame there are only 2 seasons of the show , but it was cancelled at the end of the 2nd season because of all the Hollywood strikes Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/03/24 Full Review Juliet U Excellent character development. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/15/24 Full Review Geo3 F As a laker fan it was a decent watch however one thing I did not like was the storylines that did not involve on how the dynasty was form, as the great moments were on the office making sport decisions. The cast was pretty good and did their part but after the first season I felt like I had seen enough so decided to skip its last season and understand why it was cancel after that. Overall for a one time season watch is good after that is a meh. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Max Borenstein

Creator

Jim Hecht

Creator

John C. Reilly

Jerry Buss

Quincy Isaiah

Magic Johnson

Jason Clarke

Jerry West

Gaby Hoffmann

Claire Rothman

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 6, 2022 The Swan In 1979, businessman Jerry Buss stakes his fortune on the purchase of the NBA's lackluster Los Angeles Lakers; the team's coach, Jerry West, bristles at the prospect of drafting college phenom Earvin Johnson, who has been given the moniker "Magic." Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 13, 2022 Is That All There Is? After giving coach West carte blanche with the Lakers roster, Buss attempts to charm Red Auerbach; Earvin's efforts to impress the women in his life fall flat; Claire's mandate to get creative brings conflict with Buss' daughter, Jeanie. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 20, 2022 The Best Is Yet to Come Leaving the Lakers to deal with the fallout of coach West's shocking announcement, Buss travels to Las Vegas and soon becomes entangled with a dangerous foe; Earvin finds himself alone in a new city; Pat Riley seeks out a new place within the team. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 27, 2022 Who the F... Is Jack McKinney While training in Palm Springs, the introduction of a new playing style threatens to further divide an already fractured Lakers franchise. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 3, 2022 Pieces of a Man The Lakers prepare for the opening game against the Clippers; Kareem doubts his place on the team. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 10, 2022 Memento Mori Tragedy strikes the Lakers coaching staff, adding to Buss' mounting list of professional, personal, and financial problems. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 17, 2022 Invisible Man As the Lakers hit the road, Dr. Buss makes a dangerous bid with coach Westhead. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 24, 2022 California Dreaming As the Lakers continue their successful run, Paul and Pat reckon with the tenuous nature of their positions; Earvin meets his childhood hero during a match and gets some good advice. Details Episode 9 Aired May 1, 2022 Acceptable Loss As the Lakers prepare to enter the playoffs, Buss struggles with the team's tenuous coaching situation and his mother's failing health; later, Haywood receives an ultimatum from Kareem. Details Episode 10 Aired May 8, 2022 Promised Land Down two men and with the 1980 NBA Championship on the line, the Lakers look to an unlikely source for inspiration. Details

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Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — Season 1

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Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Tanya Hamilton, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Damian Marcano, Payman Benz, Adam McKay, Jonah Hill
Creator
Max Borenstein, Jim Hecht
Executive Producer
Adam McKay
Screenwriter
Max Borenstein, Rodney Barnes, Jim Hecht, Rebecca Bertuch
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Sports & Fitness
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 6, 2022