Buss Family, NBA React to HBO’s New 1980’s Showtime Lakers Series

HBO Max’s upcoming series about the 1980s “Showtime” Lakers doesn’t air until March, and it’s already receiving some backlash from some of the parties involved.

The upcoming series, based on Jeff Pearlman’s 2014 book, “Showtime,” released its first trailer on Thursday, a day after announcing the title: “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”

First Look At New HBO Lakers Show Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynastyhttps://t.co/FzEgKgK54T

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) December 10, 2021

The Buss family and NBA reportedly hate the series, with its misogyny and drug use making it feel like “a fictionalized ’80s version of ‘Entourage’ or ‘Ballers,'” per Puck’s Matthew Belloni.

Magic and Kareem may hate this show but at least Kareem’s legendary appearance in Airplane! is given its proper respect. https://t.co/VteZTxZbQ0

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) December 9, 2021

Kareem Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also not a happy camper about the show:

Kareem, who played for the Showtime Lakers, thinks the story would be “best told by those who actually lived through it.”

Deborah Morales, his longtime manager, was more blunt, telling Belloni:

“I certainly hope I never bump into anyone associated with this show.”

But for everyone else who didn’t live through this, it looks absolutely fascinating.

Can’t wait!

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