Jerry West Demands Retraction Over TV Series Portrayal

Much like his character on the show Winning Time, Jerry West is angry as hell.

The NBA Legend is the latest Lakers Legend to Slam ‘Winning Time,’ demands apology and retraction from HBO. Kareem recently called the show boring.

A letter from the former exec’s lawyers says the series “falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic”

“You took a happy and super successful Lakers era and turned it into a pulpy soap opera,” reads the letter. “You depicted the people in a false light, not at all who they are, to garner ratings and make money.”

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Jerry West has demanded a retraction and apology from the HBO series “Winning Time” team. For what he called “a baseless and malicious assault" on his character. & he’d like a retraction within 2 weeks of the receipt of the letter.

(Per @ramonashelburne) https://t.co/LslpynA5Gj pic.twitter.com/2J8WgL2bSW

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) April 20, 2022

“Instead of exploring his issues with compassion as a way to better understand the man, they turn him into a Wile E. Coyote cartoon to be laughed at,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “He never broke golf clubs, he didn’t throw his trophy through the window. Sure, those actions make dramatic moments, but they reek of facile exploitation of the man rather than exploration of character.”

“Jerry West was an integral part of the Lakers and NBA’s success. It is a travesty that HBO has knowingly demeaned him for shock value and the pursuit of ratings. As an act of common decency, HBO and the producers owe Jerry a public apology and at the very least should retract their baseless and defamatory portrayal of him.”

HBO could not be immediately reached for comment.

If anything this just brings more attention to the show, and the portrayal of Jerry West.

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