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.”

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.

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!


Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!

More from NBA, Side Action

More News & Stories