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Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is an American sports drama television series created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht for HBO.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is an American sports drama television series created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht for HBO. Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book about the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, it dramatizes the team’s professional and personal lives during the “Showtime” era. The series ran for two seasons, from 2022 to 2023, before being canceled.

Premise

The series follows the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, a team associated with the “Showtime” style of play. It focuses on figures such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry Buss, and Pat Riley.

Production

Winning Time was created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht and developed for HBO. It is based on Jeff Pearlman’s nonfiction book about the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast led by John C. Reilly and Jason Clarke, alongside Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, Adrien Brody, and others.

Broadcast history

The first season premiered in March 2022, and HBO renewed the series for a second season in April 2022. The second season premiered in August 2023, and the series was later canceled in September 2023.

Key facts

  • The series is a dramatization of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 1980s “Showtime” era.
  • Season 1 follows the 1979–1980 NBA season, including Jerry Buss’s first year as team owner and Magic Johnson’s rookie season.
  • Season 2 covers events between 1980 and 1984.
  • The ensemble cast includes John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, and Adrien Brody.
  • HBO canceled the series after two seasons on September 17, 2023.
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Canadian context

The series was available to Canadian viewers through HBO-branded and streaming distribution in Canada, and it may be of interest to Canadian sports audiences because it dramatizes a major NBA dynasty that included frequent matchups with Canadian-followed teams and players.

Frequently asked questions

What is Winning Time?
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is an HBO sports drama about the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s.
What is it based on?
It is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.
When did it premiere?
The series premiered on March 6, 2022.
How many seasons did it have?
It had two seasons.
Was Winning Time canceled?
Yes. HBO canceled the series after two seasons in September 2023.
What period does the story cover?
Season 1 focuses on the 1979–1980 season, and Season 2 takes place between 1980 and 1984.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winning_Time:_The_Rise_of_the_Lakers_Dynasty
    Supports: Series title, creators, premise, season structure, premiere dates, cancellation
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10244600/
    Supports: Release date and series identification
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/winning-time-the-rise-of-the-lakers-dynasty/umc.cmc.3ffn1iobeicwzgf956052jdka
    Supports: Series description and overview
  4. HBO Max — https://www.hbomax.com/shows/winning-time-the-rise-of-the-lakers-dynasty/0b56e11a-a2ce-4225-9f05-2579b252dddb
    Supports: Official series description, source material, cast, and HBO identification