Thought HBO’s acclaimed basketball, rise-of-the-LA Lakers series, “Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty,” was a one-off? Oh no, the series, from writer/director Adam McKay, a huge hoop dreams nut, is back for more. Still, it cautions: it takes more than one NBA Championship to build a certified dynasty, which the Lakers obviously were for several years in the 1980s.
The seven-episode season of “Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty” debuts Sunday, August 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
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As you’re probably aware, the “Winning Time” cast is enormous. The series stars John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs, with Michael Chiklis and Rob Morgan.
The first season focused on the 1979-1980 NBA season, Jerry Buss’ first as owner and Magic Johnson’s rookie year; season two goes deeper into the ’80s and centers on the rivalry between the Lakers and The Boston Celtics, Magic Vs. Bird.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Season two continues to explore the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. This season hones in on the period just after the Finals in 1980 through 1984, culminating in the first professional rematch of the era’s greatest stars: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Executive producers on the series include Adam McKay and Kevin Messick for Hyperobject Industries; showrunner, executive producer, writer, and co-creator Max Borenstein; executive producer Scott Stephens; executive producer, writer, co-creator Jim Hecht; executive producer and writer Rodney Barnes; executive producer and director of episodes 1, 6, and 7 Salli Richardson-Whitfield; executive producer Jason Shuman.
“Winning Time” premieres August 6. Watch the new trailer below.