Season 1 of HBO’s sports drama “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” caused a stir with its irreverent, fourth-wall-breaking tone and its portrayal of NBA legends, particularly Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah), at the height of their careers after Jerry Buss bought the Lakers and Magic Johnson joined the team before the 1979–80 season.
In April of 2022, after only the first five episodes of Season 1 had aired, HBO renewed “Winning Time” for a second season. Buss, Johnson, Paul Westhead (Jason Segel), Jerry West (Jason Clarke), and Pat Riley (Adrien Brody).
Pull off the impossible and usher in a dynasty designed to drive the NBA to new heights in the 1980s with their championship victory over the Julius Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the first season.
What is Winning Time Season 2 Release Date?
When will the second season of “Winning Time: The Birth of the Lakers Dynasty” be available to watch? We don’t know when exactly, but we know the big game will be short.
Season 2 of “Winning Time” was scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in 2023, as advertised in a commercial aired in December 2022. We are unable to provide a specific release date for the series at this time but will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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Information About the Storyline of Winning Time Season 2?
“Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” by Jeff Pearlman is the source material for “Winning Time.” Co-creator Max Borenstein has stated that Season 2 of “Winning Time” will begin shortly after the 1979–1980 season depicted in Season 1.
Borenstein told Deadline that Season 2 would “basically” follow Season 1’s tempo in order to reveal the next chapter of the plot. This includes “a struggle Magic had that next year,” “which involves Paul Westhead and Pat Riley,” and “Jerry West’s next step towards becoming the general manager.”
The 1991 HIV diagnosis of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson serves as a frame for the first episode of “Winning Time,” which is recounted in flashback and builds up to that moment. Season 2 will no doubt dive further into the personal lives of these two NBA legends.
According to IndieWire, Borenstein plans to explore Larry Bird, a legendary player for the Boston Celtics (Twitter) and a rival of Magic Johnson’s (Sean Patrick Small).
“Hopefully we have an opportunity to get to that place where we get to explore the beginnings of their friendship and get into Larry’s POV, which is certainly part of our ambition eventually,” Borenstein said.
Who Will Be in The Cast of Winning Time Season 2?
With a deal for a second season, John C. Reilly, who plays flashy Lakers owner Jerry Buss, is practically guaranteed to return among the large ensemble of actors portraying real-life personalities from the Los Angeles Lakers world during the 1979–1980 NBA season (according to Vulture).
Michael Chiklis, who plays Red Auerbach, tweeted a picture of himself (with Reilly) from the set on December 19, 2022, making him a lock for Season 2 as well. History can be used to predict which actors will be present for “Winning Time” Season 2.
Quincy Isaiah, Solomon Hughes, Adrien Brody, and Jason Clarke are all expected to return if the action takes up soon after the Lakers claim the 1980 NBA title because their characters, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pat Riley, and Jerry West, stayed with the L.A. team.
Sally Field as Jesse Buss, Wood Harris as Spencer Haywood, and Tracy Letts as Coach Jack McKinney are unlikely to return; in Season 1, Buss passed away, Haywood antagonized teammates brutally (and later moved on in real life), and McKinney had lost his job.
Who is in Charge of Winning Time Season 2?
After penning the scripts for the monster flicks “Godzilla,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and “Godzilla vs. Kong,” as well as the AMC horror series “The Terror,” Max Borenstein completely changed the genre with “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”
A comedy-infused drama based on basketball history and Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynas HBO, the “Winning Time” network, renewed the program for Season 2 in 2022.
A few months later extended Borenstein’s contract to conceive and produce TV series by an additional three years, according to Variety. That most certainly gets Borenstein through the upcoming season or seasons of “Winning Time.”
Borenstein managed the day-to-day operations and artistic vision of the series that he conceived and adapted in Season 1 while also acting as an executive producer and showrunner. As “Winning Time” Season 2 starts filming, he’ll continue to perform in those roles.
Where are Winning Time Streaming Locations?
2019 saw the signing of a five-year contract by Oscar-winning writer-director Adam McKay (“Vice,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Step Brothers”) and his new production business Hyperobject Industries to create television shows for HBO and its streaming service offshoot, HBO Max.
An hour-long limited series drama based on Jeff Pearlman’s nonfiction book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” was the first program under that deal to receive an order to series, according to Deadline.
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The “Untitled Lakers Project” moniker was presumably chosen because HBO didn’t want to offer its top rival in pay-cable TV the same name as a high-profile, potentially blockbuster series.
The historical basketball series, which was eventually given the moniker “Winning Time,” became popular, increasing its popularity during both its regular TV airings and later on streaming.
According to Variety, 73 percent more people watched the Season 1 finale than the Season 1 premiere. Midway through its first season, “Winning Time” was easily renewed for Season 2, and all of the series’ previous and upcoming episodes are available to watch on HBO Max.
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