Magic Johnson Isn’t Thrilled About HBO’s Show About the ’80s Lakers

Magic Johnson at the Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB World Series, game 4 in 2018.
Magic Johnson at the Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB World Series, game 4 in 2018. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Shutterstock (9946576az)

Most basketball fans can’t wait to tune in for HBO’s upcoming series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, which focuses on the NBA franchise the Los Angeles Lakers during its glory days in the 1980s. The same can’t be said for Magic Johnson, however.

Speaking about HBO’s project with TMZ, Johnson, who was the Lakers’ biggest star during the Showtime era the series covers, said he isn’t “looking forward to it.” Instead, he is focused on his own project, and the show current Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss is working on.

“We got different shows coming out,” Johnson revealed. “I got one. Then, Jeanie Buss got one on Showtime coming out. Those are the ones [I’m] looking forward to, OK?”

Pressed more on the topic, Johnson said that he doesn’t intend to watch HBO’s series but declined to share the reasons for this stance.

Created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty will offer the viewers a behind-the-scenes look into what’s arguably the most famous dynasty in basketball. The series features an ensemble cast that includes John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, and Jason Segel, among others. Quincy Isaiah will portray Magic Johnson, who is expected to be one of the most prominently featured characters in the series.

The show is expected to debut in March 2022, although HBO is yet to reveal an exact release date.