The Shocking Truth Unveiled: Behind the Scenes of Winning Time Season 2 Episode 5

Summary

In addition to Magic Johnson's public criticism of coach Paul Westhead, other Lakers players also expressed concerns over Westhead's strategies, leading to high tensions in the locker room that ultimately resulted in his firing.

Lakers fans expressed their disapproval towards Magic Johnson by booing him following Westhead's dismissal. They viewed him as a "spoiled brat" who had betrayed his coach.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar maintained a professional relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss and did not show interest in Buss' personal life outside of basketball.

HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty continues to follow the turbulent events of the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of their 1981-82 season. While the series has taken some creative liberties in its first and second seasons, recent episodes have mostly remained faithful to the facts. These episodes have built up the authentic tension between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, led by superstar Larry Bird and coached by Red Auerbach. As Winning Time season 2 nears its end, there is limited time to explore the 1982 NBA Finals, where the Lakers, under new head coach Pat Riley, faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The fourth episode of Winning Time season 2 concluded with Magic Johnson publicly stating his desire to be traded away from Los Angeles due to fundamental disagreements with head coach Paul Westhead. Westhead had taken over as coach in 1980, leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals after Jack McKinney's bike accident, as shown in previous episodes of Winning Time season 1. Magic Johnson, known for his flashy and impatient style of play, was ultimately pushed to his breaking point by Westhead's ideological and systematic approach to basketball. In response, Magic used his star power and close relationship with owner Jerry Buss to successfully remove Westhead from his position as Lakers' coach.

Magic Wasn’t The Only Reason Paul Westhead Was Fired

While Winning Time primarily blames Magic Johnson for pressuring Jerry Buss into firing Paul Westhead, it was not solely due to Magic that Westhead was let go only 13 games into the 1981-82 season. The timing of the firing was appropriate, considering that the Lakers had turned their early season performance around and won 5 consecutive games after a 2-4 start.

Although Magic was the most vocal about his disapproval of Westhead's strategy, he was not the only Laker who felt the same way. Westhead's insecurity and refusal to listen to his staff or players had already put him on thin ice with Buss for at least a week before Magic publicly expressed his opinion. Other Lakers were also frustrated with Westhead's offensive system and the resulting tension in the locker room, where everyone was afraid of making a mistake.

The Lakers Were Surprised By Magic’s Public Criticism Of Paul

Jerry Buss Sided With Magic & Fired Paul After 5-Game Win Streak

Many of the Lakers players found solace in Westhead's dismissal and refrained from solely blaming Magic as the sole cause for the apparent sudden shift, particularly when speaking to the media. As per Mitch Kupchak's statements to The Washington Post in 1981, nobody harbored resentment towards Magic for openly criticizing Westhead; however, the team was undeniably taken aback by Magic's decision to vocalize his concerns regarding the Lakers' internal affairs. It was widely believed that Westhead's tenure was already in jeopardy at the start of the 1981-82 season, which made Magic's outspokenness more surprising than the actual content of his statements.

The firing portrayed in Winning Time season 2 mirrored the actual events, right down to Jerry Buss' initial hesitancy in letting go of Westhead. Buss himself admitted to The New York Times in 1981 that he was disappointed with the team's slow start and was ultimately unwilling to allow Westhead to continue. While it has been noted that Magic Johnson was not solely responsible for Westhead's dismissal, it's difficult to ignore the fact that Buss, who claimed to love Magic like a son, likely took Magic's opinion into consideration. Had Magic not requested a trade, Westhead may have remained as coach for the rest of the 1981-82 season, despite Buss's denial of Magic's involvement in the final decision.

Pat Riley’s Father Was A Player & Manager Of Minor League Baseball Teams

Pat Riley's father, known as Leon or Lee Riley, is mentioned again in Winning Time season 2, episode 5 as a source of inspiration for Pat's pursuit of becoming the Lakers head coach. During his childhood, Pat witnessed his father's deep regret after only getting 12 chances to bat in four games as a Major League Baseball player, despite spending 22 seasons in the Minor League in a quest for a more permanent position in the Majors. Despite Lee Riley's impressive achievements in the Minors, including 248 home runs and 2,418 hits, he was unsatisfied with his paltry 1-for-12 record in the Majors. Following his playing career, Lee Riley went on to become a Minor League Manager for a total of eleven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate teams.

Lakers Fans Really Booed Magic Johnson After Paul Westhead’s Firing

After coach Paul Westhead was fired, Lakers fans expressed their discontent by booing Magic Johnson, seemingly anticipating the events that followed his public outburst. The swift removal of Westhead just one day after Magic's criticism led fans to perceive Magic as a "spoiled brat" who had unfairly betrayed his coach. Despite the backlash from the booing Lakers fans at the Forum, Magic remained unfazed as he believed he was not at fault for Westhead's dismissal.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Wasn’t Very Close With Jerry Buss

Magic’s $25 Million Contract Was Actually Not A Good Deal

Winning Time provides a brief glimpse into the distant relationship between Buss and his superstar player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Besides Magic, Kareem was the only player who possessed the freedom to express his thoughts to Buss and the coaching staff. However, Kareem's reserved nature and unwavering dedication to basketball often kept him away from the constant spotlight that Buss relished. The Orange County Register reports that Kareem's sentiments towards Buss and his lifestyle, as portrayed in Winning Time, were quite accurate. Kareem had no interest in Buss' fast-paced lifestyle or circle of friends, thus their paths never crossed beyond Lakers-related matters.

Upon reflection, Magic came to the realization that his purportedly lucrative $25 million contract in Winning Time turned out to be a less favorable arrangement for him. Kareem, though observing from a distance, voiced his concerns to Buss during season 2, episode 5 of Winning Time (the authenticity of this interaction remains uncertain). Kareem accuses Buss of being aware of the contract's shortcomings and suggests that it was designed to secure Magic's entire career while significantly underpaying him, especially considering the substantial increase in NBA salaries throughout the 80s and beyond. It was only after securing his fourth NBA title in 1987 that the true extent of Magic's underpayment became apparent to him. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, to redress the issue, Buss eventually compensated Magic with a one-year, $14 million deal in 1992.

Pat Riley Led The Lakers To The 1982 NBA Finals Against The 76ers

In Winning Time season 2, episode 5, it is revealed that Pat Riley, the new head coach of the Lakers, led them to the NBA Finals in the 1981-82 season against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite finishing with a regular season record of 57-25, the Lakers secured the top spot in the Western Conference. Interestingly, the Boston Celtics had the best overall record in the NBA at 63-19 but were defeated by the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone. In the upcoming episode 6 of Winning Time, the focus will shift towards the 1982 NBA Championship, where Magic Johnson is determined to win his second NBA Title.