The Untold Truth: Revealing the Explosive Real Story of Winning Time Season 2 Episode 6

Summary

Winning Time chronicles the 1982 Lakers clinching their eighth NBA Championship in their home arena with Magic Johnson named the Finals MVP.

The Lakers faced a humiliating sweep in the 1983 NBA Finals against the 76ers, led by the formidable duo of Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Moses Malone.

Following their championship victory in 1982, Jerry West assumed the role of General Manager for the Lakers and implemented substantial changes to the team's roster, laying the foundation for future triumphs.

In the penultimate episode of season 2 of HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty, a significant amount of ground is covered. The episode concludes with the 1982 Lakers celebrating their second NBA title in three years, led by head coach Pat Riley (portrayed by Adrien Brody) who injects new life into the team. This victory marks the last time Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Norm Nixon all win a championship together, despite their subsequent embarrassing defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1983 NBA Finals.

Episode 6 of Winning Time season 2 swiftly moves to the demoralizing end of the 1982-1983 NBA season, where the Showtime Lakers find themselves in a situation similar to the start of the season under coach Paul Westhead (played by Jason Segel). With Westhead no longer in charge, Riley and the newly appointed General Manager Jerry West (portrayed by Jason Clarke) face the challenge of reorganizing the team's lineup to ignite fresh talent and momentum for their inevitable rivalry against the Boston Celtics. As the episode concludes, tensions between the Lakers and Celtics have reached an unprecedented breaking point, setting the stage for an explosive season 2 finale that will chronicle the thrilling 1984 NBA Finals.

The Lakers Won The 1982 NBA Finals Against The 76ers

The Lakers Got Swept In The 1983 NBA Finals By The 76ers

The Los Angeles Lakers secure their eighth NBA Championship in franchise history during season 2, episode 6 of Winning Time. With a 4-2 record, the Lakers overcome the Philadelphia 76ers, triumphing at their home arena, The Forum in Los Angeles, California. In Game 6 of the 1982 NBA Finals, Magic Johnson demonstrates his prowess by leading the team with 13 rebounds and assists. James Wilkes emerges as the leading scorer, contributing 27 points. Further solidifying his legacy, Johnson is honored as the Finals MVP once again, having previously achieved this accolade in the 1980 NBA Finals.

In Winning Time season 2, episode 6, the Lakers endured a devastating defeat in the 1983 NBA Finals. After their glorious victory in the 1982 Finals, the Lakers suffered a humiliating sweep at the hands of the revenge-seeking 76ers. This marked the Lakers' third appearance in the NBA Finals within a span of four years. However, they were caught off guard by the formidable duo of Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Moses Malone, both star players for the 76ers. To add insult to injury, the 76ers achieved a clean sweep by defeating the Lakers in their own home court, sealing their victory with a final score of 113-107 in Game 4, and concluding the series with a 4-0 lead. The jubilant 76ers even celebrated their triumph in Los Angeles.

Jerry West Became The Lakers GM After 1982 NBA Championship

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Actually Wanted To Be Traded To The Knicks

Following the triumph of the 1982 Championship Lakers, Jerry West assumed greater responsibilities in reshaping the team's roster by assuming the role of General Manager. West took over from Bill Sharman, who had served as the team's GM since the 1976-77 season. In turn, Sharman was promoted to President of the Lakers upon West's appointment as GM, a position he held until 1991. West continued to play a pivotal role in the Lakers' management until 2000 and was honored with the NBA Executive Of The Year award in 1995.

For Kareem, playing for his hometown team, the New York Knicks, had always been a lifelong dream that unfortunately never came true. Despite expressing some doubts about his commitment to the Lakers due to the changes happening within the organization and the arrival of the highly publicized Magic Johnson in the early 1980s, Kareem's interest in joining the Knicks was not reciprocated. Winning Time suggests that Kareem's preference to steer clear of the limelight may have played a part in this decision, although one would assume that his exceptional performance on the court would easily overshadow any minor criticisms.

Norm Nixon & Eddie Jordan Were Traded To the Clippers In 1983

Norm Nixon was eventually dealt to the then-San Diego Clippers in 1983, alongside role player Eddie Jordan. In exchange, the Lakers acquired Swen Nater, a dominant big man, and the drafting rights to Byron Scott. Scott would go on to enjoy an impressive eleven-season NBA career with the Lakers, later serving as their coach for two disastrous seasons in 1994 and 1995. Meanwhile, Nixon thrived during his inaugural season with the Clippers, earning an All-Star accolade before ultimately retiring three seasons later at the conclusion of the 1988-89 season.

Magic Johnson & Cookie Kelly Didn’t Get Married Until 1991

In Winning Time season 2, episode 3, Magic Johnson and his longtime partner Cookie Kelly are shown getting engaged before the start of the 1983-84 NBA season. Although this portrayal may appear factual, it is important to note that Magic and Cookie did not officially marry until 1991. Reports suggest that Magic canceled their wedding on two separate occasions before they eventually exchanged vows, emphasizing the on-and-off dynamic of their relationship that began when they first met in Lansing, Michigan.

Jerry Buss Allegedly Married Veronica Hoff While Still Married To JoAnne Mueller In 1972

Jerry Buss had separated from his first wife JoAnne Mueller before marrying his second wife Veronica Hoff. However, Buss apparently never completed the divorce proceedings with Mueller, a fact revealed in Winning Time season 2, episode 6 through the portrayal of a character named Honey. Honey seems to be a combination of three significant romantic interests in Buss's life – Hoff, longtime girlfriend Karen Demel, and a woman referred to as Puppi Buss, who claimed that Buss fathered one of her children.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s LA Mansion Burned Down On January 31, 1983

The most devastating scene in Winning Time season 2, episode 6 depicted a horrifying reality. In late January 1983, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Los Angeles mansion was engulfed in flames, resulting in a colossal tragedy. Remarkably, immediately after the incident, Kareem returned to the Lakers locker room without taking any personal time to recover. This event marked the largest monetary loss suffered by a single-family house in Los Angeles, amounting to over $2.5 million in damages. Along with the financial devastation, Kareem also lost a fortune of more than 3,000 rare jazz vinyl records and NBA trophies and memorabilia. Despite this tragedy, Kareem and his family thankfully remained unharmed.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Became The NBA’s All-Time Scoring Leader On April 5, 1984

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved the title of the NBA's top scorer shortly after experiencing a devastating house fire. In the final months of the 1983-84 season, Kareem surpassed Wilt Chamberlain as the all-time scoring leader, reaching a career point total of 31,420. He retired in 1989 with a new scoring record of 38,387 points, a record that remained unchallenged for 38 years until LeBron James claimed the title in February 2023. However, the second season of Winning Time will not cover this significant milestone in Kareem's illustrious career. Instead, it will conclude with the 1984 NBA Finals clash between the Lakers and the Celtics.