Unveiling the Most Surprising True Story Alterations in Winning Time Season 2
Winning Time Season 2's 10 biggest true story changes exposed! Discover the intriguing creative liberties taken in this thrilling series that reshaped the narrative of iconic moments in NBA history
Summary
Winning Time season 2 took creative liberties and had some minor inaccuracies in its portrayal of the 1980s Showtime Lakers.
The show failed to accurately portray several events, including Norm Nixon's negative comments about Magic Johnson and Jim Chones' response to being traded. Although it successfully depicted the fierce competition between the Lakers and Celtics, it neglected to include important information regarding Magic Johnson's involvement in the Lakers' trade for Mitch Kupchak.
HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty took artistic liberties to portray the true events of the 1980s Showtime Lakers. Although season 2 of Winning Time improved its historical accuracy compared to season 1, there are still some inaccuracies throughout the seven-episode season. Season 2 of Winning Time provides a fairly accurate depiction of the Lakers' journey to the iconic 1984 NBA Finals where Magic's flashy West Coast team faced Larry Bird's formidable Boston Celtics.
The finale of Winning Time season 2 revealed that the show will not be returning for a season 3, despite having plenty of source material to draw upon. The 1984 NBA Finals was just the beginning for the Adam McKay series, as the Lakers went on to secure three more NBA Titles during the 1980s under the guidance of head coach Pat Riley and team owner Jerry Buss. While Winning Time season 2 made some minor adjustments to better suit the heightened elements of the narrative, it successfully captured the intense rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics, as well as the efforts of Riley and Buss in building one of the greatest sports franchises.
10 There’s No Record Of Norm Nixon Bad-Mouthing Magic Johnson To The Press
Winning Time season 2, episode 2 showcases the alleged incident where Norm Nixon supposedly made derogatory comments about his teammate Magic Johnson to the press, claiming that "Nobody will remember Magic Johnson in fifteen years." However, it is important to note that there is no concrete evidence or official documentation of Norm ever uttering those words about Magic. Despite the fabricated Los Angeles Times article titled "Norm Nixon: Life At No. 2" in Winning Time, which appears to be authentic, it should be understood that this article is not based on factual events. Rather, it selectively emphasizes the off-the-court tensions faced by the Lakers while misleadingly placing the blame on Norm's character as the main catalyst for the team's internal conflicts. Although it is true that Norm and Magic shared a competitive rivalry within the same team, it can be asserted that Norm did not escalate this rivalry to a public platform, as suggested in the episode.
9 Jim Chones Wasn't That Angry When He Was Traded To Washington
An exciting twist unfolded in Season 2, Episode 3 of Winning Time when former Lakers forward Jim Chones reacted to the news of his trade. Chones and his wife Elores embraced the move to Washington D.C., seeing it as an opportunity to bring their family closer to their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. In Winning Time, the dramatized version of Chones couldn't contain his explosive emotions after being traded for Mitch Kupchak, expressing frustration over just having bought a house in Los Angeles. However, in reality, Chones received the news with a tinge of sadness but not complete surprise, as he admitted that the fast-paced lifestyle of Los Angeles wasn't a perfect fit for him. Instead, he favored the tranquility of a Midwestern lifestyle.
8 Magic Johnson Encouraged The Lakers' Trade For Mitch Kupchak, Not Paul Westhead
7 Red Auerbach Did Not Leak Magic’s $25 Million Deal To The Press
Also in Episode 3 of Season 2 of Winning Time, Coach Paul Westhead emerges as the driving force behind the Lakers' effort to trade for Mitch Kupchak. However, the HBO series fails to mention that it was actually Magic Johnson who expressed interest in having Kupchak on their team. Kupchak would eventually join the Los Angeles Lakers for four seasons, playing alongside Magic, and would later become Magic's competitor in the front office once their playing careers ended. In 2017, Magic replaced Mitch Kupchak as the Lakers' General Manager, a position Kupchak had held for many years.
The fictional portrayal of Celtics President Red Auerbach in Winning Time season 2, episode 4 presents him as leaking information to the press regarding Magic Johnson's $25 million deal with the Lakers. However, it should be noted that while Auerbach did hold a position of authority in the NBA Players Association and had a role in approving Jerry Buss' unique contract, he did not actually leak the news out of spite to further agitate the already fragile Lakers locker room. In truth, Buss himself announced Magic's 25-year contract extension before the start of the 1981 season. The portrayal of Auerbach as the source of the leak in Winning Time is a fictional narrative device aimed at intensifying the rivalry between these two legendary franchises.
6 Magic Wasn’t The Only Reason Paul Westhead Was Fired As Lakers Head Coach
While Magic Johnson took the blame in Winning Time for persuading Jerry Buss to dismiss head coach Paul Westhead, the decision to let him go after just 13 games into the 1981-82 season was not solely based on Magic's influence. Although Magic was the most outspoken in expressing his disapproval of Westhead, there were others who shared similar sentiments regarding the coach's offensive strategies. In addition, Westhead faced criticism for his insecurity and unwillingness to listen to the concerns of his staff and players, which had already placed him on thin ice with Buss even before Magic spoke out against him. While several other Lakers players also grew weary of Westhead's approach, they were not as direct as Magic.
5 Jerry Buss Was Not Sued For Palimony During The 1984 NBA Finals
Contrary to its depiction in Winning Time season 2, Jerry Buss was not sued during the 1984 NBA Finals. According to reports, Buss allegedly remained married to his first wife JoAnn Mueller even after marrying Veronica Hoff in 1972, a full twelve years prior to his marriage to Honey as portrayed in the HBO series. Honey, it seems, embodies traits of three notable love interests in Jerry Buss' life during Winning Time season 2. She shares striking similarities with Hoff, Buss' longtime girlfriend Karen Demel, who bore two of his seven children, and another woman nicknamed Puppi Buss, who filed a palimony suit against Jerry in 1990.
4 The Lakers Didn’t Run Straight To Their Bus After 1984 Finals Game 1 Victory In Boston
One of the most obvious errors in Winning Time season 2 arises in the initial and final episodes. The show portrays the Lakers swiftly leaving the home court of the Boston Celtics after a surprising victory in Game 1 of the 1984 NBA Finals. While this sequence adds excitement and captures the fierce rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics, it deviates from the truth as many Celtics fans had departed the Boston Garden before the final buzzer. In reality, the Lakers did win the game, but they calmly exited the court once it concluded. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who led the Lakers with 32 points and 8 rebounds in that game, even paused for a postgame interview.
3 Norm Nixon Wasn't Told He'd Be Traded On His Birthday
Norm Nixon wasn't traded on his exact birthday, but it was a close call. The Lakers informed Nixon about his trade to the San Diego Clippers just two weeks before the 1983-84 NBA season began. Nixon, who celebrated his 28th birthday on October 11th, 1983, received news of the trade on October 10th, the day before his birthday. The Lakers organized a joint birthday and farewell party for Nixon in Los Angeles on the evening of October 10th. Nixon had an exceptional year with the San Diego Clippers, leading the league in assists and earning a spot on the 1984-85 NBA All-Star team in the following season.
2 Magic Johnson Didn't Propose To Cookie Until 1985
Magic Johnson and his eventual wife Cookie's relationship has been quite a roller coaster ride since their college days in Lansing, Michigan. In the fictionalized version of 1983 portrayed in Winning Time season 2, Magic can be seen proposing to Cookie. However, it wasn't until 1985 that they officially got engaged, as Magic had second thoughts on two separate occasions. Eventually, in 1988, he mustered up the courage to propose again. Finally, in 1991, the couple tied the knot and have been blissfully married ever since.
1 The Lakers Actually Lost Their Next Game To The Celtics After Kareem's Inspiring Speech
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, known for his serious and independent demeanor, surprises viewers with an inspiring speech to his Lakers teammates in season 2, episode 6 of Winning Time. The speech came after Kareem's heartbreaking loss of his LA mansion in a devastating house fire, which destroyed his cherished collection of jazz vinyl records and irreplaceable NBA memorabilia. Despite this tragedy, Kareem returned to the Lakers locker room and delivered a memorable address that resonated throughout the entire Lakers organization. Unfortunately, the team's 1983-84 season did not have a promising start, as depicted in the episode. They suffered a demoralizing 15-point defeat to the Boston Celtics in their next game.
