RECAP: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Ep. 1 — ‘The Swan’
HBO Max brings one of the greatest sports stories to the screen in this 10-episode miniseries produced by Adam McKay. Focusing on future legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson — ‘Dynasty’ follows the phenom as the team win five NBA titles in a decade. Sports Editor Will Lyons recaps each episode in the series.
The premiere opens with Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Jr. in a doctor’s office. By the looks of Magic’s haircut this scene is designed to have taken place in 1991, the year he announces his status as HIV-positive.
This scene sets the tone for what to expect from this miniseries as we get a glimpse of what unfolds when the larger than life star hangs up his Converses at the peak of his career.
HBO Max does an excellent job of introducing the important characters like Laker owner Dr. Jerry Buss, his daughter Jeanie, Laker legend and current coach Jerry West, Laker exec Claire Rothman and Laker Norm Nixon — we also get an introduction to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the all-time lead scorer in NBA history with one of if not the most accomplished resumes of any basketball player (Jordan and LeBron have an argument).
Check out the trailer below:
We get to see the history unfold of how religious and hardworking the Johnson family is and how Momma Johnson believes Los Angeles could corrupt her son. We see the intricate details of how Dr. Jerry Buss purchases the Lakers for $67.5 million dollars split between transfer of property and cash.
Only one episode in and the writers have set this series up for the greatness that devout basketball fans and casuals alike can appreciate. The 1980s is a time known for extravagance, drugs, sex and of course great basketball — you can expect all of that here.
Lakers starter and All-Star Point Guard Norm Nixon is not happy with the thought of the Lakers using the first overall pick to draft his replacement and he makes a point to try to get Magic to take his talents back to Michigan State University. Pair that with former Laker owner Jack Cooke, who is depicted as a misogynistic racist.
It is easy to wonder what the Lakers would have amounted to if Buss was not able to secure the deal and ultimately draft Magic, giving Hall-of-Famer Abdul-Jabbar the perfect running mate to earn 5 championships during their historic run.
Final Thoughts
Cookie leaves Magic after he gets news that the Lakers have the number one pick.
Lakers brass does not want to pay Magic the $600k he asks for (he ends up getting $500k).
Jerry West felt Magic was too tall to play point guard and wanted to draft shooting guard Sidney Moncrief.
Jack Cooke tried to sink the deal by asking for the full 60 plus million in cash (wanted to sabotage anything his ex-wife was entitled to).
The media paints Larry Bird as the superior player and league savior (extremely talented but it’s easy to sell a white player to the good old boys club in America).
Kareem is one of the 3–5 best players to ever touch a basketball but the media/public’s perception of him was pretty alarming and he did not give a damn.
The casting is phenomenal with new actor Quincy Isaiah channeling Magic, Norm Nixon’s son Devaughn Nixon getting the opportunity to star as his father, and Solomon Hughes playing the stoic Abdul-Jabbar. John C. Reilly is electric as Jerry Buss.
