Winning Time Got Some Strong Praise From Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss As Fans Rally Around The HBO Show For A Third Season

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is nearly finished with its second season on HBO and, at present, there are concerns about its future on the premium cable channel. The sports dramedy has been able to amass a solid following, but it’s been suggested that ratings haven’t been too strong this year. So fans and Jeff Perlman (who wrote the book on which the show is based) have been rallying around the show. As they implore more people to watch so that a third season will be ordered, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is weighing in on the series. And surprisingly, she had some high praise to share. 

Many of the people depicted on the show – including Jeanie Buss – have been somewhat tepid about the show up to this point. So it was somewhat surprising when she revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she’d met up with Winning Time EP Rodney Barnes to discuss the show. She shared a photo from their meeting and added a (mostly) positive message about watching the second season. Check out the post for yourself:

Though Jeanie Buss hadn’t spoken out much about Winning Time up to this point, she had previously shared praise for lead actor John C. Reilly, who plays her dad – late owner Jerry Buss. Reilly recalled meeting Jeanie at a Lakers game, where she recounted a memory involving her father, who died at age 80 in 2013. Jeanie revealed to Reilly that her dad was an admirer of his work, specifically his performance in 2002’s Chicago. Her praise of Reilly aside, the exec also gushed about a promo HBO released to showcase the remainder of Season 2. Check out Jeanie’s post: 

Others associated with the storied professional sports franchise haven’t been nearly as complimentary. Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t hold back when sharing his displeasure, while former teammate Magic Johnson dropped a short and not-so-sweet message for the production. The organization’s ex-star and general manager Jerry West even took legal action against WT for its depiction of him. 

While negative reactions have arrived on that front, Winning Time was mostly praised by critics upon its premiere, and Season 2 has arguably been even more well received. Fans seem taken with these new episodes, which (as Rodney Barnes told CinemaBlend) share similarities with Star WarsThe Empire Strikes Back. The entertaining storytelling is surely why Jeff Perlman has been encouraging viewers to keep watching the program. 

The show’s path forward may be uncertain, but it’s very impressive that it’s managed to garner some significant praise from one of the many people depicted. Time will tell whether Jeanie Buss’ seal of approval might convince general viewers – and even fellow Lakers alums – to tune in. 

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty airs on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sundays as part of the 2023 TV schedule. New episodes are simultaneously available to stream using a Max subscription.

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Erik Swann
Senior Content Producer

Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.