Jerry West Demands Retraction for ‘Deliberately False’ Portrayal in HBO’s ‘Winning Time’
variety.comJ. Kim Murphy Los Angeles Lakers legend and NBA icon Jerry West has declared the portrayal of himself in HBO’s drama series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” as “a deliberately false characterization” and a “baseless portrayal.”In a letter issued to executive producer Adam McKay, as well as HBO and its parent company Warner Bros.-Discovery, on Tuesday, West’s attorneys state that the series has “caused great distress to Jerry and his family,” demanding a legal retraction from HBO within two weeks.“Winning Time,” which was recently renewed for a second season by HBO, follows the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the “Showtime” era in the 1980’s, a legacy led by players such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as leaders within the basketball organization such as Jerry Buss and Pat Riley.
Jerry West is played by Jason Clarke in the series, who portrays West as a fiery executive agitated by his multiple NBA Finals losses as a player. “You took a happy and super successful Lakers era and turned it into a pulpy soap opera,” reads the letter.
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