HBO has officially slammed the brakes on the sports drama, “Winning Time,” chronicling the meteoric rise of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s.
The announcement comes just a month after the second season was premiered.
Co-creator Max Borenstein broke the disheartening news via his social media platform of choice, X (formerly known as Twitter).
He wrote:
“Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love.”
The cancellation of “Winning Time” has disheartened the NBA world including, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of “The Walking Dead.”
Kirkman didn’t mince words when he declared;
“WINNING TIME was the best show on TV this year. By far. Not even close. Hardest cancellation in recent years. Throwing tomatoes in HBO’s direction.”
“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” is a creation of Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht.
Inspired by Jeff Pearlman’s book, “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s,” the first season dove headfirst into the Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning in late 1979.
The show boasted an ensemble cast led by the likes of John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, and Adrien Brody.
It was premiered on March 6, 2022.
The series secured a second season renewal in April 2022, which saw its sophomore installment grace screens on August 6, 2023.
However, Lakers fans are super upset with the recent cancellation announcement on September 17, 2023.
Despite the show’s dramatic prowess, HBO faced an onslaught of criticism from former NBA players who took issue with perceived factual inaccuracies within the storylines.
