*The HBO series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” may chronicle the early years of the NBA and offer a lot of perspective on the business of basketball, but director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield shares that a lot revolves around family in season two.
The director talked with EUR about the second season. She knew the basketball action would level up and that they would be diving into more of the family aspects of Earvin Magic Johnson and former Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss.
“I love directing a great drama, and this season, we really give it to you. And I also knew that the basketball was going to be bigger. And I, you know, would take up a lot of real estate this season,” she said.
In the new season, the series time jumps a bit. Richardson-Whitfield said the idea was to get the fans what they really wanted to see but still be able to tell the story in a way that makes sense.
Dir. Salli Richardson-Whitfield and the cast of “Winning Time” HBO 2023
“The fans were looking for the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. Getting to Larry (Bird) and Magic and getting to Buss and Red (Auerbach)… It was up to me to direct it and make it make sense. It’s hard when you jump through so many different years to help the audience track what’s happening. And that really became the puzzle for all of us to ensure it was tracking,” shared the EP.
“Even if you’re not a basketball fan, per se, the personal stories like the love story with Magic and Cookie Johnson that people think they know the behind the scenes, and the stuff with Jerry Buss and his kids – that dynamic is so interesting – is written so well, anyone can watch the show,” the director expressed. “And then, if you happen to be a basketball fan, too, you get that. But don’t shy away from the show just because you think, ‘Oh, I don’t know basketball!’ It’s really about people in those relationships at the end of the day.”
“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” currently airs Sundays on HBO and is available to stream on MAX.
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