“Those were crazy times”: John C. Reilly defends HBO’s Winning Time after Lakers’ Legends criticized the series

John C. Reilly in a recent interview of his with Vulture defended the HBO’s Winning Time:: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. A series which has been controversial since its premiere. As many Lakers’ legends believe that the series is an exaggerated portrayal and not the true reality. Players like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Jerry West are slamming the series with continued criticism since its release. But John C. Reilly doesn’t agrees with their belief and takes as he thinks the story should be out in public and told to everyone. As it is around the success of the Los Angeles Lakers around the 1980s and their journey during all those great years which gave them the name of Showtime Lakers.

But the Lakers staff, former players, and even legends who are portrayed in the series are disappointed with the story and have even claimed it to be false. Kareem Abdul Jabbar recently in an April 19 blog post mentioned that the series is deliberately dishonest and they have changed solid facts with flimsy cardboard fiction. He also quoted: “It’s a shame the way they treat Jerry West, who has openly discussed his struggle with mental health, especially depression. Instead of exploring his issues with compassion as a way to better understand the man, they turn him into a Wile E. Coyote cartoon to be laughed at.” The take though is crossed by John C. Reilly who mentioned a totally different back story.

Jerry West is also ready to take the matter to Supreme Court. As they have portrayed him in a completely different character. He has also demanded an apology and retraction from HBO. Recently, it was disclosed that his lawyers in a letter to HBO wrote that the series “Winning Time: The Rise of Lakers Dynasty”: “Falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic… and bears no resemblance to the real man.” John C. Reilly though has defended the series after all this criticism and hot takes against it.

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John C. Reilly defends HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

John C. Reilly in a recent interview of his defending the series mentioned: “The overall plot is based on historical fact, but we do fill in a lot of blanks. I knew it would be difficult for the people involved in this story to see their lives depicted in a semi-fictional way. But that doesn’t mean this story shouldn’t be told. Those were crazy times. There was anger and betrayal, and the shit was hitting the fan. I respect everyone’s right to their own story, but I don’t think that precludes others from telling public stories. And this is a public story. People have said, ‘How can you tell the story of the Lakers without the Lakers themselves?’ And my answer to that is, ‘How could you tell it with them?’”

John C. Reilly defended his case well as he has revived his career with the series while playing the role of Jerry Buss as he mentioned how important that character got for him and how he got into it. Many around also don’t like how the show has portrayed Jerry Buss played by John C. Reilly. The series is on air and still, there has been no such major update on it, and the series finale premiers on Sunday, May 8 and it may add a new chapter to the ongoing hot-takes and controversies for the series.

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