HBO revealed they were dropping a new series called âWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.â
The series will look at the iconic âShowtimeâ Lakers which featured players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and others. The series hasnât come out yet, but it appears HBO has teased another season could be on the way. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO content chief Casey Bloys said the network has âquietly optionedâ the follow-up to series created by Jeff Pearlman in 2020. Bloys said the follow-up would âtake readers through the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille OâNeal era of the Lakers.â
The possible second season would be based on Pearlmanâs 2020 book âThree-Ring Circus: Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty.â The book highlights the dynamic between Shaq and Kobe and what led them to get three consecutive NBA championship titles. There was backlash surrounding Pearlmanâs book, as it was released eight months after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Many commented the book painted the younger version of the late NBA legend in a less-than-flattering light, which caused Pearlman to respond with a note to fans speaking about the emotional maturation of Bryant after the period in the book.