Summary
- Winning Time episode 4 "The New World" stays true to the source material with few creative leaps, focusing on the tensions between Coach Westhead and Magic Johnson.
- Magic's $25 million contract extension caused jealousy and friction among his teammates, who were uncomfortable with his superstar status.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar considered leaving the Lakers in 1981 due to concerns about Magic's special treatment and its impact on team unity.
The latest episode of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty chronicles the rising tensions between Coach Paul Westhead and star player Magic Johnson until their dispute becomes irreconcilable. The celebrated HBO series has been selective about what it chooses to demonstrate as real-life fact and what character and plot developments are stretched and dramatized for the sake of entertainment. As a whole, Winning Time episode 4 "The New World" stays pretty close to the source material despite including several creative leaps, which usually have to do with how information is revealed via the pestering Los Angeles press in the early 1980s.
Whereas Winning Time season 2, episode 3 took a break in the Lakers Showtime action to dive into the backstory of the legendary Boston Celtic Larry Bird, season 2, episode 4 begins right at the start of the 1981 NBA season in which the rivalry between Buss' Lakers and Auerbach's Celtics reaches new levels of intensity. With both teams fresh off an NBA Championship, the 1981-82 season would prove to be a definitive statement about the state of the pinnacle of professional basketball, especially with Magic and Larry Bird finding their strides after their rookie and sophomore seasons. But first, there is the matter of Magic's biggest obstacle, the classroom-style of coaching from Paul Westhead.
Red Auerbach Did Not Leak Magic’s $25 Million Deal To The Press
Celtics President Red Auerbach is depicted in Winning Time season 2, episode 4 running off to tell the press about Magic Johnson's $25 million deal with the Lakers after a brief conversation with Jerry Buss rubs him the wrong way. While Auerbach was actually in charge of the Players Association and even had authority in approving the unique contract, he was not so petty in real life to leak the news to the press out of spite in order to stir things up in the already fragile Lakers locker room. In reality, Jerry Buss made the announcement of Magic's 25-year contract extension before the 1981 season. Having Auerbach be the reason for the leaked information Winning Time is only a narrative device to increase the bad blood between the two historic franchises.
Magic’s Teammates Were Actually Jealous About His Big Contract
Once news did break out about Magic Johnson's $25 million contract extension, many if not all of his teammates became even more jealous and standoffish toward Magic. The 1980-81 Lakers had already grown tense about Magic's superstar celebrity status and advertisement deals after his rookie season, especially with nearly all of his teammates being much older than he was particularly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The announcement of the massive contract extension from Buss made Magic's teammates more uncomfortable around the superstar who was on track to be their leader on the court but was causing palpable friction behind the scenes.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nearly Left The Lakers In 1981
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was actually looking at going to another NBA team at the start of the 1981-82 season. The seasoned veteran was exclusively focused on the game of basketball and was also part of the Lakers squad that viewed Magic's spotlight as an overall distraction. Jabbar was on the verge of asking for a trade after hearing about Magic's lucrative contract extension, setting his sights on another formidable team such as the New York Knicks where true basketball was valued. Kareem was not particularly upset with Magic for the special treatment but ascribed to the philosophy that the exclusive treatment of one player would disrupt the unity and connection of the entire team. Kareem's issues were never personal but more about his potential to keep winning NBA Championships, which he was unsure of at the time.
The Lakers Started Their 1981-82 Season Winning 2 Of 6 Games
The Lakers actually did start their 1981-82 season at 2-4 before winning four straight games through the clench of their teeth. The dysfunctional Showtime Lakers lost their home opener by a single point to the Houston Rockets, which featured NBA Hall of Famer Moses Malone, before losing again on the road to the Portland Trailblazers, sinking to 0-2. Jerry Buss was not explicitly worried about the slow start to the NBA season, believing in the roster he had decided on. Paul Westhead viewed the lack of winning as a result of disobedience from his offensive system, particularly from Magic Johnson. Once the Lakers reached a low point of 2-6, Westhead began to feel to pressure of the hot seat, but a four-game winning streak would soon alleviate those anxieties.
Jerry Tarkanian’s Friend Was Actually Killed By A Las Vegas Mob
The mysterious story of Jerry Tarkanian is brought up again in Winning Time season 2, episode 4 after featuring the coach in several episodes of season 1. Jerry Buss had been looking for a new head coach for the Lakers during the 1978-80 seasons and had set his sights on Jerry Tarkanian, who was an accomplished coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As Paul Westhead begins to spiral into his own self-importance and paranoia in Winning Time season 2, episode 4, he brings up the fact that he likely would never have won an NBA Championship if Coach McKinney hadn't gotten in a bike accident and if Tarakanian's friend hadn't been killed and thrown into a trunk in an alleged mob hit due to financial debt.
Pat Riley Was So Stressed About The Lakers He Wore A Neck Brace
Pat Riley actually started wearing a neck brace after the Lakers' 1980-81 season because he was so stressed out about the direction of the team. Riley is depicted as being stressed from his tensions with Coach Paul Westhead, which could have certainly played a part in his injury. However, the real-life Riley actually started to wear the brace after the collapse of the Lakers playoff run at the end of the previous season. While only a minor stretch, Winning Time implies that Riley's use of the neck brace was primarily because of his difficulties working with Westhead, when in reality it was a more cohesive response to his dedication and concern for the Lakers at large.
Magic Requested A Trade Over Disagreements With Paul Westhead
The biggest twist of Winning Time season 2, episode 4 is when Magic Johnson requested a trade from the Lakers seemingly on a whim after a big win over the Utah Jazz. He told the press that he couldn't play for the Lakers any more despite their recent win streak and indications that the team was finally finding its footing in the 1981-82 season. Magic certainly pulled his card with his direct line to Jerry Buss and flexed his special privilege, which is exactly what Paul, Kareem, and other Lakers players were concerned about. While Magic was within his means to eventually get Paul Westhead axed, it was a sign of his lack of cooperation to be a team player. The rest of Winning Time season 2 will certainly chronicle the transition of power from Westhead to assistant coach Pat Riley.