Former Laker Jerry West is upset over his portrayal in “Winning Time”
The new HBO series “Winning Time” is a fictional account of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” dynasty of the 1980s and the personalities behind the team that grew into arguably the greatest in NBA history.
However, some have criticized the series for not being accurate.
One of those critics is Jerry West, the Hall of Fame guard for the Lakers in the 1960s and early 1970s who was a pivotal member of their front office in the ’80s.
Through his attorney, West has demanded a retraction and an apology because the series has depicted him “as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic” that “bears no resemblance to the real man.”
Via ESPN.com:
“The portrayal of NBA icon and LA Lakers legend Jerry West in ‘Winning Time’ is fiction pretending to be fact — a deliberately false characterization that has caused great distress to Jerry and his family,” said Skip Miller, a partner at the Miller Barondess LLP law firm in Los Angeles and attorney for West. “Contrary to the baseless portrayal in the HBO series, Jerry had nothing but love for and harmony with the Lakers organization, and in particular owner Dr. Jerry Buss, during an era in which he assembled one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
“Jerry West was an integral part of the Lakers and NBA’s success. It is a travesty that HBO has knowingly demeaned him for shock value and the pursuit of ratings. As an act of common decency, HBO and the producers owe Jerry a public apology and at the very least should retract their baseless and defamatory portrayal of him.”
After retiring as a player in 1974, West spent three seasons as the Lakers’ head coach from 1976 to 1979. Early in the team’s Showtime dynasty, he was given the role of general manager, and in that capacity, he helped take the squad from a great team to a transcendent and iconic one.
Other former Lakers have West's back
The series has been based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s,” which was written by Jeff Pearlman and has enjoyed many rave reviews for being the excellent book it is.
But “Winning Time” has allegedly deviated from telling the true story of the central characters, and West isn’t the only one who has been kvetching.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers’ legendary center during that era, has come to West’s defense.
Via ESPN.com:
“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,” Abdul-Jabbar said in a statement. “He never broke golf clubs, he didn’t throw his trophy through the window. Sure, those actions make dramatic moments, but they reek of facile exploitation of the man rather than exploration of character.”
Mitch Kupchak, who was a bit player during the Showtime era and later became L.A.’s assistant general manager under West in 1986, has also vouched for the man sometimes known simply as “The Logo.”
“During my time with the Lakers as a player and in the front office, Jerry was always professional, even-keeled and soft-spoken,” Kupchak said. “He was always positive and encouraging with me. I also found Jerry to be honest and sincere. I never saw or heard Jerry lose his temper with anyone. I also never saw or heard Jerry go on an angry rant or tirade nor did I ever see or hear Jerry scream or yell at anyone. That was not his personality. Jerry is soft-spoken and does not like confrontation. He always keeps his composure and remains calm even when he has a disagreement with someone. Last, I’ve never heard or seen Jerry ever break or throw anything in anger.”
Another man who has backed up West is Arn Tellem, best known as the former agent of late Lakers great Kobe Bryant and a longtime friend of West.
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Lakers fans who are watching “Winning Time” should keep in mind how exaggerated the series is, at least according to many who were around the team during that era, and they should perhaps give Pearlman’s book, which is a New York Times bestseller, a read.
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