The HBO sports drama Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty has been cancelled, according to the show’s creator Max Borenstein, after its second season finale on Sunday (9/17).
“Not the conclusion we were hoping for. But nothing but thanks and love,” Borenstein posted on x/Twitter on Sunday evening, ostensibly confirming the show’s abrupt termination.
On her Instagram, director Salli Richardson posted a similar message.
“When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show,” wrote Richardson.
The startling twist in Sunday’s finale makes the fact that the program won’t be returning for Season 3 all the more tragic.
Winning Time Gets Cancelled Out of Nowhere
The shocking loss of the Lakers to the Celtics in the NBA Finals in 1984 was the main topic of the program. If the program had been renewed for a third season, it would have featured the Lakers’ comeback victory over the Celtics the following season.
Before the cancellation was officially announced, executive producer Kevin Messick informed The Wrap, “In real life, the Lakers come back and beat the Celtics the next year. So that would absolutely be at the heart of any Season 3.
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love. #winningtime— Max Borenstein (@MAXBORENSTEIN) September 18, 2023
“In terms of the longevity of the show, there’s a lot more Laker stories to tell, a lot more characters, larger than life, as big and bigger than Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] that have yet to enter onto the stage,” furthered Messick.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, (‘Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s,’ Jeff Pearlman’s book the show’s premised on) debuted on March 6, 2022 and was swiftly renewed for a second season in April of the same year.
How do you feel about Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty being cancelled after such a eyepopping season ending twist? Sound off below!
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