Exclusive: Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke and Solomon Hughes talk Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Currently playing on HBO is WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY, highlighting the dynamic cast.
WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY is a fast-break series about the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
The ensemble cast includes: John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Adrien Brody as Pat Riley, Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman, Tracy Letts as Jack McKinney, Jason Segel as Paul Westhead, Julianne Nicholson as Cranny McKinney,
Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss, DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tamera Tomakili as Earleatha “Cookie” Kelly, Brett Cullen as Bill Sharman, Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani, Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn, Sarah Ramos as Cheryl Pistono, Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani, Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen, Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Jimel Atkins as Jamaal Wilkes, Austin Aaron as Mark Landsberger, Jon Young as Brad Holland, with Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr. and Sally Field as Jessie Buss.
Based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” written by Jeff Pearlman, Isaiah has the incredible task of playing Magic Johnson. An alumni of Kalamazoo College, this is Isaiah’s first major and Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with him about the series and playing one of the greats.
Brody, whose upcoming project include Netflix’s Blonde and was seen in Epix’s Chapelwaite, plays Pat Riley, who became coach of the Lakers in 1981 and led the team to four NBA titles and unprecedented superstardom. His iconic style, confidence and fast-break offense defined ’80s basketball and influenced pop culture at large.
Clarke plays Clarke Lakers legend West, a 14-time NBA All-Star during his playing days who became the team’s general manager in 1982. West is the cantankerous, tortured genius of basketball who ought to be the perfect man to build the Lakers into a dynasty — if only he can get past his own worst enemy: himself.
Hughes is making his professional acting debut in the series as Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 6-foot-11 former captain of the UC Berkeley basketball team played professionally in the USBL and ABA and in Mexico’s pro league and was a Harlem Globetrotter; he has a doctorate in higher education from the University of Georgia. Abdul-Jabbar’s intelligence, talent and political activism have made him a living legend but whose introverted nature leads him to be misunderstood by not only the public but his own teammates. He is deeply sensitive after a lifetime of betrayals, but the arrival of rookie Magic Johnson sparks his gradual journey to open up to those around him, a quest that re-inspires his love of the game.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Brody, Clarkes and Hughes about the iconic roles each is playing in the series.