Kareem Abdul-Jabbar unhappy with new series on Showtime Lakers

HBO’s upcoming series on the Showtime Lakers is generating a lot of excitement. But one of the subjects depicted is not too thrilled about it.

Retired L.A. Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar expressed displeasure this week with the new series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” a fictionalized retelling of the Showtime Lakers era. The series, produced by Adam McKay, will debut on HBO Max next March.

“While I respect other artists’ rights to choose their subjects, I think the story of the Showtime Lakers is best told by those who actually lived through it,” Abdul-Jabbar told Matthew Belloni of Puck. “Because we know exactly what happened.”

HBO just released the first trailer for the series this week. Actor Solomon Hughes plays Abdul-Jabbar. The series also has a number of notable stars, including Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Adrien Brody as Pat Riley, and John C. Reilly as the late Dr. Jerry Buss.

It sounds like Abdul-Jabbar would prefer the story be told in documentary format, similar to the depiction of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in ESPN’s “The Last Dance.” But the Showtime Lakers already got a “30 for 30” series in 2017, albeit focusing on their famous rivalry with the Boston Celtics.

That does not seem to be good enough for the Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar, who has not been happy about what is going on in the City of Angels lately.

H/T theScore

Photo: Jul 18, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar arrives for the 2018 ESPYS at Microsoft Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports