Adrien Brody, Sally Field Join Cast Of HBO Series About “Showtime” L.A. Lakers
There was no in-between. If you were a fan of NBA basketball in the 1980s, you either loved or hated the Los Angeles Lakers. As a New York Knicks fan, I fell into the latter category. But even if you hated the “Showtime” Lakers, you were in awe of them.
Under head coaches Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, the Lakers won five NBA championships between 1980 and 1988. With a roster that included Basketball Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Gastonia’s own James Worthy, is it any wonder?
Variety reports that HBO is currently developing a series based on Jeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.” Adam McKay (The Big Short, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers) is one of the executive producers and is directing the pilot episode.
Sally Field (Getty Images/Getty Images for GCAPP)
The series is still untitled but casting is well underway. Adrien Brody (top), Sally Field (above), John C. Reilly, and Michael Chiklis are among the stars portraying. It’s clear from the list of roles that the equally formidable Boston Celtics of that era will also be represented. Here’s the rundown so far:
- Adrien Brody as Pat Riley
- Sally Field as Jessie Buss
- John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss
- Michael Chiklis as Red Auerbach
- Jason Clarke as Jerry West
- Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson
- Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Bo Burnham as Larry Bird
- Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman
- Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss
- DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon (DeVaughn is Norm’s son)
- Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani
- Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr.
- Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn
- Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling
- Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper
- Jason Segal as Paul Westhead
- Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani
- Tamera Tomakili as Earletha ‘Cookie’ Kelly
- Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen
Where are James Worthy, A.C. Green, and Kurt Rambis? I’m guessing there will be more casting announcements in the near future.
