Actor John C. Reilly Makes Shocking Los Angeles Lakers Announcement
The Los Angeles Lakers are the media darling of the NBA. Perhaps nothing demonstrates that more than the two-season HBO hit “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.” The show ran for two seasons, getting canceled in the fall of September 2023.
Originally slated to cover the entire Lakers‘ dynasty under Jerry Buss, Pat Riley, and Magic Johnson, the show ended in the early 1980s, before the Lakers really got off the ground as a perennial champion.
John C. Reilly starred as Buss alongside Adrien Brody and Quincy Isaiah, among other A-list stars. He called Buss the “best character” he has ever played, but was not surprised when the show got canceled.
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: Adrien Brody, Quincy Isaiah and John C. Reilly attend the premiere of HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty” at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on March 02, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
John C. Reilly Never Watched the Show
Amid HBO’s corporate reshuffling and the massive–$16 million–cost to produce each episode, Reilly was well aware that the show would be cut short, and its abrupt cancellation did not come as a surprise to him.
Basketball fans flocked to the show, even if they were not fans of the Lakers. The show holds favorable reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and it won a Critics’ Choice Award in 2024 for Best Drama Series. It was also nominated for six Emmy Awards.
Despite its massive popularity, Reilly never sat down to watch his performance.
“I’ve never seen the show,” he said on an episode of Steve O’s Wild Ride. “
Reilly also revealed that his contract was only for two seasons. Buss was a central player in both the show and the
John C. Reilly Is Proud of His Lakers Role
Based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the
“Just because I didn’t see it doesn’t mean I’m not super proud of it,” he added. “I loved everything we did. I was there, so I know what it was like. And that character was one of the
Of course, the real people portrayed in the movie were not fans. Jerry West took personal offense to Jason Clarke’s performance.
While Reilly was not nominated for any awards for his portrayal of Buss, he is one of the more decorated TV, movie, and theatre actors of the 21st century, with Tony, Oscar, and Golden Globe nominations to his name.
How Red Sox ‘Hurt Themselves' With Jarren Duran Trade Decision
The Boston Red Sox enjoyed a surprising turnaround this year after trading away franchise slugger Rafael Devers, reaching the playoffs for the first time in four years.
But after a first-round loss to the rival New York Yankees, the Red Sox might be wondering what other moves they could have made to improve the roster.
Throughout the year, the Red Sox seemed to be on the cusp of trading away outfielder Jarren Duran, as they faced a logjam in the outfield position and other teams valued his contract controllability. But ultimately, the Red Sox hung onto him, and could now be regretting it.
"The Red Sox blew two great chances to trade Jarren Duran when his value was sky high," according to The Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy. "They hurt themselves by waiting too long on Duran."
Shaughnessy noted that the Red Sox could have commanded "a bundle" for Duran had they traded him after last year's breakout season and that this past trade deadline was another good chance to sell high on him. Now, though, he's coming off of a harsh postseason that could reduce his potential trade value.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are still facing a crowded outfield, with Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu all set to compete for time next year. As a result, the team might still seek a trade of Duran, though he won't command the same kind of return that he would have last winter.
“Jarren Duran did not come close to replicating his 8.7 WAR breakout performance from 2024," Joe Reuter wrote for Bleacher Report. "However, the Red Sox will enter the 2026 season with an abundance of outfielders … and after a summer of trade rumblings Duran could again be one of the most talked about players on the market."
The Red Sox might regret holding onto Duran for this long, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't entertain a lesser offer for their surplus outfielder this winter.
