“You just can’t tell that story.” Magic Johnson wasn’t entirely happy with HBO’s Winning Time, similar to another Lakers icon, the late Jerry West. While even modern-day NBA fans know Johnson’s importance in the Lakers’ legacy, some might be unaware of how vital Jerry West was in this context. While the 14x All-Star got just one championship as a player, he managed 8 of them for the team during his time as the franchise executive. No wonder he was furious at the misrepresentation of his team’s legacy by HBO. But there was one who attempted to calm him down. None other than 11x All-Star Charles Barkley.

In a way, though, Barkley also saved the company he himself has been associated with. For those unaware, the parent company for both HBO and TNT is the same–Warner Bros. Discovery. The revelation about Chuck’s attempt came to light on the latest episode of The Steam Room when a discussion emerged about the infamous series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

“I’ve talked to some of the Lakers about the Laker story. And they’re like, ‘Yo, man, none of that stuff happened like that’… Jerry West… What a great person. He’s like, ‘I’m gonna file a lawsuit. Like, ‘Mr. West, it’s just a waste of your time. He’s just gonna give it more pub,'” Barkley said on the show.

He further stated that West told him the same thing–none of the things depicted on the show ever happened. “I had bumped into Magic a couple times, and those guys are like, ‘Yo, man, this is so flagrant. A misinterpretation,'” Chuck added. As far as Charles Barkley’s attempt to stop West from taking legal action is concerned, while the 14x All-Star ultimately chose not to sue, his lawyers sent a fiery letter to HBO demanding an apology.

For those unaware, the series in discussion dives into the Lakers’ Showtime era, starting with Jerry Buss buying the team in 1979. While there were many who did not like the portrayal, West’s portrayal by actor Jason Clarke didn’t sit well with The Logo himself.

“Winning Time falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rageaholic,” his lawyers wrote. They went on to say that the series’ depiction “bears no resemblance to the real man,” and accused HBO of spinning fiction into fact for the sake of ratings. They called for a public apology and retraction. Labeling the portrayal as not just defamatory, but deeply hurtful to West and his family. Now, this may surprise many but HBO refused to issue any apology.

HBO’s reply to the letter from Jerry West’s attorneys

Despite West’s grievances, HBO was in no mood to back down from the criticism over its portrayal of 14x All-Star. After Jerry’s attorneys fired off a letter claiming the show unfairly misrepresented the NBA legend, the network responded with a firm defense of its storytelling choices.

But in their response—shared by Sports Illustrated in 2022—the network made one thing clear: Winning Time isn’t trying to pass itself off as a documentary. “HBO has a long history of producing compelling content drawn from actual facts and events that are fictionalized in part for dramatic purposes,” they said in a statement.

“Winning Time is not a documentary and has not been presented as such,” the statement further read. Still, HBO insisted the show’s narrative was grounded in “extensive factual research and reliable sourcing.” The show was, however, canceled anyway after season 2 in 2023, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.