It’s been a wild ride for fans of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. While the show may have thrilled NBA enthusiasts, not everyone shared the enthusiasm. Magic Johnson, a key figure in the HBO series, dismissed it entirely, saying he “never watched” because “nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story.” Despite Johnson’s criticism, Quincy Isaiah, who played the basketball icon, kept his silence—until now. Isaiah’s latest insights offer a glimpse into his journey of embodying the legendary point guard.

Quincy Isaiah revealed his unexpected path to landing the role during the Done There Been That Podcast. Reflecting on his career crossroads, he mentioned considering joining the military before he found himself auditioning. “I walked into the casting office… I just read off the paper. Then I didn’t think much of it and left,” Isaiah explained. Things shifted when he got a callback, realizing it was for a project involving Magic Johnson and HBO. “I saw HBO, Magic Johnson, Adam McKay—all these buzzwords,” he shared.

Quincy didn’t take the opportunity lightly. “I was like, oh, this is big,” he said as he dived deep into preparations. He studied Jeff Pearlman’s Showtime, immersed himself in interviews, and even watched Succession to align with Adam McKay’s vision. Although he was nervous during callbacks with producers, the warm atmosphere made a difference. “Regardless of if I get it or not, I made some fans that day,” Isaiah admitted.

But as daunting as the producers were, capturing Magic’s spirit was even more intimidating. “Magic has this energy… I can’t be laid back and play Magic,” Quincy revealed. It wasn’t until midway through filming season one that he felt he had unlocked the legendary swagger.

Interestingly, Magic Johnson was briefly involved in the show’s development. Co-creator Jim Hecht once recalled how Johnson initially supported the project before walking away. “I was in a meeting with my childhood idol… Then I was told it was about money,” Hecht shared. But was money the actual reason?

Why Johnson left “Winning Time?”

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Magic Johnson made it clear, saying, “The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable!” Magic didn’t stop there, adding that none of his former teammates bothered with the series either. “None of us watched it because it was fictional,” he said.

Johnson, who defined Lakers basketball during his tenure, never hesitated to criticize the show publicly. In an earlier Variety interview, he took an even firmer stance: “How are you gonna do it? You can’t do it.” From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to others on the iconic roster, Magic insisted none of them supported it. He said bluntly, “I haven’t watched it, and I’m not gonna watch it.”

Interestingly, producer Adam McKay seemed to know this backlash was coming. Before the series even premiered, McKay told EW, “We know that a bunch of them are not happy. For the first half, I don’t think I’m going to be able to get Laker tickets.” However, he also hoped the players might appreciate their effort. “We really are trying to respectfully tell their story,” he added.

The split opinion among Lakers icons didn’t end with Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar. Jerry West demanded an apology for what he called a “baseless portrayal.” Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss, Lakers president, surprisingly embraced the show. She even joined the companion podcast and had her husband, Jay Mohr, make a cameo in season 2. Clearly, not every Laker had a problem with Winning Time.