Profitable Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is an in depth (and over-the-top) account of how the historic NBA franchise established itself as a constant championship-winning membership. The sequence particularly sheds gentle on the “Showtime” period of the Eighties, which noticed Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and extra shine whereas on the courtroom. Whereas the present has completely tackled the ‘80s Laker groups up thus far, one can’t assist however take into consideration the potential of the dramedy reaching Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s era. It’s too early to say if the sequence will get the possibility to cowl that materials, however that truth isn’t stopping the producers from sharing ideas on the likelihood.
Kevin Messick and Salli Richardson-Whitfield are as soon as once more on board as government producers for the second season of Profitable Time. Fortunately for me, I used to be capable of communicate to them on behalf of CinemaBlend earlier than the brand new episodes drop. Once we chatted, I could not assist however ask about the way forward for their present and the way lengthy they imagine it may well run. Messick offered an inexpensive response, revealing that he and his collaborators haven’t got a particular variety of seasons in thoughts. However, it undoubtedly doesn’t sound like he’s against protecting the Kobe/Shaq drama in some unspecified time in the future:
We don’t have an optimum run. However Jeff Perlman, who wrote the guide Showtime, wrote the books that go into Kobe and Shaq and people years. So we’re ready to go so long as persons are , however we gotta take it season by season. So we hope this season does effectively sufficient to get us to the subsequent one. After which, you realize, if we’re fortunate sufficient to make one other one with HBO, we’ll craft out what that timeline shall be. And it is simply gonna be one after the other. In any other case, it is form of a pipe dream to have the right plan. However every season, hopefully, we are able to make it compelling and create a spot the place you wish to come again for extra. There is definitely extra Laker tales to inform, as you realize.
There are certainly loads of tales that may be informed in regards to the NBA staff by means of the lens of the HBO sequence. It’s additionally true that creator Jeff Perlman, whose work has been tailored for this system, lined a variety of material. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s time as teammates – which occurred from the mid-’90s to early 2000s – can be notably entertaining. Whereas they performed effectively collectively and received three championship titles, the dynamic duo had their share of points. Basketball greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have defined how their feud prompted the staff to turn into “dysfunctional” on the time. Even Shaq himself confirmed that he’d push Bryant’s buttons from time to time. Nonetheless, that was primarily to inspire his youthful teammate in order that he was at his finest when sport day arrived.
Salli Richardson-Whitfield, who additionally serves as director for the sequence, can be excited by the prospect of protecting different notable Lakers as Profitable Time pushes on. Nonetheless, based mostly on the feelings she shared throughout our digital junket interview, she has a tender spot for the Kobe/Shaq period. She gushed about doubtlessly getting to inform theirs and different LA stars’ tales:
Oh my God, there’s so many. I imply, in fact, we’d wish to get to Kobe, proper? I might like to get to Kobe and Shaq and no matter, you realize? That appears like that very same form of dynamic of Kareem and Magic and butting heads and determining easy methods to work collectively and all of that drama. So I imply, to me, that might be thrilling to get to. So we’ve a number of extra years to get there.
One can solely hope that the forged and crew do certainly get to achieve that span of time on the present. When Shaquille O’Neal shared ideas on Profitable Time, even he admitted that it’d be “fascinating” if the present lined his and the Black Mamba’s exploits. Such a season continues to be a good distance off, although, because the producers talked about. Nonetheless, if the followers hold tuning in, it might very effectively turn into a actuality.
Profitable Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty returns to HBO for its second season on Sunday, August 6 at 9 p.m. ET as a part of the 2023 TV schedule. Episodes will subsequently be out there for Max subscription holders to stream.
