Jerry Buss, the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, loved reminding attendees they weren’t just attending a basketball game — they had a ticket to the hottest show in Los Angeles. The Showtime Lakers’ fast-paced style of basketball was the main event, but the 10-piece brass and rhythm band, celebrity sightings, the league’s first cheerleading squad (The Laker Girls, led by Paula Abdul), and one of the hottest nightclubs (The Forum Club) were all considered part of the show at Lakers games.
Winning Time’s pilot is directed by Adam McKay, executive producer of the series and diehard Lakers superfan. McKay is also a big fan of breaking-the-4th-wall and reminding viewers that they’re watching a show. It’s a technique he’s applied in explaining the financial crisis of 2007-2008…
