All language subtitles for WINNING.TIME.THE.RISE.OF.THE.LAKERS.DYNASTY.S01E01.THE.SWAN.1080P.HMAX.WEB-DL.DD5.1.H.264-NOSIVID

Yes, let me transfer you...
One moment, please.

Brooke Shields :
...American life
at this point where,

if they're intelligent,
if they're fairly strong

and rather sure of themselves,
they represent a threat...

- He still in there?
- Room 12.

There's a photographer
in front.

They want to let him
out the back.

Just to make sure
nobody sees him.

- Okay.
- Okay. Thanks.

Man:
Earvin?

Um... when you're ready?

Right.

Right on.

("My Favorite Mutiny"
by The Coup playing

God damn. Basketball.

I mean, look at it.

It's like great sex.

It's always moving.

It's rhythmic. It's...

up close and personal.

There's no pads
or helmets for protection.

It's just you

and these other guys out there,

trying to get the ball
into the hoop.

It's a beautiful thing,

and every single one of
those guys plays that game

with their own unique
pizazz and style.

It's sexy. Come on.

I mean, if there's
two things in this world

that make me believe in God,

it's sex and basketball.

You know?

Hon?

- Honey?
- I'm sleeping.

I know. I was just saying
about sex and basketball and...

Yeah, I have a test
in the morning.

- You do?
- Mm-hmm.

Her loss.

That makes you
the first to know.

I'm about to buy a team.

Dynamite.

The National
Basketball Association.

The NBA.

You've heard of it, right?

Of course, you have.
Who hasn't?

I'll tell you who. Them.

Young people, hip people,

fashionable people.

Pardon the expression,

but the kind of people
you might wanna have

a little fun with.

Oh hey, Dr. Buss.
No breakfast this morning?

Nah, not today.

- I'm going to buy the Lakers.
- Ah, no kiddin'?

Tell 'em a win
the championship
one of these days.

- I'll do what I can, Fred.
- You got it, brother.

Welcome to sunny Los Angeles.

Great for tans...

shit for fans.

The fact that Fred
there even knew

someone who
won a championship
makes him special.

So why is the NBA
so unpopular!?

Yeah, the press says
we have an image problem.

But to most people,

the biggest problem is
the image is too dark.

- Let's go get 'em.
- Come on, let's do this.

But I didn't make a fortune
bettin' on the sure thing.

I made it buyin' low

and sellin' high.

So, Buss came up
to 67.5 million.

But he's hoping you'll agree
to half of it in property

instead of cash.

- Is that the Chrysler building?
- Yeah.

The guy picks buildings
like a toddler at a toy store.

- Whatever's shiniest.
- Just get it done,

so I can give the cunt
her fucking money.

Oh, I'm not the cunt
he's talking about.

That's his soon-to-be ex-wife.

- Attendance numbers?
- Down a little.

- Oh shit.
- We have to disclose that.

No, I don't have to disclose
these if I've never seen them.

Mrs. Rothman.

:
Undo a couple of buttons,
maybe he won't notice.

Come on, get in there.

Come on!
Jerry, just take the night.

Alright?
We'll come back tomorrow,
you know?

J-just think this through.

We are trading in an empire
of-of real estate for what?

- I know.
- Twelve tall guys
in tennis shoes?

Frank Mariani,
my business partner

and personal wet blanket.

He thinks this whole thing
is a bad idea.

- Wait, wait, wait-- bad?

- Try catastrophic.

The entire league is on
the verge of bankruptcy.

There may not be
an NBA in five years.

- 5:00 already?
- He's wearing Levi's.

- Who?
- Buss. He's worth,
like, 80 million,

and he's wearing jeans
with frayed hems.

- What are you doing?
- I'm trying to keep my job.

Put them away. I'll go.

- Are you sure?
- Yes.

What?

Hello, gentlemen.

Oh jeez,
I'll take a G&T, hon.

Get it yourself, Frank.

- Claire Rothman?
- Pleasure.

Frank, you are lookin' at
the gal who was the first one

to put a rock-and-roll act
in a sports arena.

Wow. Yeah.

I'm a fan. Pleasure.

Mrs. Rothman's
deal is with me.

Maybe I can throw her in.

Jack!

Jack Cooke:
Mr. Buss.

It's actually Dr. Buss,
but who's measuring?

So, we got a deal?

One concern.
Liquidity.

You're asking to put up half
the total price in land swaps,

but you'll still owe
the rest in cash.

We'll have it.

We don't have it.

Shut up, Frank.

- We have a deal.
- Fantastic.

We don't have it, by the way,
but we'll get it. We'll get it.

So for those of you
keepin' score at home,

I just promised to
pay $67.5 million

for the whole shebang.

So you take half of that
in real estate,

you subtract the $18 million

I already gave them
as a down payment...

and you're left
with $15.75 million

due in cash, in 30 days.

Now, I'm a guy with some bucks,
but it's in assets and holdings.

So, right now,
I've got about...

120 grand in the bank.

So, yeah.

I gotta move
some things around.

I hate him.

Uh, no, I hate him!

Jeanie Buss:
You signed the deal?

Jerry Buss:
I still gotta shuffle
some cash around,

but, yeah.
We're pretty much there.

Dad, I want to work for you.

Jerry Buss:
Jeanie, come on.

What?

I'm having a hard time
imagining Jerry West

and Bill Sharman taking orders
from Miss Palisades.

- Which I'm very proud of.
- Just tell them to take it
from Miss Buss.

And I'm not asking to...

give orders.

I'm asking to work.

I'm gonna tell your mother,
"She's leaving school

- to work for me."
- Just give me a chance!

Alright, let's have
an interview. So...

summer draft.

- You know what
the summer draft is.
- Yes!

- I hope so. So...

Right.
So, if the Lakers
win the coin toss,

- you'll get top pick.
- Right, so who do I pick?

It's easy. Two best guys
just played each other
for the college title.

- Oh my, folks.
The most awaited

match-up in college
basketball history.

Two teams, led by two men.

From Indiana State,
Larry Bird,

the hard-working,

disciplined,

all-American boy.

Versus Earvin Johnson Jr.,

the show-stopping,

naturally gifted

physical specimen

out of Michigan State.

From those two guys,
who do I choose?

Trick question. Bird's already
going to the Boston Celtics.

You're right,
and I'm glad they took him.

All those owners that
were watching that game,

they were blinded by the white.

I don't care who you are,

if you're Black,
white, or polka dot.

If you're a human being
with two eyes and a heart,

that kid makes you feel good.

That's why they call him--

Christine Johnson:
Do not use that nickname
in this house.

But Mama!

It's right here
in black and white!

I don't care if it's
written in rainbow.

His name is Earvin,
and in this house,
that's what we call him.

That's right!
You heard the woman!
Show some respect!

Mama could scare
Jesus off the cross.

She a Seventh Day Adventist, so
she say magic the devil's work.

Devil can't hoop like me though.

Christine Johnson:
Don't blaspheme, Junior.

Yes, Mama.

Hey, Junior! Huh!

Junior, tell your mama not to
burn the chicken this time.

That's between y'all,
Aunt Ethel.

- Where's Pop?
- You know the city wouldn't
let him off his double.

That's the third
double this week.

You know Pop.
Takes the doubles
when he can get 'em.

Man will work himself to death.

- Guess I get Pop's chair.
- Yeah.

Come on in, Mama!
Be any minute!

Hey, Earvin, I want you
to go to Chicago.

Yeah, but, you know,
I'm tryin' to be
a sunny Californian,

- you know what I'm sayin'?
- Ooh-ho-ho!

David Stern:
Larry, the, uh, press are
here for the coin flip.

- Hey, Larry.
- Sit down, fellas.

If you ask me,
the real number one

already went to Boston,

that fair-haired boy
from Indiana.

He's a real hard worker.

- They're on.
- Chicago?

- Can you hear me?
- What?

Larry O'Brien :
Chicago, can you hear me now?

- Yeah, yeah.
This is Chicago.
We got you.

- O'Brien: Los Angeles,
you hear me alright?
- Fine.

Alright. We got a coin?

Oh, uh...

No. Gentlemen,
a quarter, anyone?

- O'Brien: Somebody got a coin?
- A fuckin' coin?

Can you believe this shit?

I'll find one. Excuse me.

- O'Brien: We're... for a--
- I'm sorry.

Can, can you repeat that?

O'Brien:
We're waiting for
a coin! One second!

- You can use
any coin you want.
- O'Brien: Hang on!

Want me to ask outside?

Found one. I think
I got the gum off.

We got a coin here!

Chicago, coin toss,
heads or tails?

Heads. Let's go heads.

Los Angeles, you good with that?

That's fine!

Alright.
Come on, Lady Luck.

- You want a side bet, Frank?
- No, thank you.
This is nerve-wracking.

- Alright, here we go!

Reporter :
School board election
results for Lansing

show Michael Olfactor
defeating Gabe Jesper

by 180 votes,

and Harriet Washington
winning easily.

And now, let's go
to Peter Froman

for tonight's
big story in sports.

Peter Froman:
Top story tonight,

the coin flip
for the first pick

of the NBA draft between
the Los Angeles Lakers

and the Chicago Bulls.

At stake,

local phenom
Earvin Magic Johnson.

And the winner
out of Manhattan,

the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers will get
the first pick of the draft,

which will likely be
the-all star,

all-American point guard
out of Michigan State.

Johnson led the Spartans
to an NCAA Championship
last year

against Larry Bird
in Indiana State.

Seems his--

Do they even have
churches in Los Angeles?

Earvin Johnson:
Sure they do, Mama!
Biggest in the world!

With some fine chicks
filling up them pews!

I tried with this one.
He's in your hands now.

I just don't see why we can't
keep a good thing going,

no matter
where I live.

- Just take more work is all.
- For who?

I know what you're thinkin'.

You think I'm gonna get
out there with all that sun

and money
and whatever.

You think it's
gonna change me.

I didn't say change, Earvin.

- I know you.
- You know?

You love me.

That's why what we've
been doin' has to stop.

Let me get this right.

You gonna roll out...

on one of the top
NBA draft picks...

who's about to be
a millionaire...

who just adores you...

for what?

For here?

Hey...

That ain't the Cookie I know.

Good luck out there,
Earvin.

I'll be rootin' for you.

For real?

You-- You're really
gonna walk away?

Just know I ain't
gonna be alone!

'Cause everybody
want some of Magic!

Jerry West:
We don't fuckin' want him.

- Pardon his French.
- Oh, pardon my ass, Bill!

I already got
a point guard.

- I got Norm Nixon.
- Yeah, but you hate Nixon.

So, draft me someone
I don't hate for change.

He's a generational
talent, Jerry.

I mean, hell, he's
the most exciting guard

to play the game,
hell, since you!

- Says fuckin' who?
- Bill Sharman:
Who? Me! Everybody!

Fuckin' have
them coach, okay?

- Hey, Jerry!
- I fuckin' quit!

Done! I'm fuckin' done!
I can't even play a game

of fucking golf without
you bringing up shit.

He does this all the time.

Jerry West, head coach
of the Lakers.

- Basketball legend.

- Oh, bullshit...
- Considered a true
gentlemen of the sport,

to everyone who
does not know him.

In his playing years,

he led the team to the finals
against the Celtics

six years in a row.

Six losses.

Announcer 1:
Elgin tosses
the ball to West.

Look at him shoot!

Thirty points now
for Jerry West.

Announcer 2:
The building is on their
feet and screaming!

They all want Red
to light up that cigar.

Announcer 3:
Jerry West, who is playing
the game of his life out here.

Announcer 4:
The Boston Celtics
have done it again.

Another jewel in that crown.

Announcer 5:
...series comes down to...

Announcer 6:
Jerry West tried
to carry his team

and nearly did just that!

...hell of a series,
hell of a team!

Announcer 7:
...victory by Boston,

to the man most valuable
during the entire seven games.

Jerry Buss:
The last time he played so
great, they made him MVP.

Still lost, though.

When he retired,

they made his silhouette

the logo of the league.

West:
You think that made
me fuckin' happy?!

Well, it didn't!

Let me go talk to him.

...just having
a conversation.

You want a conversation
about this?

- If you want, Jerry.
- Well, hell, come on over.

You're about to own
this shit streak
of a fuckin' team.

Do you really wanna know
what's wrong with Johnson?

Lay it on me.

One thing.

He's too tall.

Huh.

Sorry, and that's
not a positive?

Well, for
a five-man, sure,

but not for
a fuckin' ball handler.

His ball's gotta travel
twice as fuckin' far

- to reach his fingers.
- Right.

- He's a walking turnover.
- Yeah, but he's
a hell of a passer!

He's a showboat!

He's too flashy to play
second fiddle to Kareem!

And that's reason
number fuckin' two!

Hold on now.
Is there a third reason?

:
He smiles too much.

Yeah, this is a man's game,
and he's soft.

Looks awful nice on
a billboard though, Jerry.

Your cocksuckin' motherfuckin'
butt-fuckin' billboards

- don't play the game
of fuckin' basketball!
- Whoa!

- Jerry! Jerry!
- Fucking busted my shaft, Pedro.

- On it, Jer.
- Pro shop has him on a tab.

- He'll come around.
- He's got
a real nice disposition.

- Fuckin' done...
- Hey, I'm with you, Jerry!

Go get yourself a Bloody Mary!
I'll see you up there!

He'll come around,

but if you're serious
about Johnson,

Jerry's not the guy we
gotta be worried about.

- What then, the big fella?
- Nah. The little one.

Tune in noon to 3:00
on KCYE...

Norm Nixon.
Floor general,

and All-Star point guard
of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A-da-da-da-da!

Easy on the clear
coat, baby. Shit.

Word on the street is
y'all drafted Magic Johnson.

Mm. I'd sure like to
have me some of that.

- Mm-hmm.
- Ain't he a point guard,
too, Norman?

Look.

It's just a meetin'.
He ain't drafted yet.
Calm down.

Oh no, that ain't what I heard.

Everybody in D-Town
saying it's a done deal.

Got to be an advantage being
a guard as tall as he is.

Yeah...

When you first came in here,
we thought you was the mailman.

- Gave you a stamp
and everything!

- Kiss my Black ass, Sharice.
- Oh!

Listen, y'all don't know shit
about the game of basketball,
Athena.

Look, they can draft him
if they want to.

I'll just run him
off the floor.

Aw. Don't worry, Norman.
If you lose your minutes,

maybe Magic can pull your
little ass out of a hat.

Athena:
I'm surprised Kareem--

Hey!
It's my motherfuckin'
team, goddammit!

Sharice:
Ooh... Okay.

It's my fuckin' team!

Assistant Director:
Alright, we're set, boss.

And action.

Wait a minute,
I know you.

You're Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

You play center for
the Los Angeles Lakers.

I'm sorry, son,

but you must have me confused
with someone else.

My name is Roger Murdock.

I'm the copilot.

You are Kareem.

I've seen you play.
My dad's got season tickets.

I think you're the greatest,
but my dad says

you don't work
hard enough on defense.

And you don't really try
except during playoffs.

:
The hell I don't!

Listen, kid, I've been
hearing that crap

ever since I was at UCLA.

I'm out here busting
my buns every night.

You tell your old man
to drag Walton and Lanier

up and down the court
for 48 minutes.

Director:
Cut!

Why not--
was OJ not available?

So, how was I?

You were great, babe.
Really killer.

I'm trying to do
what you told me to.

Trying to project
my inner warmth.

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar?

You really are
my favorite player.

Do you think maybe
we could take a picture?

Fuck off, kid.

:
It's my motherfuckin' team.

It's my motherfuckin' team.

Everybody talkin'
about "Magic, Magic."

Why is this nigga so magical?

Cap! Ca--

- Cap!

This is your team, Cap!

Your team! Five-time NBA.

:
Five-time...

:
Fuck no!

- I-I'm just saying--
- You know what
I'm about to tell you,

- don't you, Norman?

Fuck off?

- Please.
- But, cap, I'm just t--

:
Okay. Alright.
You look great, Cheryl.

Cheryl:
Thank you, Norman.

- Nice drums.

- Young man,
welcome to the Forum.
- Thank you, thank you.

Cooke:
This is my associate, Dr. Buss.

- Jerry.
- Jerry.

Jerry Buss.
You the one buyin' the team.

- right?
- Yes, I am.

Sir.

- Pleasure to meet you.
- Pleasure.

Actually,
our deal stipulates

that I steer the ship
on personnel decisions

- in the meantime.
- Alright, Jack.

Cooke:
This way, son.

You know what they say
about thoroughbreds?

You can judge one
by its appetite.

I hope you brought yours, son.

- Our chef prepared
his specialty.
- Alright.

You're really pulling out
the stops here, Jack.

- Oh yeah.

- Thank you, Tony.
- Ta-da!

Alright!
Bon appetit!

Bon appetit.

I'm, uh, ahem,

I'm told you're a city
employee, Mr. Johnson.

Yes, sir.
Saturdays and Sundays.

Weekdays, I'm on
the Chrysler line.

Cooke:
Chrysler?

Small world. You'll get
a chuckle out of this.

Buss here is selling me
the Chrysler Building.

Hmm.

I worked a mill line
in Wyoming.

Never ate so good
or slept so well,

- I'll tell you that.
- I know that's right.

Buss.
Yeah. That hard work,
it'll put you to sleep, huh?

- Not built for everybody.
- Mm.

What's the matter, son?
You haven't touched your food.

Um...

I was wondering, like...

- what is it?

Sand dabs.

- Okay.
- Th-they're sand dabs.

It's expensive is what it is.
It's a very fine fish.

A delicacy.
Take my word for it.

Right.

Could I just get a cheeseburger?

- Earvin Johnson Sr.:
Earvin. Earvin.

Come on, Jack.
The kid's 19.
Get him a burger.

You want one, too,
Mr. Johnson?

- I'm alright.
- Tony?

Can you please
get me a burger,

get this man a burger,
and get this young man

right here a burger,
with cheese and all that?

- Yeah, everything.
- Alright. Everything, the works.

Whatever you got.
You want one, Jack?

No, I'm enjoying my sand dab.

Okay, good. Good.

Thank you, Tony.

You should be aware,
young man,

that we haven't settled
on a pick yet.

That's cool. I haven't
settled on a team yet.

But, he's not opposed
to a fair offer either.
Are you, son?

This is a draft,
not free agency.

Choice is ours.
He goes where he's told.

Or I go back to school,

turn pro next year
for a different team.

Huh.

I'm thinkin' 600,000.

Look here, son.
Lew Alcindor is
the league's biggest star.

- Kareem.
- Same difference.

He's also one surly
son of a bitch negotiator,

and we closed at 650.

That's why six feels cool.

I mean, for now.

Plus tuition in
the summertime,

so I can finish my degree,
and, you know, make Mama happy.

Jerry Buss:
That's important.

- Don't underestimate mom.
- Four.

And you can work your way
through school, young man,

just like I did.

Way I see it, Mr. Cooke,

basketball is my work.

And I'm worth six.

This dab ain't half bad.

Look here, boy.

Jerry Buss:
Ah...

- 400,000's our final offer.

Mr. Cooke, do what
you want with your money.

Hey, Pop, let's go
see some movie stars.

Alright, boys!

We're all boys here,
right?

We're gonna
think it over.

I-I'll walk you
fellows out, alright?

That alright, Jack?
It was a good lunch.

I enjoyed that salad,
I'll tell you.

Johnson Sr.:
We don't all get the world
right out the gate, son.

More money than I've seen
in my entire life.

That's what they're giving you,
and you say no?

...really thrilled,
especially my husband.

Look where we at, Pop.

We in this fancy-ass hotel.

They fly us out first class.

They do all that shit
to get you primed up,

so you jump at the first offer
they put in front of your face.

Earvin, pull your head
out your ass.

All I know is you got 400,000

in the one hand,
nothing in the other.

- Pretty simple choice to me.
- That's you, Pop.

When I first got to Everett
with all them white kids,

I was scared as hell.

I could've looked down
and kept it moving,

but I didn't.

I looked them right in the eyes,

gave them a smile
and a State Championship.

And now, they love
them some Magic.

Just figured out a different
way to deal with them is all.

I learned how to
make 'em feel good.

You figure 'em out
just like that?

You can have pretty
much anything you want.

You know how many
times I went left when
I should've gone right?

Hm?

Smiled when there
was nothing funny?

Took less than I deserved,

but bowed my head and said,

"Thank you, sir,"

so you could keep your
mind on playing ball?

- Pop...
- And for all that,

I get you... telling me...

you know something
about this life I don't?

Pop!

Hello?

Hey, Dr. Buss, what's up?

West:
I mean, Moncrief's
my fuckin' guy.

No, Mon-Moncrief is
100% my fuckin' guy.

Come fucking business time,

he was putting up 26, 27, 28.

He really posted
the same numbers.

Scotch and soda.

What you got there, Jer?

Pictures of your sister.

Sharman says you're
drafting Magic.

You thi-- think I--
Is that right?

Hey, what kind of
doctor are you anyway?

Physical chemistry.

- Hm.
- Believe it or not,

I used to help design
missiles for the government.

But one day,
I realized

I'd rather build things
than blow 'em up.

That was
the end of that.

Heavy, man.

Earvin, that's what
I wanna do with the Lakers.

I wanna build
something special.

Hm.

But I need a partner.

That mean we got a deal?

W-- I take you out
for a nice burger,

you just wanna hit me
again with that?

600 is a lot, let me tell you.

You know what the Celtics
just paid Larry Bird?

- Yeah, I see you smiling.

I mean, I don't see the
difference between me and him.

You know, except...

- I kind of did whoop his ass
for the national championship.
- Yeah, you did.

- Come on.

I'm gonna take you
one more place.

You wanna drive?

- Yeah!
- Cool.

Is that Diana Ross?

Yes, it is.

- And next to her
is Miss December.

I just paid for her
sophomore year of college.

Great gal.
You wanna meet her?

These ain't
round-the-way-girls, like...

Now, the ladies love Magic,

but those are stars.

Let me let you in on
a little secret, Earvin.

So are you.

Far out, man. Far out.

Ooh! This is my
favorite part.

Welcome to the legendary

Horn Nightclub!

And now, introducing...

the glamorous Horn Girls!

It's showtime!

I don't know why basketball
can't feel like that.

To me, Dr. Buss, it do.

Mrs. Rothman!

Get the hell in here!

What can I do for you?

Feel this.

I'm sorry?

Come on, Mrs. Rothman.

Poke it.

With your finger.

Does that feel
medium to you?

Uh...

I'm not much of a cook,

Mr. Cooke.

Repeat after me, Mrs. Rothman.

I...

- I.
- Will not!

- Will not.

:
Excuse me.

I'm gonna take this
to the kitchen for you.

Have you seen this?
Did you see the paper?

- I haven't, no.

Take a read.

Out loud.

"Mogul Cooke cited for...

"cruel and inhumane treatment

in largest divorce
settlement in history."

My goddamn obituary.

First line, mark my words

after 30... years.

Joy to millions.

Inspiration to the fucking kids.

This is how I get remembered!

I could find another way,
you know, to pay the bitch.

Suppose this deal
fell through with...

Mr. Playboy Bunny-fucker.

Jerry Buss:
Look at this.
Says the Lakers

are drafting Sidney Moncrief,
shooting guard.

Says the source comes from
somebody in the front office.

What, and you think I told him?

Oh, fuck that.

Fuck you, too. Fuck no.

Doesn't matter
where they got it.

- Does fucking matter.
- No, it doesn't matter

because what matters is this.
It's not the truth.

Alright? We're picking Johnson.

- That's a big mistake. It is.
- Well...

Alright, it's a mistake.

But, we're doing it,
alright? Look,

- Moncrief is a fine player. He--
- Great. Player.

Moncrief is a great player.

And you know what, Jerry?
Fuck this.

He's also a better scorer
by five fuckin' points a game.

Which is exactly what this
fuckin' team needs to win!

Yeah. And Johnson's a star.

So was I! A fuckin' star!

I could pass behind my back,
over my fucking head.

I co-- Hell, I could
pass it out my fucking
asshole if you wanted.

Do you know what?
You wanna know what it got me?

- Do you wanna fucking
know what it got me?

It got me sweet fuck-all!

It got me this,
a fucking movie prize!

Here it is. Ho-ho-ho!

Hey, welcome him in,
here he is!

Jerry Fucking West, MVP,

the most valuable
fuckin' loser award!

1969 Celtics 4,
Lakers 3, Jerry West!

Winning and fucking losin'.

You know what?

Cooke sent me out there
to be his star, too.

Got me to sell his tickets.

And every year we lost,
he still cashed his checks.

But I'm the one that's
gotta live with it.

I'm the one that's gotta
have the nightmares

with these Boston
Irish motherfuckers
flooding the floor.

Announcer:
...the always hustling,
always chasing Jerry West,

with a final tally
that was heart-breaking...

Do you think I like that?

Announcer:
...a series that could have

truly gone either way...

I can still smell
the halitosis.

You got any idea
what that's like?

- Huh? Do you fucking know
what that feels like?
- Probably pretty lousy--

No, you fuckin' don't!

'Cause this is not your life.

No, this is just
a business deal to you.

Yes, sir.

So go on.
Why don't you go ahead

and just tell me
who I should fuckin' draft?

Yeah. Fuck it.

Jerry Buss:
You're a great man, Jerry.

I'm looking forward
to working with ya.

- I can't do this anymore.
- Hey, listen.

I used to drink
a lot of bourbon.

I switched to vodka.
You can smell it less.

Just a tip.

- Whites only, sir.
- What now?

It's a white party.

You have to wear
white to enter.

Oh. Alright.

See, it's a LA thing.
See, I was about to show you

what we do in Michigan when
we hear something like that.

I see, sir.
Let me assist you.

This ain't a bad
jacket right here.

You know, finders keepers.
It's the finders keep--

Hey! There he is! Earvin!

- Dr. Buss.
- How you doing?
You found the place!

- I'm so glad you came.
Come here.
- Yes, sir.

I wanna introduce you
to the big swinging dick

- that owns this joint.
- Okay.

Don Sterling? Earvin Johnson.

You weren't kiddin', Jerry.
You bought yourself a big one.

- Wow.

So muscular. Wow.

Jerry Buss:
Alright, hands off
the merchandise, Don.

Well, how you like
the California girls, huh?

- I'm likin' 'em.
- This is Sienna.

- Nice to meet you.
- And here we have Tasha.

Have some champagne
before the coke.

It's much better that way.

This kid's from Michigan.

He's not into that stuff
just yet, but we'll get to it.

- We'll get to it. Mind if
I show him the place, Don?
- Yeah. Sure, Jerry.

- So magnificent.
- Don's always threatening
to buy himself a team,

but he's too cheap.
Throws a decent shindig, though.

- How you doing?
- Norm Nixon:
How you doing, man?

- You look fabulous.
- Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.

Hey, I want you
to meet somebody.

This is Earvin Johnson.

No shit.

If it ain't
the Magic Man!

- Hey!
- Stormin' Norman Nixon.

- What's up, brother?
- Boys,

I have two dear friends in
the Jacuzzi waiting for me,

so I'm gonna let you get to
know each other, alright?

- Oh shit!
- Be nice, Norm.

- Get that tail, Buss.
Get that tail, Dr. Buss.

Okay.

Hey, you ready to show
these people what's up?

- Where you from again,
man? Ohio?
- Lansing. Michigan.

Nixon:
Oh, country nigga.

- Big country's got some game.

Woo!

So, how you likin'
Cali so far, man?

It's cool.

People seem cool.
Dr. Buss seems cool.

Let me give you
a little advice though,
my man, real quick.

- Go back to college.

Guards in this league,

are six-two, six-three at best.

And most of 'em
are lightning-fast.
Quick hands.

And they all shoot
better than you.

And take a brother's
word for it.

This league ain't
the place for you

to be figuring out
a new position.

No, you'd be
running your post moves

while these grown men
pick your pocket,
Cincinnati.

- It's Lansing.
- Yeah.

Ah, I don't give a fuck.

Game is five.

Come on.

- Ooh!

I'm in fox, so I gotta take
this shit off real quick.

- Oh, the fox
too hot for you?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Johnson:
Let me take off my jacket.

Let-let-let me get
a little bit relaxed.

Alright.

- I don't know about that.
- You ready?

A-a-are you ready?
This ain't Indiana, boy.

This ain't Larry Bird.
This is the goddamn
NBA defense.

- What you got?
Come on. What you got?
- Oh, you're on defense.

- You gonna hold deep?
- Come on. Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Oh!

Let me take you down
to the post real quick.

You ready? Oh!

- Oh! Oh! Excuse me.

- Come on, Magic!

Magic, come here,
come here, come here.

Can you do math?

- I know you aren't that smart.

Oh shit. Okay, okay, okay.
I'm fuckin' with you.

Here we go.

- Slow.

Can you understand that?
We goin' slow, boy.

We going slow.
Is-is-isn't that how

:
you country boys be talkin'

o-o-out there,
o-o-out there in,

uh, Michigan? Yeah? Okay.

- Here we go.
Here we go. Here we go.

:
Here we go. Here we go.

Here we go. Here-- Oh!

- Oh shit! Oh!
- Oh!

Excuse me!

You know,

maybe stay in college
one more year.

Play with your friends
in the dorm.

That's cute.

Woo! Can I get my jacket?
Thank you, baby.

Alright, take care now, boy.

Young Johnson:
Oh! Monroe! Guarded!
Johnson! Oh! Oh!

:
Oh, Johnson! Johnson! Oh...

Don't use your power
when you dribbling!

- Use your fingertips!
- I took, like,
four or five steps.

- Now, he's got the ball!
- Johnson Sr.:
Keep your hands up!

- Keep your eyes straight ahead!
- JV!

Johnson Sr.:
Look straight ahead!

Go, ball, go! I won!

Come in.

You wanted to see me?

How's your first week going?

- Good, good.
- Good.

I figured out the Xerox.

- That's the hardest part.

Jeanie Buss:
Is everything okay?

Dondo Obrigado.

A kid I knew
in grade school.

First boy whose dick I saw.
Not by choice.

He'd run around
the lockers,

flashing all the girls,
screaming,

:
"Take a good look!

Remember this! Remember this!"

It didn't leave
a big impression.

But he did. Dondo.

I have been meeting
Dondos my whole life.

They usually park their asses
back in that corner office.

Everyone's a little different,

but everyone's the same.

Every day they spin the wheel,

and wherever it lands,

that's the woman
I need to be that day.

And you think my dad
is one of them?

Well... is he?

I'm taking real
good care of it.

Jerry Buss :
Remember when we used to go

out to Catalina on that thing?

Oh, fuck off, Jerry,
what do you want?

I need the loan.

It's my money, goddammit!

Jerry Buss:
I know it's your money,
JoAnn.

You deserve that money.

You know, I'm not asking
you to give it to me.

I'm asking you to loan it to me,

to make me a loan
that you will get back.

Mm...

Have you asked
your horrible friends?

You don't think
this is my first call?
I called everybody.

- I got nothing left to sell.
- Goddammit.

- When have I ever
steered you wrong before?

Alright, touché. Yeah.

Besides convincing you
to marry me, what else?

- It's my fucking money!
- Is that what you
want me to say?

Yeah, I cheated on you.
She was a figure skater...

This call is not
about our marriage.

This call is-is
a financial call,
and I'm begging you.

- Uh-huh.
- I'm begging you.

I'm begging you.

Listen, do you know that Jeanie
is already working there?

- No, no, no, no, don't
you bring her into this!
- Well, she's in it!

I can't help it.
She's in it.
She works there now,

and she's got
her little heart set on it.

She's got her heart set on you.

Well, good! I'm her dad.

Is that a bad thing?

- I'll call the bank.
- Thank you.

Thank you, Jo. You are not
gonna regret this, I promise.

Yeah, okay--

What, she's in?

She's gonna lend us
the last $2 million, Frank.

- You beautiful son of a bitch.
We got it!

- We got it? Oh my god--
- We got all of it!

- Mwah!
- Don't you kiss me.

- Don't you kiss me.
- Thank God for ex-wives, huh?

I feel like one right now.
I love you! Magic.

Hey, Dad.
Uh, do you have a minute?

- What happened?

It's Cooke.

He's going to ask
for all of it in cash.

The whole amount because
he knows you'll come up short.

Rothman:
It's not business.
It's personal.

He wants to fuck you
like you're Miss July.

Why are you telling
me this, Claire?

Uh,
I just wanna do my job.

You work for Cooke.

I think I'd rather work for you.

:
This sure is
a creepy shortcut!

Are you sure we're
going the right way?

We did not come out
here to California

to sit in some dark-ass room

and miss all this
beautiful sunshine.

- You've been in here all day.

I don't know, Pop.

- What you don't know?

I come in here,

everybody gassin' me up,
saying I'ma be
the next big thing.

But, what if I go out there
with all this height,

and fall flat on my ass?

Then what?

I'll go back to Lansing?

Well, I can think
of worse things.

At least you got people
there who love you.

I just don't wanna be
Lansing's tallest garbage man.

Pop, I'm...

No, no...

When you were still
inside your mother...

we'd stay up some nights,

holding each other in
that Lansing in cold,

just dreaming about your future.

One night,

it'd be Dr. Johnson.

Next night,

maybe a judge.

Never in a million years
did I believe,

or even think, pro ball.

If you're not ready
for this league yet,

go on back to school, son.

If you're not ready ever,
I don't care. I love you.

You hear me?

My bottom line
won't change, son.

Never will.

The humble home
of Jack Kent Cooke!

Lives in California, but he
has to make it seem like

he's the goddamn
Queen of England.

I know what he's planning,
and if you think that gave me

enough time to hustle up
the extra cash, you're wrong.

I'm dead in the water.

But, you know why I love swans?

The most graceful
bird on Earth,

but underneath the water,

they're paddlin' up
a fuckin' storm.

Well...

these are the deeds...

of the properties
as agreed.

Assessed value of 33.75 million.

You already have
my 18 down, and, uh...

this check should
cover the rest.

You know I have the right
to demand all of it in cash

instead?

Well, Jack,
then I'd be up shit creek.

And so would you.

Watch me paddle,
motherfuckers.

So you can kill this deal,
and you can fleece me

for my whole down payment,

but you're still going to owe

your ex-wife a whole
lot of money.

And then, you're gonna
have to find another buyer

for a franchise in a league

that most sane people
think is sinking

like a hard turd in a toilet.

I mean, that's the facts, Jack.

So, if we're playing poker,

no. I don't have the cards.

But Jack, I think
we're playing chicken.

And I like those odds
a whole lot better.

We will accept
the properties in trade.

That was always my plan,

to take the properties
in trade.

- Great.

Rothman:
What's going on?
Did someone die?

Worse.

Jerry Buss:
Well, shit.

The office girl said she could
get us on the first flight home.

Jerry Buss:
Yeah.

Back to college.

Earvin, are you sure
there's nothing I can do

to change your mind?

I-I'm sorry, Dr. Buss.
It's just, um...

Just timing, I guess.
Um...

Just think I need another year.

Well, you know your heart, son.

- You had a pretty good time.
- Yeah.

Give me a second.
I'll walk you out.

I'm just gonna
grab my coat here.

This is Jerry.
Missed that shot.

Beautiful form, though.

Great player.

Wait a minute.

Well, crap.

I think I just got us lost.
Uh...

You know what?
Hang tight.

I'm gonna find someone
to get us out of here.

I don't have the place
memorized yet!

Just wait right there.
Just wait right there.

Sorry, Earvin!
I'll be right back!

Johnson:
He has the ball.
He brings it downcourt.

He crosses.

He goes between his legs.

He crosses. He spins.

He takes it to the right...

Oh!

He makes the layup!

Oh! He gets the rebound!
Oh my gosh!

A guard that can rebound
like that? That's amazing!

He brings the ball downcourt.

It's the Magic Man
puttin' on a show.

He's doing it!
He's doing it!

He goes left!

He goes up!

Throws it!
Ah! He throws the ball!

Lakers win! Lakers win!
Lakers win...

The first pick,

of the 1979 NBA draft,

the Los Angeles Lakers select...

Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Reporter:
What should the fans expect?
Can this team make a title run?

You tell them if they like
basketball, come on out.

The Lakers are already
a great team.

With me?
It's gonna be exciting.

Reporter 1:
Earvin, will they
miss you in Michigan?

Are you ready
for the glitz and glamour
of Los Angeles?

Jerry Buss:
There he is!

Reporter :
Magic Johnson became

the second-highest-paid rookie
in NBA history today

behind Larry Bird,
singing a contract

for half a million
dollars a year.

With such
an astronomical salary,

expectations
will be sky-high...

Well...

I own this.

I fuckin' own this.

Ah!

I fucking own this.

I fucking own this!