Lakers vs Celtics: how two iconic franchises built a lasting legacy

HBO's Winning Time takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride through the legendary rivalry between the Showtime Lakers and the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics of the 1980s. Beyond the epic championship battles on the court, the series offers a peek into the tumultuous personal lives and dynamics that drove two of the greatest NBA dynasties of all time. In its explosive first season, Winning Time centered on Magic Johnson and the Lakers' dominant 1980 title victory that kicked off an era of "Showtime" basketball in Los Angeles. Season Two guarantees to raise the stakes higher as the team seeks to establish their championship was no fluke. But repeating is no easy task, especially against the Celtics franchise.

While some real-life events and details in the show have faced scrutiny, the core drama and basketball action performed is true to the high-flying style that captivated thousands of fans. Beneath the on-court feats of Magic, Bird, and their legendary teammates, the series also depicts the personal ambitions and clashes that made their rivalry one for generations to come. Buss, Riley, and the players' lives unfold in riveting fashion. All of this makes Winning Time the perfect viewing if you are a basketball fan longing to relive the charm of this iconic era. So let's dive deeper!

The well-known rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics began in earnest in 1959 with their first NBA Finals matchup. While the Lakers boasted five previous championships, it was the dominant Bill Russell-Elgin Baylor Celtics that asserted their greatness, sweeping the Finals 4-0. Boston would go on to capture 10 of the next 12 titles. The mighty Celtics defeated the Jerry West-led Lakers squad six times over that historic run, underscoring their dynasty. However, it was in the 1969 Finals that West cemented his legendary status. Facing yet another potential Finals loss, the superstar erupted for an incredible 43-point triple-double in Game 7. Though the buzzer sounded with the Celtics hoisting the trophy once more, West's Herculean effort earned him the inaugural Finals MVP award - a testament to his brilliance shining through even in defeat against the rival green-and-white. While the Lakers were still seeking their first title win over Boston, West had etched his name forever in NBA lore through sheer will and talent on basketball's grandest stage.

The origins of one of the sports' greatest rivalries were planted in 1979 when Magic Johnson led Michigan State against Larry Bird's Indiana State in the NCAA Championship game. In a contest viewed by a record-breaking audience, Johnson emerged victorious over Bird in a hard-fought 75-64 final. Both future legends were primed for NBA stardom and inevitably found themselves drafted by arch-rivals - Johnson to the Lakers, Bird to the Celtics. Their rivalry was instantly reignited on basketball's biggest stage.

Over the next four seasons, the Titans engaged in a back-and-forth battle for supremacy. In 1980, Johnson earned Finals MVP honors against Philadelphia, while Bird claimed Rookie of the Year. The following year, Bird captured his first ring defeating Houston, only for Magic to answer with another Lakers title. Their inevitable Finals clash did not disappoint, featuring intense trash talk, oxygen masks, and wrestling in a physical game Celtics triumph. Coming off an 8-0 Finals deficit to Boston, the Lakers-Celtics rematch the next year presented the perfect opportunity for LA to finally emerge victorious. With Magic and Bird locked in possibly their greatest rivalry ever, the dramatic storyline set the stage perfectly for the riveting potential of Season Three.