I won with the Lakers and we were flying high, I thought, this is going to be fun. During Jack McKinneys thirteen games as the Lakers head coach, the team only lost three times. I had a rather unusual basketball system and style of play. The genesis of [the fast break] wasnt born in Philly because Philadelphia basketball was very ritualistic, you had to follow a formula that was crafted by Jack Ramsey and Rollie Massimino and Chuck Daly. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. People of this zodiac sign like romance, to sleep, spiritual themes and dislike the know-it-all, to be criticized, and cruelty of any kind. I mean you cant win without Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor and Cappie Pondexter. When is Paul Westheads birthday? But can Magic look past Knights sweaty pitch toward a long-term vision of basketball shoes becoming as big a cultural icon as the players wearing them? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. HBO'sWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty episode 6 shifts its attention to Magic Johnson's rising fame and the fallout of Jack McKinney's accident, and here's what it gets right and wrong about the true story. [9][10] The highest scoring game in NCAA history was played by two teams (Troy and DeVry-Atlanta) who both employed Westhead's system the entire game, resulting in 399 combined points in 1992.[11]. By 1980 he was a Los Angeles Lakers assistant, soon to be hired as head coach, winning an NBA title with Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and rookie guard Magic Johnson. Busy Phillips Is Not Like a Regular Mom, Shes a Cool Mom, Theres nothing wrong with Busy Phillips being cast as Mrs. George in the upcoming, In Search of Tom and Katies Bubba Painting, Maybe punting on the larger plot can be forgiven if we get a sweet. Before joining Loyola Marymount, he worked as an English teacher at Marymount Palos Verdes College for a short time. Its only after a pep talk from Mariani that he puts on his dancing shoes and heads out into the coke den that is the Forum Club to close the deal with Great Western. He said, Heres my system is really simple, but you have to be a little crazy to do it.. It is during this moment thatWinning Time breaks the fourth wall to have Jerry Buss tell viewers that he had to give Nicholson free season tickets to the Los Angeles Lakers to make that happen. Youre going to have to deliver that plan during the game and in game time.. While gaining extra experience as a basketball coach in San Juan, Westhead began testing out the up-tempo style of play he first picked up from Old Dominion University Coach, Sonny Allen. After seeing how much money Magic lost out on ($5.2 billion), Knight turns to the camera and tells us, He regrets it.. However, he must decide whether to start Haywood or Cooper to mark Denvers star player. Basketball coach who led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA Championship in 1980. However, he does not have much cash to offer. It is not confirmed when he was released from the hospital, although McKinney admitted in a 1985LA Times profile that he doesn't remember much about what happened in the first month after the accident. their loans maturity date and line of credit, though ask isnt the right word since the Sacramento-based bank doesnt really have any choice in the matter. Since his third and final retirement in 1996, Magic has become one of the wealthiest former athletes of all time, and he remains the business blueprint for an athletes postretirement life. The answer in each case is no. AlthoughConverse proved to still be a good partner for Magic, he lost out onan incredible amount of money - $5.2 Billion according toWinning Time episode 6 - but the true evaluation of what he missed out on is not actually known. Outside of the tragic event that shaped the Los Angeles Lakers' unfortunate predicament,Winning Time episode 6 also follows Earvin 'Magic' Johnson as he begins to enter the world of endorsements. Nonetheless, given the Lakers spectacular start to life under McKinney, questions are raised over the teams ability to succeed without their genius coach. Related:Winning Time Sets Up The Epic 1980s Lakers/Celtics Rivalry. However, he receives a phone call about McKinneys accident and quickly rushes to the hospital. Winning Time: Was Kobe Bryant At The Lakers' 1979 Opening Game? If you are wondering whether the Lakers really had a losing streak during Westheads early days in charge of the team, here is everything you need to know! With a shining 9-3 record, the team was considered an early contender for a playoff spot. Did Cirie go too far by bringing family matters into the game? But because it was so different, I got fired.. June 23, 1982: The episode ends with Magic sending Cookie a few tickets for the LA Lakers upcoming game in Detroit. Magic meets with Converse, Adidas, and Puma, all vying to make the Magic Mans signature shoe. In a Netflix comedy by Katharine McPhees stepdaughter. Find out more. Instead of taking Nike's offer for stocks,Winning Time shows Magic deciding to sign with Converse for $100K each year. [6] The Boston Celtics were a run-and-gun team in the 1950s and 1960s while winning 11 NBA championships, as were the five-time champion Los Angeles Lakers during their Showtime era in the 1980s. WebPaul Westhead coached the Loyola Marymount men's team in the late 1980s using a version of the run and gun. ), 4 Times (Tourn. Ramsay encouraged Westhead to pursue a career in teaching, and he went on to win the NBA Championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. Not one to back down from a challenge, Westhead soon became a fast break coach in the City of Brotherly Love. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Paul Westhead coaching career According to Basketball-Reference, Westhead led the Lakers to a 50-18 record after taking over for McKinney, good for the West's No. Magic eventually grew disgruntled with Converse - especially as Nike rose to power - and left the deal after 13 years. [fetch instagram= display=posts show=2 ]. Days later, Dr. Day flies to Michigan to hand-deliver a pair of Lakers tickets to the one woman whom Magic cant stop thinking about: Cookie. September 7, 1990: Hired as Head Coach by the Denver Nuggets. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. After the accident of Head Coach Jack McKinney, the team is in peril with a difficult game approaching. Despite these successes, Westheads up-tempo speed game wasnt always well-received. WebIn his first year as an NBA head coach, he led a rookie Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA Finals, which they won in six games for the team's first title in eight years. However, the episode ends without revealing the outcome of the game. But its not McKinney in McKinneys chair; its color commentator Pat Riley watching last nights game footage, analyzing the tape even though he managed to squeeze in only a few sentences in between Chick Hearns smothering play-by-play. Read More: Winning Time Episode 5 Recap and Ending, Explained. With the team technically no longer under Busss ownership, the bank will get little in return if Buss defaults. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. November 19, 1981: Fired as Head Coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. The one factor that jumps at me is in both cases, you need to be very prepared. Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper. WebNovember 8, 1979: Appointed Interim Head Coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Houston game, the first time the show portrays Westhead as a hapless man on the sideline, was actually a game the Lakers won in late February at The Forum. Coaching Record. In the episode, Magic realizes his potential as a brand as various shoe companies are vying for his signature. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. Westhead, now retired from coaching, reflects on how his career as a teacher helped him on the court. [1][2][3] The offense typically relies on fast breaks while placing less emphasis on set plays. The sixth episode, titled Momento Mori, opens with Paul Westhead waiting for Jack McKinney to play tennis. Magic Johnson was also a rookie when the Lakers went to the finals under Westheads rookie coaching season. If I was just another fast break coach, I might be still coaching the Lakers or the Bulls or somebody. Majority of Pauls money comes from being a basketball coach. Do you have a sports website? He recalls taking the players to run sand dunes at Manhattan Beach and do practice drills in the pool and running the sand dunes on the beach. After winning two and losing two of their next four games, the Lakers finished December strongly with three straight wins, including a 123105 thrashing of archrivals Boston Celtics. If you are wondering whether the LA Lakers prove the naysayers wrong, here is everything you need to know about the ending of Winning Time episode 6! Offensively, the team moves the ball forward as quickly as possible and takes the first available shot, often a three-pointer. Under the direction of former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Paul All rights reserved. After Paul Westhead becomes the interim head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the big decision he's faced with is how to deal with Denver Nuggets forward David Thompson in the team's next game. Before transferring to La Salle University in 1970, he guided the team to a state championship final. One strange moment inWinning Time episode 6 comes when Jerry Buss is out to lunch with bankers and Jack Nicholson sends them a fine bottle of bubbly. The difference is that theres going to be a game day. By the end of the deal, Converse was reportedly paying Magic $2M per year for endorsements. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The 83-year-old basketball coach was born in Pennsylvania, United States. Hear Westheads perspective on his firing from the Lakers, his reflections on the late Hank Gathers, who he coached at LMU, and more. March 13, 2020. In reality, the LA Lakers did win their first game under Paul Westhead. He is best known for being a Basketball Coach. Born: February 21, 1939. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is available exclusively on HBO Max. I knew that. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty ups the tempo in the seventh episode by switching the focus from the behind-the-scenes to the action on the court. He is best known for being a Basketball Coach. In 1990, Westhead was hired by the Denver Nuggets and tried to integrate the LMU system on the team. Pryors advice hovers in the air as Dr. Buss refers to Magic and his smile as property that belongs to the Lakers and Great Western if they extend the terms of the loan. The procedure and recovery left him unable to coach the Lakers for a brief period of time. While run and gun basketball is often thought of as a system of offense, Westhead's system uses a combined offensive and defensive philosophy. The team beat Denver Nuggets by four points during overtime with a final scoreline of 126122. Nonetheless, the team soon returned to winning ways in December and won eight out of their first ten games in the month. Various characters remark on Paul Westhead's past as an English teacher at a local high school as he tries to acclimatize to the reality of the situation. Meanwhile, Jerry Buss wines and dines with members of the bank hoping topersuade them into a unique deal to help the Lakers succeed, although Dr. Buss' hopes are complicated by having his mother handle their accounting. Westhead's system has been imitated by other college teams, including Grinnell College. April 23, 1992: Fired as Head Coach by the Denver Nuggets. I wanted to, once and for all, put in print what this style was and what it did to me. Paul Westhead has written a book called The Speed Game: My Fast Times in Basketball, and it not only describes the way he wanted his teams to play, but also his career. The 1989-1990 season was shaping up to be a dream season for Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble, and the Loyola Marymount Lions. He goes back and forth between Michael Cooper and Spencer Haywood for the starting spot before settling on the younger Michael Cooper. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Its nun versus AI in Damon Lindelofs new series. Listen to the full Legends Of Sport podcast. The Puerto Rican players loved to play fast so I had this notion to run fast break. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Westhead won titles in both the NBA and WNBA, and he is also remembered as the coach of the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) men's basketball team. At that time, I was smart enough to realize that I wasnt ever going to run lines again. However, questions were raised over these chances after McKinneys injury led to Westheads appointment. Instead, the scene shifts to the hospital, where McKinney wakes up and is informed by Westhead that the Lakers have already played against Denver. Coaching Record. However, Magic soon grows irked with Cindys attitude as she tries to present herself and Magic as a perfect couple and involves herself in all his decisions. Westhead managed to steer his side to victory in his first game as in charge of the Lakers, winning in the overtime with a final score of 126122. November 19, 1981: Fired as Head Coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. In reality, Paul Westhead began teaching basketball at Cheltenham High School in Philadelphia, in 1968. Whereas the LMU system worked on a 40-minute game during a 3040 game NCAA season, it did not translate to a 48-minute game during an 82-game NBA season. Meanwhile, Magic is dating Days daughter, Cindy, who also acts as Magics publicist. Paul Westhead Net Worth Stats Paul Westhead is part of the Silent Generation, which followed after the G.I. Magic Johnson was also a rookie when the Lakers went to the finals under Westheads rookie coaching season. On a scale of laminated-eyebrow drama to Lemon Lady Secrets. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. How many more are we going to win? Well, little did I know Im going to win any more with the Lakers and it would take me twenty seven years to win another championship, said Westhead. Theres no record of the press conference Westhead had before his first game. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Thursday, March 2, 4:52AM. Do that 100 times a game and you will win. The next day, Westhead gathers his players for the first time at McKinneys hospital waiting room. Tracy Letts, Jason Segel, And DeVaughn Nixon Talk About The Latest Episode Of Winning Time [Interview], Winning Time Creator Max Borenstein On The Chemistry Between Tracy Letts And Jason Segel [Interview], Movie TV Tech Geeks - Indie Genius Productions, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. WebNovember 8, 1979: Appointed Interim Head Coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Magic Johnson was also a rookie when the Lakers went to the finals under Westheads rookie coaching season. In reality, Paul Westhead began teaching basketball at Cheltenham High School in Philadelphia, in 1968. This primarily revolves around him landing a major shoe deal, but that also dovetails into him beginning to figure out what he really wants in life. It just speaks of you need to hang and you need to have a good system, but you really need players. Are There Any Real Basketball Players in Winning Time. Tournament Champion; NCAA Tournament, Conf. Tom and Katie will learn how to respectfully set boundaries and get along at some point, but right now its not going so well. Find out more. The aim is to shoot before the defense is able to get set. The former English teacher with a great knowledge of Shakespeare and other literature seems out of place as the face of the Lakers at this time, especially as he doesn't have full confidence in his ability to replace McKinney. So afterlast weeks episodeended with coach Jack McKinney suffering a horrific bicycle accident while on his way to play doubles with Westhead, it comes as no surprise that Westhead waltzes into McKinneys office faux-complaining about getting stood up for their tennis match. The doctor on crutches isBob Kerlan, the most influential doctor in sports-medicine history. Not only does he free himself of an overbearing girlfriend but he also tests the loyalty of the man trying to become his business manager. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Winning Time Episode 5 Recap and Ending, Explained. The true story change is likely due to the show continuing toalter the financial struggles that Jerry Buss went through during the early days of his tenure as Lakers owner. Winning Time Changes Pat Riley's First Game As Lakers Coach The showexplains that McKinney was in a coma for two weeks after the accident. Although he regained consciousness after only missing the Lakers' game against the Nuggets, he remained unable to coach due to his physical condition in Winning Time's true story. Coaching Record. WebPaul Westhead. We just want to dive into a pool without having to hold onto our bottoms. At the end of three or four years, my experience was doubling. In reality, Paul Westhead began teaching basketball at Cheltenham High School in Philadelphia, in 1968. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 6:01AM. New episodes ofWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynastyrelease every Sundayon HBO/HBO Max at 9pm EST. Everyone is there, except for Magic, who signs with Converse but is politely ignored when he pitches Converse on the idea (one thought up by Knight) of having his name on the shoe. Westhead's career path parallels Ramsay's since he won the NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in his first season as Head Coach. Considering Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were equally as popular during the 1980s, the Boston Celtics forward likely earned a similar salary as Magic as time went on. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, 123105 thrashing of archrivals Boston Celtics. Its going to be easier. Meanwhile, Magic Johnson meets with representatives of numerous shoe brands who wish to sign him as their flagship basketball player. First, he is shocked to discover that his mother wrote checks from a bank account she personally closed five years earlier. The 1989-1990 season was shaping up to be a dream season for Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble, and the Loyola Marymount Lions. In the end, Magic breaks up with Cindy and decides to pursue Cookie romantically. [3], Coach Doug Moe, who ran the run and gun with the Denver Nuggets in the 1980s, believed the high scores surrendered were more indicative of the fast pace of the game than a low level of defense. WebPaul Westhead coached the Loyola Marymount men's team in the late 1980s using a version of the run and gun. Unsurprisingly,Winning Timeepisode 6 picks up directly after this incident. However, the Lakers continued their fine form under Westhead as well and lost just 5 of their first thirteen games under the interim head coach. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. In real life, Westhead is known for his coaching exploits with the Lakers, but in the series, he is seen as a mild-mannered man with a high school teaching background. The Weeknd responded to a Rolling Stone story claiming the show is a rape fantasy with a clip of his character calling the mag irrelevant. He tried to blend in and I was smart enough to let him blend in because Kareem was the man. Again, logistically, there wasnt that much time to have a press conference. He warns Magic that nobody is ready for fame except the hangers-on of the famous and that his real name his true self is the price of doing business with the white man. Do you have a sports website? Its not just a coke den, though, as a vial of crack popping up at the Lakers players table makes Richard Pryor (played by Mike Epps,finally, years after his Pryor biopic fell through) appear out of thin air. But Westhead is clearly out of his league, projecting zero confidence in coaching the team or navigating the media frenzy that will soon ensue. Alma Mater: Saint Joseph's (1961) As Player: 48 G, 1.9 PPG, St. Joseph's (Full Record) Record includes games as coach of major schools, and does not reflect forfeits or vacated games. Jerry Buss is trying to convince the Great Western Bank to continue their loan agreement when he learns that his mother paid the vendors from a closed bank account. Related:Winning Time: Every Coach The Lakers Considered After Jerry West Quit. However, after just thirteen games, McKinney was involved in a tragic bike accident that landed him in hospital. Paul Westheads age is 83. Westhead coached the men's basketball team at the university while teaching in the English department for over a decade, before joining McKinney as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. May 20, 1980: Hired as Head Coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. The team would go on to have a flying start under Westhead as the interim Head Coach led the LA Lakers to five wins in his first six games. Or write about sports? Even 30 years after his untimely death, the story of Hank Gathers remains one of the most heartbreaking stories in sports history. Do you have a blog? The next day, Westhead gathers his players for the first time at McKinneys hospital waiting room. As a result, Jerry Buss appointed Westhead as the interim head coach on November 8, 1979, just a day before the LA Lakers match against Denver Nuggets. Throughout the episode, Westhead attempts to match McKinneys genius and tries to figure out a strategy for the game against Denver. Read More:Are There Any Real Basketball Players in Winning Time? Then hes left aghast when he finds the transfer-of-ownership paperwork that was supposed to be filed a month ago lying on her living-room floor. Tournament Champion; NCAA Tournament. He frequently mentions Shakespeare and makes various references to the legendary playwright, which earned him the nickname 'The Professor'. Again, logistically, there wasnt that much time to have a press conference. All rights reserved. The teams morale also takes a hit when they learn of McKinneys accident. Buss arrives at the hospital and realizes that McKinney will not be able to coach the team for their upcoming match against Denver Nuggets. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. He goes back and forth between Michael Cooper and Spencer Haywood for the starting spot before settling on the younger Michael Cooper. Paul Westhead has been a basketball coach and offensive innovator with forty-plus years of experience at all levels. Westhead guided the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship in 1980 and brought his high-scoring offense to the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Seattle Learn more and register, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. Westhead, after abandoning his mild-mannered demeanor, took command of the team and led them in against Denver. All things said the Lakers made a comfortable start to life under Westhead. The men shake hands, with only one side knowing that Great Western couldve legally obtained ownership of the Lakers that night. Alma Mater: Saint Joseph's (1961) As Player: 48 G, 1.9 PPG, St. Joseph's (Full Record) Record includes games as coach of major schools, and does not reflect forfeits or vacated games. A couple of episodes ago, Dr. Buss sold the Lakers (in name only) to his ex-wife as part of a scheme to avoid paying a lousy loan that, unbeknownst to him, came with the team. Magic Johnson was also a rookie when the Lakers went to the finals under Westheads rookie coaching season. In fact, Jack Nicholson continues to have Los Angeles Lakers season tickets to this day and is frequently seen at home games for the team. Watch the video of the podcast on the @legendsofsport YouTube channel. He never fought me. After the comedian makes fun of Magics teammates by boasting that the two of them are on a different level of fame (White Famous), Pryor takes Magic aside for some serious advice on stardom. Back the early 2,000 B.C. WebIn his first year as an NBA head coach, he led a rookie Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA Finals, which they won in six games for the team's first title in eight years. Paul Westhead may be best known for his innovative style of basketball that earned both an NBA and WNBA championship, first with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980 and later with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007. However, Westhead must first shed his mild-mannered personality and demonstrate that he can be depended upon during this challenging time. If one enjoys the sport, there's a strong chance they'll enjoy Magic vs. Bird. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty reaches an enthralling point in its journey as the LA Lakers face their sternest challenge in the sixth episode. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Despite these successes, Westheads up-tempo speed game wasnt always well-received.