First published 2014
Jeff Pearlman reconstructs the complete story of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, the basketball dynasty that embodied everything flashy and excessive about their decade. His account begins with Magic Johnson's arrival as the top draft pick in 1979 and traces how the Lakers transformed professional basketball with their fast-paced Showtime style. The team featured superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar under coach Pat Riley, who became famous for his slicked hair and expensive suits. Hollywood celebrities packed the stands while the Lakers dominated the court, reaching nine NBA Finals between 1980 and 1991 and winning five championships. Drawing from nearly three hundred interviews, Pearlman reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of players living lavish Hollywood lifestyles amid fierce rivalries and constant pressure. The narrative follows the team's spectacular rise through their years of dominance until Magic Johnson's shocking 1991 HIV announcement brought the era to its tragic conclusion.
Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, biography-memoir, basketball, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, rise-and-fall
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 1980s, 1991
496 pages · Hardcover · Avery