West, a former player and head coach, was named general manager of the LA Lakers before the 1982–83 NBA season.

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[{"selector":"#anim-06ab14d4-fe41-4fd9-889c-efb61aacd6f0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75e8e72c-9f06-4e73-810b-0ad9e1381947","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fbcde3f-45d0-4334-80b3-d2257a1f08ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.92064%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Under his guidance, the team won five championship rings in the 1980s — the era covered in the HBO series.

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According to Deadline, West’s attorneys sent a letter to HBO, Warner Bros., Discovery, and executive producer Adam McKay, complaining about the depiction of West in the show.

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The latter states that the series “falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic. The Jerry West in Winning Time bears no resemblance to the real man.”

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The letter goes on to say “Jerry prided himself on treating people with dignity and respect” and that the series “is a baseless and malicious assault on [his] character.”

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It continues, “Winning Time reduced the legacy of an 83-year old legend and role model to that of a vulgar and unprofessional bully — the polar opposite of the real man.”

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[{"selector":"#anim-55ee4583-9ad0-4a91-956b-bce268a66a87 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.30633202632227%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd24abe5-2184-4c12-85d3-8ca7c36b8590","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34dc548d-5199-4627-b8d0-13546a42997a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Jason Clarke (Brotherhood) portrays West on the show, providing a fiery performance that, in one scene, sees him angrily breaking a golf club.