“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” is a sports drama series about the La Lakers’ rise to the top of the NBA in the 1980s. The series is created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, based on the novel “Showtime by Jeff Pearlman. In the first episode of the show, viewers experience the turmoil various people associated with The Lakers are experiencing as the team enters the 80s.

We meet the likes of Jerry Buss, Magic Johnson, Norm Nixon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who would lead the LA Lakers to an era of NBA dominance. However, before glory, the Lakers must face difficult challenges. If you’re looking for an overview of the episode’s events, here’s everything that happens in Episode 1 of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Winning Time episode 1 recap

The premiere of the “Winning Time” series is titled “The Swan”. It takes viewers to 1979, as businessman Jerry Buss decides to enter the sports team ownership business by purchasing the hugely popular basketball team, Los Angeles Lakers. Despite its popularity, the team did not have a resounding success like previous decades. However, current team owner Jack Kent Cooke is forced to sell the team to pay for his divorce settlement. Buss decides to buy the team but has to pay some of the fees in cash. However, Buss does not have the cash and must move his assets to make up the shortfall. Nevertheless, Buss signs the deal.

Buss’s daughter, Jeanie, wishes to join Buss to help lead the team, and he reluctantly agrees. The NBA draft is approaching and Buss must work with the team’s tempered but effective coach, Jerry West, to finalize the pick. Buss has his sights set on rookie, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr, who recently won the state championship. However, West remains skeptical and argues that the team already has one of the best point guards in the league in the form of Norm Nixon. Nevertheless, Buss brought Johnson and his father to Los Angeles to discuss a possible contract. However, the deal fell through when Johnson demanded an astronomical figure to sign with the Lakers.

Buss arranges the money to close the deal by taking out a loan from his ex-wife, but Cooke has second thoughts about selling the team. Thus, he plans to ask for the entire sum in cash so that Buss will be forced out of the deal. Cooke’s accountant, Claire Rothman, fills Buss in on Cooke’s plans. Buss handles the situation by using Cooke’s divorce to his advantage and closes the deal. Meanwhile, Johnson attends a party where he meets Norm Nixon. They play a friendly basketball game and Nixon embarrasses Johnson. Johnson loses confidence in his abilities and wonders if he should wait to turn pro.

End of episode 1 of Winning Time: Does Magic Johnson sign for the LA Lakers?

After embarrassingly losing to Nixon at the party, Johnson’s morale drops. Initially, when Johnson arrives in Los Angeles, he is full of confidence. His personality lingers on the border of self-confidence and arrogance. Thus, the basketball game with Nixon turns out to be a wake-up call for the young rookie baller. After a conversation with his father, Johnson decides to take some time off before turning pro. He goes to the Lakers stadium and informs Buss of his decision not to enter the draft. Buss accepts Johnson’s decision but makes one last attempt to convince the player. He nonchalantly leads Johnson to the Lakers locker room and court.

In the stadium, Johnson practices his moves and begins to gain confidence. He realizes the huge opportunity before him and falls in love with the atmosphere of the Lakers. Thus, Johnson changes his mind about taking a break and enters the draft. He becomes the first choice of the Lakers and signs a contract worth $500,000. Johnson is introduced to the media as a Lakers player and given the number 32 jersey that would become synonymous with his name for years to come. Not everyone is happy with the new Lakers signing, however, and we see West venting his frustrations in his office. Thus, the episode ends by signaling the complex challenges that will come along Johnson’s path in his early days as an LA Lakers player.

Read more: Where is Winning Time filmed?