HBO continues to build its cast of stars for its upcoming series about the showtime Lakers. This week, the series added Wood Harris and Gillian Jacobs to its production. Harris will play the role of Spencer Haywood while Jacobs takes on the role of Chris Riley.
Haywood and Riley each played a special role in the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s. Chris Riley was the wife of the team’s coach, Pat Riley. As a licensed therapist, she played a key role in shaping the team’s internal relationships. One of the players she worked with was Spencer Haywood. On the court, Haywood was a champion and five-time all-star. Off the court, he took the NBA to the Supreme Court and earned a ruling that allowed prospects to join the league before graduating from college. This would pave the way for the current Lakers stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Harris and Jacobs will join a cast that includes Quincy Isaiah, Solomon Hughes, Rob Morgan Bo Burnham and Jason Segel among others. Inspired by Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, the series is directed by Adam McKay and executive produced by Kevin Messick.
