Michael Chiklis to portray Red Auerbach in HBO’s Lakers series
The cast for HBO’s drama series centered on the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s continues to grow as Michael Chiklis has joined the protect to play Red Auerbach, according to Deadline. Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach was the legendary basketball coach of the Boston Celtics, winning nine NBA championships. Auerbach won seven more championships as general manager, and when the Lakers’ “rise threatens to destroy his Boston dynasty, Auerbach proves himself to be the basketball genius and cut-throat competitor of every Laker fans’ nightmares.”
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Chiklis is best known for playing Vic Mackey in The Shield. His credits also include Coyote, Fantastic Four, American Horror Story, Gotham, The Commish, Vegas, and more. He will next be seen in Adam McKay’s comedy Don’t Look Up.
Being from the Boston area growing up and having lived in LA for the past 30 years, this is a particularly special gig and role. Especially with this group of people. #Grateful https://t.co/KpIR53GiXr via @Deadline
— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) March 19, 2021
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The HBO series will chronicle the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties, in what came to be called the Showtime Era. The series currently untitled series is based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s written by Jeff Pearlman. Max Borenstein (The Terror, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong) serves as writer and executive producer. Oscar winner Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice) directed the pilot and executive produces through Hyperobject Industries.
Pick up your copy of Jeff Pearlman’s book here!
The series also stars Adrien Brody as Pat Riley, John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Sally Field as Jessie Buss, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman, Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss, DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon, Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani, Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr., Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn, Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling, Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani, Tamera Tomakili as Earletha ‘Cookie’ Kelly, and Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen.
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Kevin Messick of Hyperobject will also executive produce along with Jason Shuman. Jim Hecht co-wrote the story and will also executive produce. Scott Stephens will also executive produce along with Rodney Barnes.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic& Focus on Sport/Getty Images)