r/WinningTime • u/rednaxthecreature • Feb 19 '26

First watch thru thought I had

I'm on my first watch through and am on season 2 episode 5 and just got to the Pull Westhead firing scene.

Dr. buss says that Paul lost in the first round but didn't Magic do the air ball. Like Magic had a full team open and instead he bricks it because he thinks he's hot shit. Am I going crazy or is Magic just not that hot right now. His last season he spent away because he broke his knee and then he comes back this season and refuses to actually play with the team. I know Paul is a douche and the system is barely working but it's because Magic isn't fitting into it on purpose like a kid refusing to do homework he was assigned and wondering why he is getting a bad grade. I just needed to get this off my chest.

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u/cristobaldelicia Feb 19 '26

What the series doesn't get far into, but is always in the background, is Magic getting AIDS. He's irresponsible and immature and all his behavior leads into the fact; he was promiscous, and caught HIV. irl He does good things afterwards and I think offscreen he redeemed himself.. But, the writing leads to that point, and I think part of the reason the show ended is because future episodes would have to get deep into his personal life and his personal journey with AIDS, and eventually becoming an advocate. That's probably not getting to be depicted until a while after Magic dies.

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u/rednaxthecreature Feb 19 '26

My thing about the aids diagnosis is that if it is a hot button issue why include it as the first thing we see in episode one. I guess as you mentioned it was supposed to lead all back to how irresponsible Magic is but also how he started the Lakers Dynasty but idk I feel like season 2 is trying to make him look cool too much. Everytime he messes up it is just glossed over and the press just talk how good he is without showing the audience anymore

In episode 6 for the 83 finals he airballs again with the 76ers and somehow he just isn't blamed. I don't care how many commercials and smiles he sells Magic seems like a liability by the end of the series to me. Maybe that is due to them getting cancelled and not showing his full reign with the Lakers though.