Summary
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers is one of the BEST series running on TV.
In the last episode of Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers, it was the Kobe show, as we saw how, in the blink of an eye, he became a star to superstar after Shaq. So, what will we see unfold this week? Let’s dive in.
The chatter begins on what Jerry Buss’s lasting legacy would be. Who would take over what, but ultimately, whoever did, he wanted them to carry on the Lakers’ legacy by winning more championships after he was gone? Nothing was laid out about what would happen post-death, but the family knew it would be a bloodbath.
We have a rematch of the 2020 NBA Finals, with the Lakers taking on the Celtics. The last time these two teams met, the Celtics mopped the floor with them. It was the 12th time they would go head-to-head with the storied franchise, but the Lakers had lost nine times previously. However, they had a more refined team this time and felt they had the pieces to make it over the hump.
The Lakers were down double-digits in game seven, but they fought back with the help of Ron Artest to win the championship. Then, in a funny moment that I think we all remember, Kobe said in the post-game press conference, “I got one more than Shaq.” It’s amusing now to look back at this moment and think that this would’ve been a huge deal if we were in the day and age of social media.
Trying to three-peat is something that isn’t that easy. From Phil Jackson, battling cancer in the midst of the Lakers’ struggles, to the team feeling all out of sorts, the Lakers’ sweep by the Mavericks was embarrassing. Phil Jackson walked away from coaching amid the sweep to deal with his health concerns.
People often forget how free agency, coaching changes, and players finding their own formed this massive shift in franchise winning title after title after title. Teams would stay together in the 1970s and 1980s, and even into the early 1990s. You didn’t see much poaching in players. However, as the money started to flood, players and coaches shifted more frequently. As you see in this episode with the Lakers, all good things end in modern-day sports. It’s hard to repeat, let alone three-peat.
The drama within this series is second to none and rivals any weekly TV drama. You see a similar dynamic with the battle between Brian Shaw and Jimmy Buss. They retell the stories of Shaw not getting hired at the time entirely differently. These two exchanging barbs are one of the better things you will see in this episode. Less than a year after being with the Lakers, Brown was fired. More drama ensues when we hear the story of Phil Jackson’s approach out of retirement.
The aftermath of Jerry Buss’ passing away felt like it altered the course of the Lakers’ history. From the Buss family in chaos to the injuries to Kobe, nothing seemed to be going right for the once-storied franchise. You started to see a team that couldn’t put the pieces together to contend, which led to fewer people showing up in the stands.
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers boasts incredible storytelling, filled with drama, great editing, and even better direction. It is a must-watch series. One last note: the montage of Kobe Bryant’s final game that concludes this episode will bring you to tears.
