In this episode, Spencer welcomes award-winning screenwriter and executive producer of HBO's latest hit series "Winning Time" Rodney Barnes, plus actor and former Cal basketball star Solomon Hughes who portrays Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and actor Quincy Isaiah who plays Magic Johnson.

Spencer talks with Rodney about how the show came together, then with Solomon about his college basketball days and earning his PhD. Both Solomon and Quincy chat about their first acting roles and Quincy details the challenges of emulating Magic's high-energy personality.

The group then discusses the struggles that black athletes faced at the time and contextualizes them with some of Spencer's experiences. Finally, Spencer explains how grateful he is to the cast and crew of "Winning Time" for telling the truth about him and the 1980 Lakers, so others can learn from their mistakes as well as their successes.


Key Takeaways
In this podcast, you will learn:
-The origin of HBO's newest hit "Winning Time"
-Spencer's early life experience and struggles
-The challenges of facing the Supreme Court for a black athlete in the '70s
-How Spencer's struggles were indicative of the wide-ranging effects of being born into indentured slavery
-Why Spencer thinks Solomon and Quincy are able to portray their characters so accurately
-How grateful Spencer is that Rodney and "Winning Time" have helped so many people learn about Spencer's legacy and his influence on the game of basketball


Quotes
The doctor's office and hospital were all six miles away from my home. However, we were unable to see that doctor because we were black. So we may see a veterinarian and a farm doctor, but not a real doctor. - Spencer

We were up against a group of high school players who preferred to wear Adidas or pro shoes rather than Converse. My Converse at that time had a hole in the bottom, so I had to stuff it with cardboard paper. So I gathered all of their shoes and had to return them to my Mississippi county so that my men could have shoes since we didn't have any. We played barefoot. - Spencer

I believe you (Spencer) are the embodiment of a leader because, at the end of the day, a leader is so focused on the objective that the criticisms do not distract them. They know what the correct thing to do is, and they do it. - Solomon

One of the most amazing things about black people is our ability to utilize comedy to discuss these horrible events. - Solomon

As a black man, you know that blacks weren't treated well, but I didn't know anything like that. I had no idea it had gotten so far into the weeds. And I imagine that if I talked to my grandparents, they would have had similar experiences. - Quincy

I knew that if we were able to mix all of the various ingredients from the game, the culture of the men who play the game, how they live their lives, and the things that are important to them, add all of this and with the great cinematic team that we have, great props folks and everybody else involved, you have something special. - Rodney

Featured in this Episode
Spencer Haywood | American Former Basketball Player | Olympic Gold Medalist | NBA Champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, | ABA MVP, '70 ROY
Profile: https://linktr.ee/SpencerHaywood

Rodney Barnes | Award-Winning Writer & Producer | A force in horror, fantasy, and drama
Website: https://rodneybarnes.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes

Solomon Hughes | Actor Portraying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Winning Time
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/solomonyounghughes/

Quincy Isaiah | Actor Portraying Magic Johnson on Winning Time
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincyisaiah/

Check this Out:
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty - A dramatic look at the glitz and glamor of 1980s Los Angeles and the rise of the NBA's Lakers, Dr. Jerry Buss and Magic Johnson.

Chapters
00:00 Show intro
00:57 Episode and guest intros
01:53 Rodney explains how Adam McKay helped get HBO on board with "Winning Time"
03:33 Solomon talks playing basketball at Cal
04:43 Solomon details how he developed a shot similar to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook
05:07 Solomon's background and landing the role of Kareem
08:35 Rodney challenges Quincy to a game of ball
08:42 Quincy's background and the challenges of portraying Magic Johnson
12:00 Spencer vows to set up a time for Magic and Quincy to meet
13:20 Spencer discusses how he spoke to Kareem about Solomon's portrayal of him and how important it was to the Muslim community
14:00 Rodney & Spencer discuss Wood Harris' role
14:47 Spencer explains how his struggles with PTSD led to his involvement with drugs
15:39 Spencer's past and his struggles with substance abuse
16:34 Curt Flood's fight against the Supreme Court and how he was forced to leave the country
17:45 Spencer talks about how LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook all told him they learned of his story by watching "Winning Time"
22:25 Spencer gets sued by the NBA, ABA, and the NCAA, then the players union turns against him too
23:15 Spencer reveals how Jack Kent Cooke publicly denounced him but then tried to sign him in private
25:39 Quincy's life since portraying Magic Johnson
27:10 Solomon's life since portraying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
31:13 Development of other characters on "Winning Time"
31:40 Spencer gives the gory details of how he circumcised himself
32:53 Rodney corroborates Spencer's story of being forced to see an animal doctor and details a story Chris Rock's mother once told him of a similar experience
36:48 Spencer's tells of how working in the cotton fields prepared him for the NBA
38:42 Cazzie Russell invites Spencer to play against college players when he was still in high school
39:02 Dave Bing wants to see how a young Spencer does against the pros
39:15 Will Robinson adopts Spencer
40:08 Spencer tells a story about him and Jo Jo White during the 1968 Olympic Gold Medal Game
40:58 How Will Robinson helped recruit Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman to help create the Bad Boy Pistons
41:07 Spencer refutes the claim that "Winning Time" embellished or exaggerated their portrayals of Jerry West and Pat Riley
42:39 Quincy talks about Jason Clarke's powerful performance as Jerry West
44:28 Spencer thanks Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, and Dave Bing for supporting him
47:45 Spencer speaks on Italy and Iman
48:06 Bill Sharman visits Spencer in Italy
48:45 The challenges Paul Westhead faced as a young coach
49:00 Adrien Brody's performance as Pat Riley
49:20 Spencer suggests Magic, Kareem, and Jerry West should get together with Rodney, Solomon, and Quincy to clear the air
49:58 Spencer on why he loves Sally Field as Jessie Buss
51:08 Kenny Smith comes to the premiere
52:11 How Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant helped Spencer secure health insurance for retired players
54:02 NBA Playoff predictions
59:31 Spencer thanks the guests for helping to tell his story and for all of their great work on "Winning Time"

Book about Spencer Haywood
The Spencer Haywood Rule: Battles, Basketball, and the Making of an American Iconoclast

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spencer-Haywood-Rule-Basketball-Iconoclast-ebook/dp/B086HF6GLV

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53647047-the-spencer-haywood-rule

Triumph Books: https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-spencer-haywood-rule-products-9781629377766.php