5 major casting choices for the upcoming HBO series on LA Lakers, 'Winning Time'; featuring Adrien Brody as Pat Riley, Jason Segel as Paul Westhead, and more

The Los Angeles Lakers are known as one of the most legendary NBA franchises in the history of basketball. The organization has gone on to win a total of 17 championships during their tenure in the NBA. No run was more notable than the Lakers title era in the 1980s, which saw the team win five championships over the decade.

HBO recently announced that they will be releasing a new drama series that will take a look at the legendary Los Angeles Lakers team of the 80s. The series will be called "Winning Time" and is set to focus on the birth of the "Showtime" Lakers, including Hall of Fame superstar guard Ervin "Magic" Johnson.

Since the release of the trailer, the series has generated a serious amount of buzz around the basketball world, as a number of big named actors look to have prominent roles in the upcoming film. Here's a look at five of the actors who will be playing important roles in the new original series about the legendary Los Angeles Lakers team.

---

#5 Jason Clarke as Jerry West

Hollywood actor Jason Clarke will play Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West

The cast of "Winning Time" features a lot of exciting actors who will be taking on important roles when it comes to illustrating all of the pieces to the Lakers dynasty of the 80s. One of those roles will involve former Lakers point guard Jerry West, who will be played by hollywood actor Jason Clarke. The Australian-born actor has been in a number of films but is best known for his role in the television series "Brotherhood." One of his most notable movie roles came when Clarke played a major part in the crime film "Lawless," which focused on a violent conflict between three bootlegging brothers during the prohibition-era moonshine business.

The film featured two of Hollywood's biggest stars in Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf. Clarke will play an important piece in the story of former NBA legend Jerry West, who has been one of the most famous individuals who has ever been tied to the Lakers organization. West was a dominant player on the NBA court and is known as "the logo" for the NBA due to his greatness on the court

.

#4 Jason Segel as Paul Westhead

Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Paul Westhead

One of the most pleasant surprises in the casting of "Winning Time" was the news that hollywood actor Jason Segel will take on the role of former Los Angeles Lakers coach Paul Westhead. The drafting of superstar point guard Magic Johnson coincided with Westhead taking over the Lakers head coaching duties, bringing the team its first championship of the decade.

Hollywood actor Jason Segel will play former Los Angeles Lakers coach Paul Westhead

His story involving his relationship with Magic Johnson and owner Jerry Buss will surely be something that the series will shed light on, as there seemed to be a rumored amount of friction behind the coach & owners' working relationship involving Westhead and Buss. Segel has been known for a number of his comedic performances over the years, including his roles in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "I Love You Man" and "Knocked Up." Surely cinema fans will be eager to see the type of character that Segel can deliver on the small screen.

#3 Adrien Brody as Pat Riley

Los Angeles Lakers legendary head coach Pat Riley

One announcement from the series that has fans from both the basketball and cinematic worlds is the reveal that hollywood actor Adrien Brody will be playing legendary Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley. There's no denying that the series was going to need a big performance when it came to portraying the role of Pat Riley as the Lakers head coach throughout the 1980s. After starting his career out with the New York Knicks, Riley was brought into coach the Lakers and was known for his passion and competitiveness while roaming the sidelines.

Hollywood actor Adrien Brody will play former Los Angeles Lakers legendary coach Pat Riley

Riley played a huge role as the head coach of the Lakers during the legendary rivalry between Boston and Los Angeles in the NBA and it should be sensational to see his character develop on screen. Brody will bring a long resume of acting success to the series, as he's been one of the top actors in the cinematic industry. He's best known for his role in "The Pianist" which saw Brody win the Academy Award for Best Actor at the age of 29. Brody became the youngest actor to win in that category.

#2 Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson

Quincy Isaiah will play the role of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson

One of the biggest roles in the series will be that of Ervin "Magic" Johnson who will be played by Quincy Isaiah. There's no denying that Isaiah is going to have a massive part to play when it comes to the success of HBO's Los Angeles Lakers' series. Basketball fans around the world are going to be tuned in to see how this series showcases the famous NBA personality that was Magic Johnson. This is a huge opportunity for Isaiah, who will get plenty of attention for what is surely going to be one of his most notable roles in his young career.

Magic Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the first overall selection in the 1979 NBA Draft. He was known for being a charismatic personality on and off the court and was the reason for the birth of the "Showtime" Lakers. One of the most interesting developments will be how the series goes about shedding some light on the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, especially when it comes to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

#1 John C Reilly as Jerry Buss

Hollywood actor John C.Reilly will take on the role as Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss

One of the major attention grabbing roles that was announced for the "Winning Time" documentary was hollywood actor John C. Reilly taking on the role of Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss. The teaser reveals the development of the entire Lakers dynasty, right from the beginning, which featured a brief snippet of Buss buying the Lakers franchise in 1979. Buss transformed the Lakers into one of the most famous organizations in the sport of basketball. Turning the team into not just a legendary dynasty, but also providing fans with one of the most entertaining experiences in the world. The "Showtime" Lakers stood out with their play on the court but also with their presentation during every Los Angeles Lakers home game.

When it comes to the role of Jerry Buss, John C. Reilly is going to get the attention of fans in a hurry as he's been known for his illustrious career on film. It was even rumored at one point that Will Ferrell was going to take on the role of Jerry Buss, but Reilly eventually replaced Ferrell. From the trailer alone, it looks as if Reilly should quickly become the star of the show with his energy and comedic relief. When it comes to his resume, Reilly has impressive experience with some extremely successful films, but he is best known for his roles in "Stepbrothers," and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."