The Showtime Lakers reunited in Hawaii to celebrate their five titles and hit the hardwood one more time to run some plays and put up some shots.
Former Laker coach Pat Riley, known for his intenses practices when he led LA in the 1980s, had the team stretching before starting drills.
“Showtime Lakers showing you how OLDtime Lakers stretch today lol!!!,” Tweeted Michael Cooper.
Showtime Lakers showing you how OLDtime Lakers stretch today lol!!!
@showtimereunion thanks to @MagicJohnson Coach Riley and the @Lakers pic.twitter.com/EQGiVjrFG4— Michael Cooper (@ShowtimeCooper) September 16, 2022
“Had a ‘walk around’ for the Showtime Reunion today! we had so much fun running plays and reliving our practice days,” Tweeted Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 16, 2022
Reunion attendees also hit the links and took the time to show off their singing skills.
“Doesn’t get any better than this,” Tweeted James Worthy.
Doesn’t get better than this…#showtimereunion #lakers pic.twitter.com/8l3VkEqMfb
— James Worthy (@JamesWorthy42) September 17, 2022
“Hangin in Maui w my Showtime Laker teammates – a reunion that I’ll always cherish,” Tweeted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Hanging in Maui w my Showtime Laker teammates – a reunion that I’ll always cherish @NBA @Lakers pic.twitter.com/SE8w671QET
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) September 16, 2022
The Showtime Lakers won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 1980, 1982, 1895, 1987-88.
In 984, games they had 712 wins and 272 losses for a 72.4 winning percentage.
The Lakers were thrust back into the media spotlight with the release of HBO’s series Winning Time, which follows the rise of the Showtime Lakers.
The fictional series was a hit for viewers, but not so much with the Lakers.
The Lakers’ rivalry with the Boston Celtics and the battle between greats Magic and Larry Brid would rejuvenate the league and fan interest.
The list of Hall of Famers and greats who played for the Lakers of the 1980s include Magic, Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Bob McAdoo, AC Green, Kurt Rambis, Norm Nixon, Mitch Kupchak, coaches Pat Riley and Paul Westhead, trainer Gary Vitti, and GM Jerry West.
The Showtime Lakers’ notoriety and success transformed LA into the premiere NBA franchise and would lead to the Shaq and Kobe Laker championship teams of 2000, ’01, and ’02, Kobe’s ’09 and ’10 teams, and the LeBron James Laker title in 2020.
Magic and company made the Lakers the team of the league that every star wanted to play for.
Johnson would later briefly coach the Lakers and work in the front office, while Jabbar spent some time working as a coach for big men.
Both Byron Scott and Michael Cooper spent time as coaches, Scott in the NBA and Cooper in the WNBA, and former coach Riley would win three more rings with the Miami Heat.
