After being asked last week for a retraction and an apology by former Los Angeles Lakers executive Jerry West for "a baseless and malicious assault" on his character, HBO on Tuesday instead issued a statement defending its series "Winning Time," saying its "dramatization" is "based on extensive factual research and reliable sourcing."
West's lawyers last week alleged that "Winning Time falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic," saying that "bears no resemblance to the real man." In the letter sent April 19 to HBO and series producer Adam McKay, obtained by ESPN, West's lawyers asked for a retraction no later than two weeks from the receipt of the letter.