Spencer Haywood

Did Spencer Haywood really put a try to kill the Lakers?

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Winning Time episode 9 suggests he did – let’s separate the fact from the fiction

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A lot of the episode focuses on Spencer Haywood’s relationship with the Lakers

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In episode 8 and 9 of the series Spencer Haywood turning to drugs and he developing a cocaine addiction

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In the show, the Lakers have a team meeting and vote to waive Spencer Haywood before the NBA Finals

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In reality, it was then-coach Paul Westhead’s decision, not the team’s, and Haywood was suspended, not cut, from the team

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According to the Los Angeles Times, Westhead opted to suspend Haywood indefinitely after multiple disruptions

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In the episode, Abdul-Jabbar breaks the news to Haywood that he won’t be playing in the Finals.

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Haywood feels betrayed and we see him meeting up with a drug dealer/friend to set up an attack on his teammates.

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Well, there is some truth to the show’s claim but it is not entirely accurate

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So no, Spencer Haywood did not put a hit out on the entire Lakers team, but he did (however briefly) want to get revenge on Westhead.

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Haywood was cut after Game 3 of the 1980 NBA Finals. And Haywood was awarded a ring despite not playing in the finals.

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