What else explains there being not just one but two glitzy, star-studded TV shows about the Los Angeles Lakers? Suddenly appearing one after the other just three years apart? First, HBO gifted us with Winning Time, a glossy fever dream about the 80s Lakers dynasty that got unceremoniously canceled in the thick of its run before Magic Johnson could even blink.
Now there’s Running Point, Netflix’s more fictional, more contemporary — and dare we say, more meta — version of the exact same brand of hoop dreams.
So yes, the spectre of Peak TV haunts us still. And it seems to have on a Lakers jersey.
Nepo Baby vs. Nepo Crone: Introducing Isla Gordon
Cue in Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, the new president of a fictional NBA team named the Los Angeles Waves (just in case subtlety is for amateurs). Isla is an entirely fictional character who only coincidentally resembles, speaks, and behaves like Jeanie Buss. She’s also promoted by default after her brother Cam (Justin Theroux) flames out publicly in a scandal.
Isla’s ascent is all about smashing a glass ceiling — the one her family literally stocked up — and dodging snarky labels like “nepo crone”. It’s Hudson’s first time leading a series, and she leans hard into the rom-com klutz vibe …until someone remembers to give her an actual personality trait.
Wait, That’s Chet Hanks?
Yes, Chet Hanks — the rapper, the “white boy summer” originator, the son of Tom Hanks — is here playing a sleazy Florida basketball star who is in pursuit of sponsorship deals. And — hold onto your hats — he’s actually good. Maybe it’s because he has stopped pretending to be anything other than a chaos gremlin. Either way, the casting gods were feeling mischievous.
Why Use Living, Breathing People When You Can Just... Not?
Unlike Winning Time, which had to walk on eggshells for the ghosts of basketball legends past, Running Point takes an astute leap into the full fanfiction end of the pool. No Magic. No Kareem.
A fictional team with fictional problems and the occasional secret half-sibling emerging from the snack stand (because, yeah, sure, why not?). It’s the kind of freedom that comes of having Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis as your executive producers, but you still want to maintain, “This is absolutely not about us”.
The Kaling-verse Expands … Into Adulthood?
This is Mindy Kaling’s first adult series in a while, and it has all the hallmarks of her oeuvre: rapid-fire banter, dysfunctional families, and romantic arcs you can see coming from outer space.
Alongside co-creators Ike Barinholtz and Elaine Ko, she's crafted a blend of workplace sitcom, sports drama, and family therapy —all in one, presented with superior lighting.
Jay Ellis portrays the charismatic coach. Brenda Song embodies the overextended best friend. Max Greenfield plays the fiancé who has been engaged for seven years—a scenario as plausible as envisioning a successful NBA franchise run by a family of influencers.
There’s So Much Plot… And So Little Time
The show, Running Point, attempts to cram a 22-episode network sitcom into a 10-episode streaming format, a casualty of streaming's aversion to pacing. Consequently, storylines are introduced and concluded with the speed of Cam’s rehab stay. Power struggles are hinted at and abandoned.
Justin Theroux disappears for half the season, presumably seeking more compelling engagements.
There´s insufficient space to delve into Isla´s trauma, Jackie´s awkward family reunion, or Sandy´s closely guarded existence—unless one counts a single scene where everyone awkwardly shrugs and moves on.
Daddy Issues: The Real MVP
Central to this narrative chaos is the deceased Jack Gordon, a billionaire patriarch so toxic that he managed to ruin all his children before his death. His specter hovers over the Waves franchise like a disastrous HR policy. Isla and her siblings are wealthy, unhappy, and utterly perplexed about navigating life. It resembles Succession, but with more sequins and less subtlety.
So... Is It Good?
Surprisingly, yes. At least, it´s entertaining enough to binge-watch while only partially engaged with the screen, perhaps with a drink in hand. Running Point may not revolutionize the genre, but it's clearly defined — a glamorous, dysfunctional, slightly satirical dramedy that resonates with the allure of attractive individuals making poor decisions.
It merits a second season, if only to grant its characters an opportunity for genuine development. However, one should not be overly ambitious—this is Netflix, after all. It likely faces cancellation the moment a spreadsheet inspires a sneeze.
Final Verdict: A Solid Layup, Not Quite a Slam Dunk
I'll give this a 9/10⭐
Running Point doesn´t redefine the rules of prestige television. Nevertheless, it competently plays the game, sufficiently to ensure we continue watching. The show is dazzling, boasts a stellar cast, and is self-aware enough to be enjoyable.
In short? It's The Mindy Project in basketball shorts—daddy issues, privileged children, and all.
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So have you watched it yet? Let us know down in the comments below if you'd like a Season 2.
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