Is Running Point about Jeanie Buss? Real life inspiration behind Netflix’s new series

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In late February, a fresh comedy show titled “Running Point” made its debut on Netflix. This series follows the life of a former partygoer, portrayed by Kate Hudson, who finds herself in a new role as president of a professional basketball team owned by her family after an unexpected turn of events. She must now demonstrate her skills and determination to prove herself as a successful businesswoman.

As viewers watched, they started noticing certain parallels between the narrative and the life of a real individual – Jeanie Buss, the influential owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers. This led to speculation about whether the story was inspired by her experiences. Let’s delve into this interesting point now.

Is Running Point a true story and tells the story of Jeanie Buss?

While the character portrayed by Kate Hudson, Isla Gordon, isn’t Jeanie Buss herself, the narrative of Isla in many ways mirrors Jeanie’s life after she assumed the presidency of the Lakers following her father, Dr. Jerry Buss’ demise in 2013. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that Running Point isn’t a completely fact-based series; rather, it is a dramatized interpretation of Jeanie’s life story with fictional elements, so the Netflix production only loosely follows real events.

In an interview with Tudum’s show Running Point, Buss admitted that although Running Point isn’t a biography, it clearly portrays the weight she carried upon being named majority owner of the Lakers.

In one moment, Ali, portrayed by Brenda Song, exclaims, “You can’t mess this up. It would set back women everywhere.” This sentiment resonated deeply as I accepted the job, given the predominantly male nature of my profession. Not just striving for personal success, I am also embodying the aspirations and expectations of all women in sports and entertainment. Navigating success is already challenging, but with this heavy responsibility, it feels like a daunting undertaking.

As a gaming enthusiast who’s dabbled in production, I had a sneak peek into the making of “Running Point.” In an interview with TIME back in February 2025, I admitted my influence on the storyline; however, I made it clear that the characters portrayed in the Netflix series, including Isla Gordon, are entirely fictional.

These characters are not my family, and Isla Gordon is not me.

So, “Running Point” shouldn’t be classified as a biographical series because it’s based on fictional events. However, it does take inspiration from real-life events that have captivated people, like the character of Jeanie Buss who also appears in “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”. But importantly, “Running Point” is a project that Jeanie Buss herself has been involved with.

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2025-03-06 14:23