Executive producer Adam McKay and Will Ferrell had been producing partners for 25 years, until 2019 when their partnership and friendship ended abruptly, because Ferrell had his heart set on playing Jerry Buss in the series, then in development. McKay agreed, casting Ferrell in the role, before changing his mind and casting John C. Reilly (who worked with Ferrell and McKay on Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Step Brothers (2008) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)) instead without telling Ferrell. Ferrell was furious and ended their business relationship; McKay thought their falling out would last several months before realizing that Ferrell was far more hurt than McKay thought he would be and told Vanity Fair in November 2021 that Ferrell "will never talk to me again."
DeVaughn Nixon is portraying his father, Norm Nixon, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1977 to 1983.
The series was going to be called Showtime, which is the title of the book that Adam McKay was adapting. However, that title created some understandable head-scratching considering the series will be airing on HBO and not its competitor, which also happens to be named Showtime.
Basketball games were filmed on a set consisting of a full basketball court surrounded by a 360 degree green screen stage and five rows of seats that had to be switched out as the time period changed. Film cameras were used, including one operated by a camera operator (John Lyke) wearing rollerblades.
Bo Burnham was originally cast as Larry Bird, but scheduling conflicts forced him to drop out in August 2021.