Running the Los Angeles Waves basketball franchise is a family affair for the Gordons in Running Point, now streaming its first season on Netflix.

It is interesting to note that Running Point has its roots with the Los Angeles Lakers ownership, dating back to June 2021. Much has changed since Elaine Ko wrote the original script. The Lakers roots didn’t stop Pepperdine University from suing because of the Waves having a similar color scheme to their athletic teams. Anyway, Lakers controlling owner and team president Jeanie Buss and executive director Linda Rambis are executive producers of the series. Ultimately, the focus was switched to a fictional Los Angeles team in what looks to be the ABL (American Basketball League?).

This review contains spoilers for season 1.

It isn’t uncommon for television series to draw on real-life inspiration for story potential. Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) and Buss is that Isla found herself getting a promotion after brother Cam (Justin Theroux) stepped down as a result of a drug scandal. That’s obviously not the case for Buss in real life since her father always planned to have her succeed him in the job. But much like the Lakers, running the Waves is a family affair and the franchise is one of the storied teams in the league.

It’s an uphill climb almost as soon as Isla ascends into the role. Neither Ness (Scott MacArthur)–an older brother and general manager–nor Sandy–a younger half-brother and chief financial officer–think she’s fit for the job. Cam is in the only brother to give Isla his slam dunk of approval. Elsewhere, radio personality Sean Murphy (Jon Glaser) doesn’t think Isla is the right person to run the team. Assisting Isla in the front office is best friend and Waves chief of staff Ali Lee (Brenda Song). The sexism is strong in this one as Isla must prove herself to everyone, including board chairman Stephen Ramirez (Roberto Sanchez).

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with women in sports. Let me repeat in case you didn’t hear it the first time: there is absolutely nothing wrong with women in sports. If a woman has the right talent and credentials to run a sports franchise, they should absolutely be given the chance. One can’t argue the case of nepotism in Running Point because operating the Los Angeles Waves, again, is a family affair. It’s not the typical underdog show but the series creators put their own twist on the sports comedy.

It’s very early into the series before Running Point drops the bombshell on audiences: Jackie Moreno (Fabrizio Guido) is a member of the Gordon family. Their father had an affair with a housekeeper while the family wants nothing to do with him, they eventually come around by bringing him into the front office. But even then, they still don’t really treat him like a younger brother–at least not until late into the first season.

It’s not all business as Running Point allows audiences to get to know various players throughout the season. Right off the bat, we get the sense that point guard Travis Bugg (Chet Hanks) is going to pose a problem for the team. Rather than trade him or rebuild the team altogether, Isla orchestrates a different trade and drafts Dyson Gibbs (Uche Agada) from the D-League. Marcus Winfield (Tony Sandeman) is the Waves’ superstar player and future Basketball Hall of Fame member. Another player on the team is Slovenia’s Badrag Knauss (Dane DiLiegro).

Judaism gets thrown into the spotlight during Running Point‘s fifth episode, titled “Beshert.” The correct spelling of the Yiddish word is bashert. In Judaism, one’s bashert is their soulmate. The episode focuses on Isla’s long-overdue engagement party with pediatrician fiancé Lev Levenson (Max Greenfield). There’s a whole discussion on converting and we later find out how this impact’s Isla and the trust left to her brothers. For Lev’s parents, having Jewish grandchildren is a pretty big deal. Hudson was raised Jewish in real life.

It’s a good thing that the series was renewed because the first season finale leaves viewers wanting more. It doesn’t so much tie up loose ends in as much as it opens all new ones. It’s not the way that any new series should end unless they know they’re being renewed. In this case, Netflix announced the Running Point renewal almost as soon as the show premiered in February. Will Isla get back with Lev or are they really over? What’s the deal with Coach Jay Brown? Will he stay with the Waves or follow his ex-wife and children to Boston? Inquiring minds want to know!

Running Point is running on all cylinders as it delivers a mixture of slam dunks, jumpers, and free throws in the sports comedy. Kate Hudson may very well be looking at an Emmy nomination later this year. There is plenty to enjoy about the series and I can’t wait to see how they improve on things next season.

SHOWRUNNER: David Stassen
CREATED BY: Elaine Ko and Mindy Kaling & Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen
DIRECTORS: James Ponsoldt (Eps. 1-2), Michael Weaver (Eps. 3-4, 7-8), Thembi Banks (Eps. 5-6), David Stassen (Eps. 9-10)
WRITERS: Mindy Kaling & Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen (Ep. 1, 10), Mindy Kaling (Ep. 2), Ike Barinholtz & David Stassen (Ep. 3), Grace Edwards (Ep. 4), Joe Mande (Ep. 5), Akshara Sekar (Ep. 6.), Brandon Childs (Ep. 7), Michael Rodriguez (Ep. 8), Michael Chung & Bronson Diallon (Ep. 9)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen, Kate Hudson, Howard Klein Jeanie Buss, Linda Rambis
CAST: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Chet Hanks, Toby Sandeman
GUEST STARRING: Jay Ellis, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto, Sanchez, Uche Agada, Dane DiLiegro, and Justin Theroux

Netflix released all episodes of Running Point on February 27, 2025. Grade: 4/5

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