5 Shocking True-Story Parallels Behind Netflix's 'Running Point' (And The Real-Life Jeanie Buss)

The question of whether Netflix’s hit sports comedy, Running Point, is based on a true story has captivated viewers since its release, and the answer is a compelling mix of fact and fiction. While the show, which stars Kate Hudson as the fictional Isla Gordon, is a work of comedy, it is deeply and "loosely inspired" by the real-life journey of one of the most powerful women in sports: Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the legendary Los Angeles Lakers.

As of December 2025, the series offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of running a major professional basketball franchise. The show’s creator, Mindy Kaling, worked closely with Jeanie Buss, who serves as an executive producer, to capture the authentic drama, sexism, and family chaos that come with inheriting a multi-billion-dollar sports empire.

The Real-Life Inspiration: Jeanie Buss Biography & Profile

The fictional Isla Gordon, who unexpectedly inherits the Los Angeles Waves, is a direct stand-in for Jeanie Buss, whose journey to become the controlling owner of the Lakers is one of the most dramatic succession stories in modern sports.

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• Full Name: Jeanie Marie Buss
• Born: September 26, 1961 (Age 64 as of the current date, December 2025)
• Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, U.S.
• Father: Dr. Jerry Buss (Former Lakers Owner, Architect of the "Showtime" Era)
• Current Role: Governor and Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA).
• Education: University of Southern California (USC), B.S. in Business.
• Key Achievement: First female controlling owner to win an NBA Championship (2020).
• Notable Personal Life: Previously engaged to NBA legend Phil Jackson; previously dated tennis star John McEnroe.
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): Varies, but often estimated between $500 million and $1 billion, largely due to her controlling stake in the Lakers organization.

5 Real-Life Battles That Fueled The 'Running Point' Storylines

The creative team, including Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, used specific, high-stakes moments from Jeanie Buss’s career to build the fictional world of Isla Gordon and the L.A. Waves. These parallels are what make the show feel so authentic and "true."

1. The Bitter Family Feud and Ownership Coup

This is arguably the central "true story" element of Running Point. In the show, Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) must navigate intense family skepticism and internal power struggles after her father’s death. This directly mirrors the very public and dramatic legal battle Jeanie Buss faced in 2017.

• The Fictional Storyline: Isla is challenged by her brothers (including Drew Tarver's Sandy Gordon and Scott MacArthur's Ness Gordon) and other family members who believe she is unfit to run the franchise.
• The Real-Life Event: After Dr. Jerry Buss’s death in 2013, Jeanie was designated the controlling owner. However, in 2017, her brothers, Jim Buss and Johnny Buss, attempted to stage a coup to remove her from the Lakers' board of directors. Jeanie Buss fought back in court and ultimately prevailed, securing her position as the team's controlling owner, a dramatic and high-stakes event that perfectly fits the TV drama.

2. The Pressure of Inheriting a Dynasty

The L.A. Waves are presented as one of the most famous franchises in professional basketball, a clear analog for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jeanie Buss did not inherit a struggling team; she inherited a dynasty built by her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, who oversaw the "Showtime Era" and won 10 NBA Championships.

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This immense pressure to live up to a legendary legacy is a core theme in Running Point. Isla Gordon constantly fights to prove her business acumen and strategic vision is worthy of her father's empire, a struggle Jeanie Buss has openly discussed in her own career, particularly in the years following her father's passing.

3. Overcoming Sexism in a Male-Dominated League

A major focus of Running Point is Isla Gordon’s experience as a woman in a high-level executive position within the NBA. Jeanie Buss is a trailblazer in this regard. She is not only the first female controlling owner to win an NBA Championship, but her entire career has been marked by breaking gender barriers.

Her early experience included working as the general manager of the Los Angeles Strings (World TeamTennis) at just 19 and later serving as president of the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA). This background provides the authentic foundation for Isla’s struggle against the pervasive skepticism and misogyny she faces from rival owners, commentators, and even her own family members who question her qualifications based on her gender.

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4. The Controversial Firing of a Brother

The show features dramatic decisions by Isla Gordon that impact her family members. In real life, Jeanie Buss made the agonizing decision to fire her brother, Jim Buss, from his role as Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2017. This move was a direct result of the Lakers' prolonged period of underperformance and the family struggle for control.

This action, which cleared the path for Magic Johnson to take an executive role (a move that eventually led to the 2020 NBA Championship), was a necessary but painful step in consolidating her power and putting the team's success first. The show uses this high-stakes, family-vs.-business conflict as a core dramatic engine for Isla Gordon’s character arc.

5. The High-Profile Personal Life

While the relationships in the show are fictional (Kate Hudson's Isla dates Max Greenfield's Lev Levenson), Jeanie Buss’s personal life has also been high-profile and a subject of public scrutiny, much like a celebrity in the world of sports.

Her long-term, high-profile relationship with legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson, who was once the Lakers’ head coach, often put her in the public eye outside of her executive role. This blending of personal relationships with professional responsibilities—and the intense media attention that comes with it—is a recurring theme in the fictional portrayal of Isla Gordon, adding a layer of relatability to the executive's life.

Running Point: A Fictional Comedy, A Real-Life Tribute

Ultimately, Running Point is not a documentary. It is a fictional sports comedy series designed for entertainment, similar to how the show Winning Time is a dramatized take on the Lakers' "Showtime Era." However, the depth of its inspiration from Jeanie Buss's life is undeniable.

Jeanie Buss herself has stated that while the characters are not her family, and Isla Gordon is not a direct clone of her, she was deeply involved to ensure the show accurately portrayed the challenges of running a major sports franchise. The series stands as a unique tribute to the real-life struggle and triumph of a woman who fought a family-driven power struggle, challenged gender norms, and led a storied franchise to an NBA Championship.

For fans who want the complete "true story," the best approach is to watch Running Point for the comedy and then dive into the actual history of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jeanie Buss's autobiography for the full, dramatic, unvarnished truth.