Netflix’s Running Point is back for a second season, and the stakes have never been higher—or more chaotic. The sports comedy, starring Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, president of the fictional Los Angeles Waves, dives deeper into family drama, basketball politics, and unexpected twists. In a recent interview, executive producers Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen opened up about the season’s biggest shake-up: the return of Justin Theroux’s Cam Gordon.
Cam, Isla’s eldest brother who spent most of Season 1 in rehab, is back with a vengeance. According to Barinholtz, Cam “really blows everything up” in Season 2. “He’s one of the more fun characters to write for,” Barinholtz said. “You drop him into a scene, and he’s the one who’s going to call everyone out. Then, when you call him out, he’s going to get mad.” Kaling added that having Theroux fully present this season was a delight, noting that last year he was mostly off-screen due to rehab. “To be able to have him full freight the whole season working with them is great,” she said.
The new season picks up with Isla celebrating a championship win, only to have her joy shattered when Cam and Al Fleischman (Ken Marino) announce they’re bringing a rival basketball team to Los Angeles—and hiring her new boyfriend, Jay Brown (Jay Ellis), as head coach. This family feud adds layers of tension, as Isla must navigate her personal and professional life under the shadow of her charismatic but troubled brother.
One of the show’s strengths is its clever incorporation of real NBA drama. The producers revealed that the Luka Dončić trade, which shook the basketball world, happened just before Season 1 dropped—and they had already written a similar storyline. “I texted Jeanie Buss and was like, ‘Thank you for making our show even more relevant,’” Barinholtz joked. Kaling noted that the real-life drama surrounding Buss, the former Lakers CEO who inspired Isla’s character, provides endless material. “She’s had so much drama, romantic drama, so much stuff that she’s willing to let us dramatize,” Kaling said.
The show also mirrors recent NBA injuries. In a twist of art imitating life, the Waves’ star player Marcus Winfield (Toby Sandeman) suffers a major injury, just days after Dončić himself had a season-ending hamstring injury. “We’ll be suing Luca,” Kaling quipped, while Barinholtz added, “He reads every script and signs off on it. The fact that he got an injury right after we had the character get an injury, pretty convenient, Mr. Dončić.”
Another highlight of Season 2 is a show-stopping dance number performed by Kate Hudson. The producers revealed that Hudson learned the routine in just 36 hours. “She’s an incredible dancer, but that was a huge challenge,” Stassen said. The scene is a testament to Hudson’s dedication and adds a fun, energetic moment to the season.
For fans of the show, the new season also deepens the friendship drama between Isla and her best friend, played by Brenda Song. In a recent interview, Kate Hudson and Brenda Song dished on Running Point Season 2’s friendship drama and that intense dance scene, offering more insight into the characters’ evolving dynamics.
With its blend of sharp writing, real-world sports references, and a stellar cast, Running Point continues to score big. The producers are already looking ahead, with Kaling noting that the show’s ability to adapt to real NBA events keeps it fresh. “It’s the most fun assignment for us to be able to take what really happened,” she said.
Season 2 of Running Point is now streaming on Netflix. If you’re looking for more binge-worthy content, check out Why Noah Centineo’s ‘The Recruit’ Demands a Rewatch on Netflix or Netflix’s ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Is a Bloody, Binge-Worthy Action Epic.
