Dr. Jerry Buss, who built the Los Angeles Lakers into one of the most successful sports franchises in the world must be rolling over in his grave watching daughter Jeanie forget what made the team worth over $5 billion.
What made Jerry special was he understood pro basketball at its best was simply entertainment and the main key to the business succeeding was to build teams with the star power to attract fans and win championships. The 17 championship banners and 11 retired jerseys of former Laker stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant hanging in the rafters are why the Lakers are worth over $5 billion.
While Jerry Buss was often a reckless gambler, he always knew winning solves everything in professional sports so he never allowed himself or the Laker to become complacent or less aggressive. Winning was the only goal. Unfortunately, Jeanie seems to have forgotten that lesson as reports now say the Lakers at this time are unwilling to sign free agents or take back contracts in trades longer than the one year left on LeBron’s contract.
Trying to execute a complete offseason rebuilding of the Lakers roster is challenging enough without having to do with your hands tied behind your back and your feet hogtied. Jeanie Buss must see the forest instead of trees. Investing in the present is investing in the future when it comes to LeBron or any other NBA superstar. LeBron is here today in many ways because of how Jeanie treated Kobe, which is exactly how she should treat LeBron.
Unless the Lakers dysfunction is an inspired scam designed to befuddle competitors and create illusive leverage, the Lakers and LeBron James are now at a standoff that’s paralyzed the franchise during a critical offseason. James’ camp seems to be saying show us you can build a championship team and we’ll sign the extension. The Lakers appear to be replying sign the extension and we’ll then go all-in to build a win-now championship roster.
Who’s right and who’s wrong is not as important as the right outcome, which is LeBron James signing the 2-year extension on August 4th and the Lakers then making the long-term sacrifices to win now with LeBron.
Great article LT, I think we’ll see more movement in general from the Lakers after 8/4 when all of this can at least be talked about openly between the two camps. Also feels like THT’s days here are numbered. I think a Buddy trade gets done by the end of the week.
Thanks, Jamie. I hope you’re right. Have no idea what Rob is going to do but have my fingers crossed. Jeanie just has to realize that you cannot compete against Golden State if you don’t have the same level of commitment to winning. If your dad taught you anything, it’s that winning will fix everything. Lakers need to commit to win and trust LeBron will see that and respond in kind.
Yeah but her Dad did it in an era without punitive luxury taxes that just take away from your overall earnings. That’s a huge difference between the two and can’t be glossed over. Still, I think it may yet take something like LBJ leaving (or hopefully not signing an extension right away) for her to get onboard all the way.
Thing is…the Lakers have never been that balls to the walls, win at whatever cost franchise that they’ve been portrayed to be. Dr Buss just did a better job of keeping up the facade. Yeah, the franchise might be worth $5 billion but that cash only goes in the bank if the team is sold. Otherwise, it’s all theoretical. That’s why we’re always stressing over pennies. Ain’t like we haven’t seen it before.