Late Lakers Owner Jerry Buss "groomed his six children to take over for him," but the "lion's share of responsibility has fallen on" Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss and Exec VP/Player Personnel Jim Buss, according to a Q&A with the two Buss siblings by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN THE MAGAZINE. Shelburne: "As we learned when we sat down with them in her office for an unprecedented joint interview, it ain't easy inheriting a family heirloom." Below are excerpts from the Q&A:
Q: How do you make decisions among the six kids?
Jeanie: From my point of view, it's building consensus with all the siblings. Ultimately, I'm responsible for making the decision. But when it's a big decision or time to move in a certain direction, I like to inform everybody.
Q: Jim, you've taken a lot of criticism for some of the decisions the Lakers have made over the years. How have you learned to deal with that?
Jim: We knew we were going to have to deal with the economics of the new collective bargaining agreement. By correcting our situation, it was going to be painful. ... [But] when I look at the flexibility and the position that we're in, we can't be in a better position to move forward.
Q: Your 2015 first-round pick is owed to Phoenix as part of the Steve Nash trade unless it's in the top five. There is already talk that you should tank to try to keep that pick. How do you respond to that?
Jeanie: The teams that use tanking as a strategy are doing damage. If you're in tanking mode, that means you've got young players who you're teaching bad habits to. I think that's unforgivable. ... It's irresponsible and I don't think it belongs in any league.
Q: Jeanie, do you believe in Jim's vision?
Jeanie: My dad saw Jimmy's ability to see the game that way. I know what I don't know. I don't see basketball in that way, so I leave that to the experts.
Q: Were the restrictions in the new collective bargaining agreement put in to help the small-market franchises compete against the Lakers, Knicks and Bulls of the world?
Jeanie: They can create all the rules they want, but you can't take away our experience, our knowledge, our fan base. You can't revenue-share away Laker Nation (ESPN THE MAGAZINE, 12/22 issue).
