Buss spoke publicly for the first time on Magic Johnson's departure before the NBA Awards last nightNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Lakers Controlling Owner & CEO Jeanie Buss said that she was "stunned" by Magic Johnson's sudden resignation in April, and that she has "full confidence" in Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com. Speaking publicly for the first time since Johnson's departure, Buss said of why she has remained quiet, "There really wasn't anything to say." She added, "When Magic decided that he didn't want to be with the organization any longer in an official capacity, that took me off guard. So I needed time to figure out what the process was going to be." Buss has "moved forward with Pelinka" in charge of the team's basketball operations, and she "reiterated her full confidence" in him. Buss: "I've always had confidence in Rob. Whatever the speculation that's out there, we don't need the outside media to validate the things that we do. I'm very happy, I think we are on the right path, but there's still more work to do" (ESPN.com, 6/25).
STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS: In L.A., Tania Ganguli noted since Johnson's resignation, many have "speculated about the rise in power" of Lakers Senior Basketball Advisor Kurt Rambis and his wife, Exec Dir of Special Projects Linda Rambis. Buss has had Linda Rambis as a "confidant and coworker for four decades." Buss said, "They've been part of the Lakers, surrounding me. Linda Rambis and I have worked the exact same way for the last 30 years. Nothing's changed but for whatever reason there's things people want to hear about. They're part of our team and they do a fantastic job" (L.A. TIMES, 6/25).
