By winning a championship, Buss had reversed many of the criticisms aimed at the franchiseNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Lakers Controlling Owner & CEO JEANIE BUSS on Sunday became the "first female controlling owner to win an NBA championship," closing a chapter in the franchise's history that involved "hard choices and stumbles, a chapter during which the team her father had turned into the NBA's glamour franchise became a punchline," according to Tania Ganguli of the L.A. TIMES. Buss' ability to "lead was questioned, her friendships were scrutinized, and she tightened her circle to a smaller group of people she felt she could trust." She "found guidance" in LEBRON JAMES. Buss said of James, "He stays true to himself. I've learned that that is something, that’s what everybody should strive to be. Stay true to their convictions and not listen to their detractors." Ganguli notes Buss also "leaned on" Lakers Exec Dir of Special Projects LINDA RAMBIS, someone she had worked with for decades and someone her father, late Lakers Owner JERRY BUSS, "also had trusted." People "began calling Rambis the team's 'shadow owner' and wondering why and to what extent she had power in the organization." Buss said, "There's people that might be uncomfortable with women in power positions." Ganguli notes Buss' "inner circle" also included senior basketball advisor KURT RAMBIS, Linda’s husband and a former Lakers player and coach; her younger brothers JOEY, an Alternate Governor and VP/Research & Development, and JESSE, the team’s Assistant GM & Dir of Scouting; also, COO & President of Business Operations TIM HARRIS (L.A. TIMES, 10/15).
MENDING FENCES: In L.A. Broderick Turner wrote the truest sign that the relationship between Lakers VP/Basketball Operations & GM ROB PELINKA and MAGIC JOHNSON "had grown stronger despite some obstacles" was when Pelinka "reached out to Johnson on Sunday night after the Lakers won the NBA championship." The two have "repaired their relationship since Johnson abruptly resigned as the Lakers' President of Basketball Operations." Pelinka in a video conference late Sunday night said of Johnson, "He's an unbelievable person, and we have a great, incredibly strong relationship. He was one of the first calls tonight." Johnson said that he was "not about living his life 'holding grudges.'" Pelinka said of Buss, "We have the best owner in all of professional sports in Jeanie Buss. She's unbelievable. What she does is she leads with a really rare combination of courage and passion" (L.A. TIMES, 10/13).
FLYING OFF THE SHELVES: The Lakers' win resulted in the best post-Finals sales for Fanatics, with more merchandise sold within the first 12 hours "than the previous record holder -- the 2016 Cavaliers -- sold in 30 days." ESPN's Kendrick Perkins said, "Just think about everything that happened as far as the pandemic and then the great KOBE BRYANT dying. The Lakers fans couldn't wait for this moment. I'm surprised it only took that long to sell out." ESPN's Jackie MacMullan: "Of course the Lakers have the most merchandise sales, because they're a wait-and-see kind of fan base, we know this about them. They show up late (to games) ... and there's a lot of competition in Hollywood. You've got to win before these guys are going to open their wallets. But once you do, they're going to strut down the street in that purple and gold" (“The Jump,” ESPN, 10/14).
