Jeanie Buss is used to being underestimated.
She’s certainly one of two feminine majority homeowners within the NBA and her resume consists of posing for Playboy in 1995. She stands out in each room, the place whiffs of sexism and accusations of nepotism have shrouded her profession since her father, the late Los Angeles Lakers proprietor Jerry Buss, died in 2013, leaving her to supervise the enterprise aspect of the staff and develop into its governor.
Alongside the best way, Buss emphatically quieted the misperceptions, proving that she has the toughness to fireside relations, the braveness to gamble on large strikes and the humility to know the place her experience ends, all whereas guaranteeing the Lakers come first.
That was by no means extra clear than on Wednesday, when the Buss household entered into an settlement to promote majority possession of the Lakers to financier Mark Walter for a valuation of roughly $10 billion, marking the biggest sale of an expert sports activities franchise in America.
In different phrases, Buss put the Lakers within the best-possible place for continued success, promoting them to a deep-pocketed proprietor who has a confirmed observe document. Walter is the CEO of Guggenheim Companions, which has greater than $325 billion in property, and the founding father of holding firm TWG World. Walter led the group that purchased the Dodgers for $2.15 billion in 2012, serving to remodel them from a staff that missed the postseason for a number of years beneath Frank McCourt right into a franchise that has made the playoffs 12 straight years and received two World Collection in 2020 and 2024.
Buss reportedly will stay the Lakers governor and proceed to run the staff for “no less than quite a few years,” in accordance with ESPN.
This was a stroke of genius for Buss, whose father purchased the Lakers for $67.5 million in 1979, in addition to for the franchise, whose spending energy is now eye-popping whereas it stays in trusted arms.
Buss would’ve had it no different method.
“Generally being underestimated truly provides you a bonus since you’re discounted and folks let down their guard,” Buss advised a handful of reporters in February when requested what it’s like being one of many lone girls in her function. “I am all about doing what’s finest for my staff and getting the job carried out.”
Since her father died, Buss’ north star has been operating each resolution by way of a rigorous filter in her thoughts: Wouldn’t it make him proud? Dr. Buss helped put the Lakers on the map, infusing them with star energy and intercourse enchantment, and main them to 10 of their 17 championships behind Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
It did not take lengthy for Buss to indicate her chops following her father’s demise. In Feb. 2017, following three straight shedding seasons, she proved she was prepared to place all the pieces on the road for the Lakers, making the sort of jaw-dropping transfer her father would’ve. In a sweeping and stunning resolution, she fired Lakers govt vp of participant personnel, her brother Jim Buss, common supervisor Mitch Kupchak and communications director John Black. In the meantime, she promoted Johnson to president of basketball operations, a task he saved earlier than stepping down in April 2019.
Beneath Buss, the Lakers employed Rob Pelinka as common supervisor in 2017. They pulled the set off on a serious commerce for Anthony Davis in 2019, who, alongside James, led the franchise to their first championship in 10 years in 2020. She oversaw the approaching and going of a number of coaches, in addition to Russell Westbrook, and, most just lately, the blockbuster deal to accumulate Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February.
When Buss accepted the Doncic commerce, which was dubbed essentially the most stunning deal in sports activities historical past, her father was entrance of thoughts.
“He’d be very proud,” Buss mentioned in February. “…My dad was such an incredible poker participant and he mentioned that he at all times needed me to do not forget that poker was a sport of endurance. That you just needed to watch for the suitable playing cards, however as soon as you bought the playing cards, you needed to go from zero to 100 and play the playing cards and never be afraid to flame out.”
Buss clearly utilized that very same logic in her resolution to promote majority possession of the Lakers.
You may nearly see Dr. Buss smiling on the staff’s $10 billion valuation, which was $4 billion greater than what the Boston Celtics bought for in March. (The Lakers’ longtime rivals could have received 18 championships, yet one more than them, however, actually, who’s the most important winner right here?) Heck, the Lakers’ valuation on this deal is even $3 billion larger than Forbes’ recent valuation of the staff.
However, much more importantly than all of these zeroes is the truth that Buss is honoring the life’s work of her father – and herself. She didn’t promote the staff to an unknown bidder. She bought the staff to somebody she trusted.
The one probably alarming a part of this deal for Lakers followers is the inherently tenuous nature of the promise that Buss will maintain her job throughout the group. Certain, her energy might wane as soon as the purse strings shift, much like what occurred to Mark Cuban after he bought his majority stake within the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson household in November 2023 whereas reportedly retaining management of basketball operations. His function was diminished, culminating within the staff informing him — not consulting him — on their resolution to commerce Doncic, a transfer Cuban later admitted he would’ve been in opposition to.
However even when Buss’ energy finally lessens, the Lakers are seemingly in nice arms. In any case, she bought them to a person who helped the Dodgers develop into some of the well-operated and well-respected groups in MLB.
Buss is used to being underestimated. However beneath her watch, she acquired two of the most important names in basketball in James and Doncic, shepherded the Lakers to a championship — and now, seemingly secured their future and hers.
It is a gamble Buss needed to take.
It is one she is aware of her father would not have hesitated to make.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Specific-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.
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