- When Dr. Jerry Buss died in 2013, he bequeathed the Los Angeles Lakers to his children to carry on his legacy.
- The family rivalry was essentially simply between Jeanie and Jim Buss
- Jeanie chose to fire her brother months before Jim’s three-year contract expired
When Dr. Jerry Buss died in 2013, he bequeathed the Los Angeles Lakers to his children to carry on his legacy. Jeanie Buss was appointed to administer the team’s business at the time, while Jim Buss oversaw operations as the team’s executive vice president.
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the Buss family failed to follow their father’s intention
However, as time passed, to ensure that the team was always winning and competing for championships due to one poor team decision after another.
It got to the point where the Lakers were having their worst losing seasons in franchise history,
and it was no accident that it happened when Jerry Buss died.
The Buss family drama reached a climax when they began firing each other from the organization
and fought for control of the company.
Jim vs. Jeanie
The family rivalry was essentially simply between Jeanie and Jim Buss,
who had always fought before their father died.
The Lakers weren’t winning because Jim made questionable decisions after questionable decisions, forcing Jeanie to take action against Jim.
When the Buss siblings got together one summer,
they made Jim vow that the club would be back in the playoffs soon.
“‘If we’re not back in the Playoffs, you know I might make a choice,’ I said, and he answered, ‘Oh certainly.’
‘If we aren’t back in the playoffs in three years, I’ll walk away, I’ll dismiss myself,’ he added.
So we clasped hands, with my siblings as witnesses “Jeanie revealed this in Episode 9 of the documentary Legacy: The True Story of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately, Jim’s vow to return the Lakers to the playoffs in three years did not come true,
motivating Jeanie to make the required organizational adjustments.
Jeanie fired Jim after hiring Magic Johnson as the team’s consultant and hearing Kobe Bryant’s advice because she was weary of seeing the Lakers lose
and felt the organization needed a new executive vice president.
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The genuine succession conflict
Jeanie chose to fire her brother months before Jim’s three-year contract expired
because she believed he would endanger the team in the final months of his career.
Jeanie was concerned that Jim would make decisions and moves that would jeopardize the franchise since he knew he wouldn’t keep his pledge.
Jim and his siblings were taken aback by Jeanie’s choice,
and they questioned why the latter had the authority to make such a decision.
“My father made it plain to me that I would be governor.
But I believe he kept it to himself in terms of the family because he was talked out of it or there were complaints and he didn’t want to deal with it “Jeanie stated.
“Looking back on some of Jimmy’s moves, was he making them to undermine the organization
and my ability to lead the team? Or was he just making bad choices?” Jeanie elaborated.
As a result, when Jeanie took over the team after her brother was fired
the Buss brothers gathered to discuss their father’s succession plan.
Jeanie revealed that authorities were present during her meetings with her siblings,
and she had to enact a restraining order to ensure that her brothers did not pick a new board of directors that did not include her.
“My brother Jimmy became entangled with some lawyers. We didn’t have a combative meeting, but they literally came in and put a loaded gun on the table “Jeanie disclosed.
“It was only to make sure there was check and balance,” Jim Buss said of the loaded rifle he brought to the meeting. “We hired solicitors to help us comprehend what the trust says.
According to our solicitors, the best thing to do is to add some new members to the board “Jim elaborated.
The dispute finally settled, and Jeanie eventually became the controlling owner of the Lakers, which she said was what her father truly desired and wrote in his will.
The Buss siblings’ feud was dramatic and tumultuous, but at the very least, Jeanie realized Jerry Buss’ desire of getting the Lakers back on top of the NBA — which is why the 2020 NBA title was dedicated not only to the late great Kobe Bryant but also to dr. Jerry Buss.
