At the Lakers, it's a story of family(ies). At the head of the franchise, the late Jerry Buss handed over to his children, and it is Jeanie who now occupies the role of owner. Phil Jackson's former girlfriend attracted LeBron James and Rob Pelinka to bring the franchise back to the top with a title in 2020, and today, the “family” is growing since Bronny James has joined his father. But be careful, LeBron warned him, no question of calling him “dad” in training or in a game.
“You know, I never had this conversation with LeBron or Bronny, but in professional situations, I would address my dad as Doctor.” she confides. “I wanted to make that boundary clear because it helped us — we weren’t bringing work home to the dinner table. So I think LeBron and Bronny are very well prepared. And I’m excited for them to have that opportunity.”
By the way, Jeanie Buss believes that LeBron James 'may be the greatest of all time' and she talks about the upcoming season. A season like no other since LeBron will celebrate his 40th birthday in December.
The Lakers are still playing for the title
“He always rises to the occasion and gives his all. He is not only a global brand, he is also our leader.” she continues. “He’s the captain of our team and he sets the tone, sets the pace by giving his all. Nobody can complain about the work or having to train when you see someone with his resume and the longevity of his career doing it. And that’s what he does. He amazes me. I don’t know what else to say.”
And on a collective level? “I can tell you the Lakers are always playing for the title, and we know that, whether it’s Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Dr. Buss. That’s who we are. But that’s just me talking. What I really want is for the games to start so we can see what these guys are going to do. I’ll let them tell the story because they’re the ones who are really going to show us what they’ve got.”
