What Jerry Buss didn’t say
We’ll begin this one with an ancient line from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
“We have all been here before.”
Damn, Phil Jackson is masterful. Well, most of the time.
He just happens to pick the world’s largest media market to launch his counter-attack. Jackson is the king of mismatches, whether it’s on the basketball floor, or in his media wars for control of a franchise.
In his pre-game chat with the media before the Los Angeles Lakers played the New Jersey Nets, Jackson casually floated the notion that he might not coach next year.
Oh, the stories that reporters have launched from that one.
The only problem is, Jackson was too coy to complete the equation for them. He identified his concerns and anxiety. He mentioned the state of the franchise, the success of the team, his salary, his feelings – all as factors in whether he returns next year as coach of the Lakers.
But he smartly left it to the media themselves to connect the dots as to the cause of his anxiety. Actually the math isn’t all that complicated.
Frankly, I began wondering about two months ago and trying to figure when the shoe was going to fall.
You see, the drama, or the latest act of the drama, actually began at the start of the season when Lakers owner Jerry Buss brought son Jim out for his yearly meeting with the media.
Jerry picked the moment to announce that he was stepping back and turning the franchise over to son Jim.
Think about the insult of that for the power couple of daughter Jeanie Buss and longtime boyfriend Jackson.
Let’s see, the California economy has been in a free fall, literally a disaster, for more than a year now. Yet, Jeanie Buss has brought in season-ticket renewals at something very close to a perfect one hundred percent. She has taken the traditionally cold and indifferent face of the franchise and made a warm, welcoming community in Staples Center. She’s there every night on the front row, greeting season ticket holders taking care of problems, making sure the team runs like a charm.
She’s been running the business and marketing end of the Lakers for years now, and in that time has gained a widespread reputation around the league for her business and media smarts. She’s one of the bright spots in a league dogged by recession.
She’s even managed to take the standoffish and sometimes arrogant Jackson and transform him into an endearing figure, all accomplished with the use of short snippets of offbeat video on the team’s webpage.
As for Jackson himself, well, let’s see. He’s fought off the ravages of bad hips and vascular troubles with his legs, not to mention the incapacitation of his longtime mentor, Tex Winter, with a stroke – Jackson battled through all those things to guide the Lakers to the 2009 NBA title.
So, in his one meeting with the media each season, Buss uses the occasion not to talk toast their accomplishments but to announce that he’s turning the keys to the machine over to Jim Buss?
Jerry Buss didn’t say a whole lot that day about daughter Jeanie and Phil, and his silence on their accomplishments speaks volumes.
Jeanie’s friends have been furious over the situation for some time now. They like to point out that Jim Buss didn’t even have an office in the team compound, that his big move has been to put his personal bartender on the team payroll.
As one Jeanie confidant explains, Jerry Buss is a misogynist who refuses to accept the idea that his daughter might ascend to run the franchise that he has owned for 30 years.
Buss made up his mind long ago that he was going to turn the franchise over to Jim. As Jerry West once explained of the team owner, “Once Jerry Buss makes up his mind, he normally doesn’t change it.”
Still, Jim Buss has been credited with making a series of moves five years ago that cost the franchise dearly, namely pushing for the firing of Jackson and the hiring of Rudy Tomjanovich as coach.
Jeanie’s allies insist that Jim Buss made that move without so much as consulting with anyone else, and Tomjanovich’s short tenure cost the team millions.
It’s no wonder that Jeanie and Phil are uneasy about trying to keep things headed in the right direction with Jim Buss in power.
Yes, Jim Buss was one of the voices in Lakers’ management that pushed for the drafting of center Andrew Bynum, but Jim has also played a role in the alienation of Bynum from Jackson and the team.
Although Bynum is signed to a long-term contract, his relationship with Jackson and the team remains a touchy issue.
Even though the Lakers sit atop the Western Conference and have nice momentum on their run to defend their championship, Jackson’s words fell, if not like bombshells, at least like mortar rounds in New York.
He told reporters that whether the Lakers repeat as NBA champions will be a big factor – but not the only one – in determining whether he returns.
“They have a great chance to be a very good team for a while, and Drew (Bynum) is locked in, and that’s a great start from the standpoint of putting a great roster together that has some commonality, that has played together, it’ll give them a real good basis,” Jackson said of the Lakers. “They have a couple other things that they have to get done and then I’m going to feel good about it.”
The Los Angeles Times reported the Lakers and Pau Gasol (who earns $16.5 million this season and $17.8 million next season) have agreed in principle to a three-year extension that will carry Gasol through the 2013-14 season. The Times also suggested that Kobe Bryant, who has the right to opt out of his contract at the conclusion of this season and become an unrestricted free agent, could also soon be in the fold long-term.
The news about Bryant and Gasol would seem to be great news for Jackson, the NBA’s highest-paid coach with $12 million annual salary and its biggest winner with 10 championships under his belt.
But Jackson said he will not decide on his future until June or July.
Repeating as champions would improve his prospects of staying, Jackson said.
“Oh sure, it really does. But it’s not a definite that I would continue even if we would be. If things didn’t go well and we didn’t win, that would obviously be something that would be, you know, you think maybe it’s time for someone else to look at this job and carry this team forward from there.
“That’s possibly not going to happen that way, but just winning it outright doesn’t mean it’s a natural to come back and coach this team. I just don’t see that as a natural thing. A lot of it has to do with the direction the league is going, the direction the ownership wants to go in. People are cutting costs all around the league, and coaches are obviously going to take a cut too, so they may not even want to hire me. They may want to save some money.”
When reporters asked Jackson if he would take a pay cut, he ended the session by saying, “Why would you?”
Longtime Jackson observers recognize the agenda he is setting. Indeed, we have all been here before, including:
• In 1998, when Jackson was coach of the Chicago Bulls, he engaged in a similar campaign with Bulls GM Jerry Krause, even as Jackson was driving the club to its sixth NBA title.
• In 2000, he conducted a smaller, more focused effort in dislodging then Lakers executive Jerry West from the franchise.
• In 2004, Jackson failed in a similar effort to get rid of star Kobe Bryant and was in fact fired by Jim and Jerry Buss.
Jackson, of course, was rehired by the team in 2005, and this time around he appears to have a much stronger relationship with Bryant.
Will Jackson be successful in reducing the role of Jim Buss and securing power for Jeanie and himself?
Lakers fans better hope the Buss family is smart enough not to escalate an internal power struggle for the team. That could quickly become a zero sum game.
As Krause, West and a long line of basketball experts have discovered, Jackson is central to the success of his teams, regardless of what conventional thinking suggests.
If Jim and Jerry Buss want my advice – and I’m pretty sure they don’t – they can save themselves a lot of grief and messy embarrassment if they’ll just sit back and chill, and let Phil and Jeanie take over.
Otherwise, it looks like Phil’s about to unleash another storm on the basketball world. Jerry and Jim Buss don’t want that. If they don’t believe me, they can just ask Jerry Krause.
Skraight Up Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 8:42 am
Appears to me that Buss believes he has a winner with/without PJ. When I read his comments, I knew exactly what they meant…I’m not sure if I’ll be welcomed back next year, so let me put this out there right now. Bulls made that same mistake, and MJ walked…Phil’s players are so very loyal to him, that It’s very hard for a franchise to just dismiss him so easily. I do believe that if Kobe signs an extension, it means that the elder Buss got in Kobe’s ear and has made him to believe that they can win without PJ. Trust me, if Kobe signs that extension, and this team DOES NOT win a chip this year, Phil Jackson is gone. There is also a great possibility that they hire Byron Scott if they win as well, not wanting to pay PJ his 12 Million, and not wanting him to garner even more loyality from L.A. (the city/fans), and his players.
Roland Lazenby Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 11:07 am
Skraight,
You’re obviously in the Lakers organization and you have great insight into the situation. Are the players pretty tight together in dealing with the situation? It seems a pretty typical PJ team, relaxed and together.
RL
Leonard Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
This does not strike me as an unusual situation … and not so much more yet as Phil Jackson posturing (as you suggest). Jim Buss has long since been known to be the successor as “chief operating officer” in effect, as his father reduces his day-to-day involvement. Otherwise, the favoritism may irk Jeannie (and Phil) … and that is probably nothing new either … but they have such a good thing going, I don’t see that Jeannie is going to leave the business, or that Phil is going to leave the job unless he is actually not wanted back (cost) or if his health does not allow his return. Perhaps too, he is seeing the Gasol extension and the focus on Kobe’s extension, but no mention of him. I do agree that the Lakers have a championship caliber beyond Jackson. Jerry Buss has far more often than not made good decisions … some do not appear that way at first … but over time they do. Trading Shaq was one. Bringing Jackson back was another. Sticking with Kupchak. So, I trust this will play out just fine. Jim Buss may be a more mature and suitable choice than he was 4,5, 6 years ago, when his actions are the basis of criticism. Putting his personal bartender on payroll is questionable, but compared to the personal antics of his father “outside the workplace” since day one, it’s probably not much to be concerned about.
BUCK Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
I can understand a father wanting a son to follow in his foot-steps, but sometimes you have to do what is best for the company. If that means Jeanie is to run things, so be it.
Roland Lazenby Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
Leonard,
I’d say your comments qualify as highly perceptive in regards to decisions made by Jerry Buss. He’s not perfect, however, and he’s not as young as he used to be. Plus this family thing certainly qualifies as an affair of the heart. Then there’s the fact that Phil can be Phil. He’s absolutely sensational on one level and quite destructive on another. In all fairness to Jerry Buss, these are difficult circumstances. Just ask King Lear.
frank b Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
The difficult part of this is the Phil/Jeannie dynamic. How wierd to have the head coach dating an owner/employee.
What is the ownership structure of the Lakers? We know Magic has a small piece but who else does? When Buss says he is turning over the franchise to Jim what ownership percentage is he talking about? Is Jeannie just an employee or does she have a percentage like Magic?
It doesn’t seem that Jeannie has been involved in the basketball end of things, more so the marketing and business side. I have never heard Jeannie making player decisions and it seems a big leap that she would all of a sudden become Mitch Kupchak’s boss. It seems to me that you would be creating a dysfunctional situation to have her running the basketball operation, making player decisions and also sleeping with the Coach.
Look, Phil has 12 million reasons to coach this year. I think his little working of the media is just basically saying that he wants at least 12 million more reasons to come back. If Jeannie is running the Lakers he is more likely to get his price.
Is Phil Jackson a little upset his girlfriend won’t be running the Lakers? Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
[...] is a smart guy who can give you a real good picture of the inner workings of the Lakers. And he wrote this fascinating piece on Hoops Hype about the power struggle going on inside the Buss family for control of the Lakers. [...]
Ken M Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Lazenby articulates what has seemed to make sense to me for a long time: Jerry Buss should hand the reigns of this franchise over to his beautiful, smart, charismatic, popular daughter. If she is engaged in the business and marketing end of things, don’t you think she has the ability figure out the player management aspect of this franchise with Philip Douglas Jackson and Mitch Kupchak to help guide her? Jim Buss has never impressed me and the other Buss boys have remained in the background for the most part. Without Phil, do the Bulls win 6 or do we three-peat and then get back on top so quickly? Yes, I said quickly!! There are quality franchises like the Suns who have been around for 40 plus years and have never even BEEN to the NBA Finals!! What Phil recently achieved is off the charts.
Rob Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
Phil and Jeannie want control of the team, period.
Their dream scenario would be that he is running the basketball side of the organization while she is running the business side. He would be able to dictate who the coaches are, and maybe even take an “advisory” role much like Tex has had for so many years. Tex was the brains of pratice while Phil massaged the player’s egos. He could bring in whoever he felt he could work with. I don’t see that being Byron Scott, but rather Brian Shaw. Then all of his loyal assistants could stay in their present jobs as well.
Jeannie would continue to do what she is currently doing - schmoozing the money out of season ticket holders. This is the ultimate power play by the power couple.
By bringing Jim in to “take over day-to-day operations,” Jerry is messing up their plan. So Phil goes into “zen” mode and does what he does best in manipulating the media and working up rumor and innuendo. That keeps their hands clean while they surreptitiously get everything they want.
They are like the ultimate magicians. Watch my right hand while my left hand steals your wallet.
can't say Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
Well first of all Buss’s son isn’t going to take over the team. The Lakers owners and other love to play head games and they just want to see where PJ’s head is. To see what would come of it later on. And Kobe is going to resign but he will do it in the summer of next year. Whether or not he wins a ring this year. For who doesn’t know I will say when he retires from basketball he will be the next Lakers head coach. If you watch some of the Lakers games you will see PJ is helping kobe to be a coach and letting Kobe run plays that he thinks will work and it’s always plays he got from PJ anyway. When Kobe and Shaq went there ways remember that Jerry buss asked Kobe first and every since then Kobe has been a leader. The reason is that Buss asked Kobe to be a Laker forever and Buss gave him more power. And every since that Kobe has been the best player in the NBA. So don’t ask who I am and where I got this infor.
Quetzpalin Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 6:51 am
Something implied in this saga is that there will be some sort of drop off in the quality of the ownership, particularly in regards to the direct impact on basketball operations, when Jerry is gone. He has arguably been the best owner in American sports during his era, and to expect to keep such a high standard would seem a bit unreasonable. Even though he has certainly made his mistakes, the one thing he has seemed to do exceedingly well is to get the balance of involvement.
It would a miracle if any other Buss would be quite as adept.
Jack Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 9:11 am
Dumb questions: What % of Buss wealth is tied up in the Lakers? What % of Buss cash each year comes from the operations of the Lakers?
Follow-up dumb comment: Estate planning is a bitch and if the Lakers represent a huge % of taxable Buss wealth then some of these decisions may not just be about the best chance to win championships
Bhavik Patel Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Lets not forget. We don’t know everything that goes on. Lets remember Jerry Buss is Dr. Jerry Buss. He wouldn’t give the franchise to Jim unless he felt like it was in better hands with Jim than Jeanie. Jerry Buss is a smart man. Phil Jackson is not going to coach forever. Phil Jackson is a great coach, I don’t know if hes a great GM? Long term realistically Bynum is the future of the Lakers at 22 years old. Kobe is going to be 32 at the end of the season max I would say another great 5 years. Bynum wont even be in his prime in five years. Prime in NBA is usually 28 years of age. As far as jeannie buss. She does business operations of the franchise, she might not necessarily be the best for player operations and building the team. Oh yeah and renewel rate of 100 percent lol, its the Lakers for crying out loud. Season tickets are always going to be almost 100 percent, oh yeah and they have been to the finals lol past 2 years lol. Its like owning prime real estate. Rarely to people give them up.
CaptainArt Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 11:38 am
First, is Jerry a smart man. NO. Some posters will always say that and you wonder how do the based that on. They have very little facts, so they don’t know.
Any man who still only fools around with young and I mean young girls has a serious mental problem on his side. Recently when he was stop by the cops it was mention that he had a very young girl in the car. The media will never follow up on it because he is the darling of the media in LA.
I have been in the same room with Jim and listen to him talk and except the champioship trophy, and with my background I can tell you that he is not a smart kid. I would not put him in charge of the neighbor hood market.
Skraight Up Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
@ Roland Lazenby,
I’m not in the Laker organazation at all…I have however played ball overseas for 8 years and know a few guys in the league (former Laker plaer as well). In my previous statement that I made, It DOES NOT make me an expert in anyway in regards to the Lakers situation, and within the realm of basketball as a whole. What you’ve stated are simply the facts and being a Chicago guy myself and having grown up around the Bulls era, the PJ situation is just obvious. Everyone in the league knows that Jeanie should be next in line, but there’s no way Jerry is willing to relinquish his real baby (The Lakers) to Jeanie with Phil on board. Fearing that PJ will be the one ultimately running the family business, and his life’s work. I do however beleive that’s a huge mistake on his behalf. Jeanie is very intelligent, business savy, a great P.R. person, and very devoted to her father’s work and the Laker legacy. Then you have Jim on the other hand who’s the exact opposite. Spoiled, disinterested, and vindictive. You asked me if I did believe that the players were tight…Following PJ through the years I would have to assume yes, but as I said before, I’m hoping that Jerry didn’t get into Kobe’s head trying to convince him that this is the proper way to go. I really believe that at the end of the day, Kobe will determine how this franchise will be run!
ReeceTheAussie Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but from the sounds of PJ’s book ‘The Last Season’ in ‘04 I don’t think he tried to get of Kobe as this article claimed. He granted him an indefinate leave and understood that when it came down to it all Shaq would have to go, not Kobe.
The closest he came was after Kobe said he wouldn’t return if Phil was coached next season, he looked at a few players (namely T-Mac) but decided no one could match Kobe and held on to him.
Matt A. Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Roland, this is a good article and I like the angle on Jeannie Buss. However, I really think that Jeannie has very little to do with this decision. In fact, I think Phil does not have much to do with it either.
Jackson is retiring. It will either be this year or next, but he is leaving. This is quite different from the Bulls situation in which he wanted to continue to coach, but Reinsdorf no longer wanted to continue with the large team payroll. Although there was defnitely a feud between Krause and Jackson, it was really about the money.
With Jackson leaving, the decision is really what Jerry Buss wants and not Phil Jackson. Given that, Buss is considering what is the best way to make the transition.
The first part of this is who to replace Jackson. He does not want to turn the coaching position over to just anybody. Leading candidates appear to be Byron Scott and Brian Shaw, and if they want a chance at Scott, they need to do something this year (my guess is the Lakers have already contacted Scott).
The second part is how to prepare the team (particularly Kobe) for the change. Kobe has never won a championship without Jackson. Kobe may not be too worried about Jackson leaving, given their history. Or he may realize that Jackson is one of the greatest nba coaches and try to influence Buss to keep him one more year. But I think whatever Buss wants in this case will be what happens. And if it is to grab Scott, then he will be able to convince Kobe and the rest of the team it is the right thing.
The angle with Jeannie in interesting, but Jerry is the one driving the boat. And my belief is with Scott in the wings, this is Phil’s last year, whatever this year’s outcome for the Lakers.
Greg Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
@Jack - Well over the majority of Buss’ “wealth” comes from the Lakers but most likely it’s held through some combination of trust and llc/corporate holding with Buss being sole/majority shareholder. Most modern sporting franchises are held in this fashion.
KW Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
I thought Doctor Buss is smarter than this.
dave Said,
December 23, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
Byron Scott I saw for a while as the successor to Phil Jackson….but with his firing from the Hornets it seems less likely.
Shaw sure would make Bryant happy but can he really lead the team…….It doesn’t seem like he would be an authority figure…seems he would just defer to Bryant and Bryant’s ego…and wouldn’t really be running the show. Rambis Bryant didn’t like. I don’t see the intensity with Shaw. Cleamons I think would be a better couch then Shaw.
I also wonder if they bring in someone from outside like Scott whether they could retain their assistants….and with a new coach whether the triangle offense will be kept.
Phil Jackson was out coached when the Lakers played Boston in the finals the year before last…..He is physically sort of done….with the strain of the NBA.
Jackson is the only one that can balance giant egos…If Scott becomes the head coach it would be great if someone like Scottie Pippen would be the asssistant coach….and would be great at managing and teaching the triangle offense.
Jackson just isn’t worth $12 million which is twice what any other coach in the league makes.
The Lakers also need to clear cap room for next year…DUMP Walton and Vujacic for expiring contracts….and trade Morrison an expiring contact for an expiring big man that can help this year.
Jim Buss has not done a good enough job trying to put together trades….Walton is just eating up cap room and he should have been traded in the offseason role before his role would be limited so much to make him hard to move.
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 23, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
“What is the ownership structure of the Lakers? We know Magic has a small piece but who else does? When Buss says he is turning over the franchise to Jim what ownership percentage is he talking about? Is Jeannie just an employee or does she have a percentage like Magic?”
Jerry Buss owns all but 5% of the team. Magic owns that 5% which is mostly symbolic. Jerry Buss is not talking about handing over “ownership” percentages to either Jeanie or Jim. He is handing over the basketball operations to Jim, giving him Jerry West type of control over the franchise. Jeanie is still running the business end.
I doubt anyone will know exactly how much each Buss child will receive after Jerry’s death but I’m sure it will involve more than Jim and Jeannie. Jerry has other children, Johnny, Janie, Joey, & Jesse.
All of his children are involved in the family business. They are presenting a unified front and father Buss is attempting to prepay all of the projected inheritance taxes so that ALL of his children can financially assume control of the team. Don’t forget that Johnny is the eldest and is stepping back to pursue a more personal artistic venture. That leaves Jim and Jeanie and the 2nd & 3rd oldest children competing for daddy’s love and approval over their successful running of the Lakers. Jesse and Joey are only 21 & 24.
I believe that Jim and Phil do not exactly see eye to eye on things, hence the potential Phil & Jeanie versus older brother Jim scenario.
Leonard Said,
December 23, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
Roland … King Lear is an excellent analogy! Your comment on Phil Jackson (sensational and destructive) is right on.
I don’t know if this is really an agonizingly difficult decision for Dr. Buss, after all. It is the eldest son carrying on the legacy of the father (in theory), after all. Traditional. And if Jeannie were to be the CEO, in effect, what does Jim do? He doesn’t sound like a disciplined day-to-day manager, as is Jeannie, apparently. So, I can see that with all things considered, he (Dr. Buss) is making what he considers to be the wisest and generally least controversial choice within the family as a whole, and the least disruptive to the operation.
No matter how he relinquishes control of the team, there will be someone or another who is unhappy, but Phil (with the complication of his relationship with Jeannie) is not actually a family member, and I can understand where he should not be put in a position that compromises or potentially undermines the family legacy.
As for the future coach … I would put my money (and hope) on Brian Shaw over Byron Scott.
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 23, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Leonard says:
“It is the eldest son carrying on the legacy of the father (in theory), after all.”
No it isn’t Leonard, as I just posted prior to you, Johnny is the eldest Buss son. Jim is the 2nd oldest son and child.
Leonard Said,
December 24, 2009 @ 9:35 am
Mihajlo … sorry about that. I think I had my comment teed up for a few hours and submitted it without a refreshed screen! When it comes to team management, Jim and Jeannie have been the two who have been prominent (not counting the acceptance of the championship trophy … by Joey was it?). Between Jeannie and Jim, it must simply be a choice between the two, from a traditional, and probably a “best use of talent” standpoint. Anyway, I’m sure Dr. Buss has a challenge treating all of his children fairly and “equally”. There are just too many of them.
Livelife Said,
December 24, 2009 @ 10:00 am
“What is the ownership structure of the Lakers? We know Magic has a small piece but who else does? When Buss says he is turning over the franchise to Jim what ownership percentage is he talking about? Is Jeannie just an employee or does she have a percentage like Magic?”
Jerry Buss owns a majority of the team and Magic a small slice. The other owner is Phil Anschutz, the billionaire that owns Staples Center. I believe the ownership is in the 20% range and is first in line to buy a majority if Buss ever sells. I don’t know about your other questions.
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 24, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
Leonard I do agree that is father Buss has pretty much divided up responsibility by age. While Jim and Jeanie have ran the Lakers, eldest son Johnny had been running the Sparks to their titles. Johnny has step aside from the responsibilities of running either franchise but not the money. He has said as long as Jim and Jeanie are successful, he will not have anything to say about their decisions.