Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss offered a candid look at one of the most defining — and controversial — decisions of her tenure: removing her brother, Jim Buss, from control of basketball operations.
Speaking on Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, Buss explained that the move was not impulsive, but rooted in the structure her father, Jerry Buss, had put in place before his passing.
“What was made very clear by my father was he wanted me to run the business operation, and he put my brother Jimmy in charge of the basketball operation,” Buss said. “But he also gave me what he referred to as the hammer, [so] if any changes needed to be made, then I was in a position where I could make them.”
Lakers Front Office Shakeup: Why Jeanie Buss Fired Jim Buss
GettyJeanie Buss and her brother Jim Buss
The turning point came as the Lakers drifted further from contention — and further from their identity.
“And so there was a point where my brother had made the decision that in order to compete, he needed many draft picks,” Buss said. “And as we know, to get a lot of draft picks, you have to be at the bottom of the standings.”
The results, she said, were unacceptable by franchise standards.
“So while my dad was alive and running the Lakers, in 36 years, they only missed the playoffs twice. When my brother was running the team, we didn’t make the playoffs for six years in a row. And that’s not the brand that Laker fans were used to.”
That stretch marked one of the darkest periods in franchise history — a sharp contrast to the sustained success that defined the Lakers under Jerry Buss.
Jeanie Buss Says Business, Brand Pressures Forced Decision
Buss acknowledged that the decision was not only about basketball performance, but also the broader business realities tied to the franchise.
“I mean, I had to, because we had just launched a television [network], Spectrum Sports that carried the Lakers and they needed the playoffs,” Buss said. “It just became an unrecognizable product, and you can’t do that to your fans, to your partners.”
The Lakers had committed to a lucrative regional sports network deal, heightening the stakes of prolonged struggles on the court.
“And so I had to make the tough choice of making that change,” Buss added. “It was difficult, but you know, we’ve gotten past that.”
Lakers History: 2017 Shakeup Led to Franchise Reset
The decision ultimately led to a sweeping front office overhaul in February 2017.
Jim Buss and longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak were dismissed, with franchise legend Magic Johnson stepping in as president of basketball operations. The move was widely seen as a necessary reset after years of stalled rebuilding efforts, including questionable long-term contracts that limited roster flexibility.
Johnson’s tenure, though brief, helped set the stage for future moves — including the arrival of LeBron James and, eventually, the acquisition of Anthony Davis under general manager Rob Pelinka.
That foundation culminated in the Lakers’ 2020 championship, the franchise’s first title since 2010.
Buss Family Rift: Decision Still Resonates Today
While Buss framed the decision as necessary, its ripple effects continue to shape the organization.
The 2017 shakeup marked the beginning of a broader consolidation of power, one that has gradually removed Buss family members from basketball operations. By the time the franchise was sold to Mark Walter, no siblings remained in influential front office roles.
That shift has not been without tension, with public comments from family members in recent years highlighting lingering divisions over the direction of the franchise.
Still, Buss made clear that her responsibility was to the organization first.
“You can’t do that to your fans,” she said. “You can’t do that to your partners.”
For Buss, the decision to remove her brother was never just personal — it was about restoring a standard.
And, ultimately, protecting what their father built — and what the Lakers represent.
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