Ahead of game five of the 2020 NBA Finals, Lakers’ owner and governor Jeanie Buss has been appearing on podcasts and doing interviews while she stays in her own bubble (separated from the Lakers players and coaches’ bubble). Her number one goal for the season is one win away, as the Lakers will be looking to win their 17th championship tonight with a 3-1 lead on the Miami Heat.
As this season has been a grueling journey for the Lakers team — overcoming the shocking death of Kobe Bryant, COVID-19, and the traumatizing social injustices in America against Black people — the journey over the past five or so years has been just as grueling for Jeanie Buss. Kobe was not only one of her employees, but he was one of her lifelong friends. Buss also lost her mother in December 2019, as this season has been really rough on her emotions. I haven’t even dove into her ousting her own brother out of the franchise, as Jim Buss had proven to be a dysfunctional and poor overseeing of Lakers operations, with the nail essentially being put in the coffin with the infamous Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng deals.
She seems to be enjoying herself at this point, with her happiness mostly being attributed to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. She recently spoke about LeBron in an interview with Southern California News Group, The OC Register, and Kyle Goon. Here’s an excerpt from the interview where she glowingly talks about LeBron and his leadership:
In a season that has seen the Lakers caught in diplomatic uncertainty in China; devastated by the loss of Bryant; left hanging by the pandemic hiatus and deeply involved in social justice movements, Buss said James’ leadership has been like nothing she has ever seen from a basketball player – yes, any of them.
“The strength of LeBron, not only as a basketball player but as a human being has inspired me to be stronger, be more outspoken about things that are wrong in the world today,” she said. “I collected comic books growing up, and I would tie a towel around my neck like a cape, like Supergirl or Wonder Woman. LeBron is as close to a real-life superhero as any person I have ever seen.”
LeBron was asked about Jeanie Buss on Thursday and returned admiration right back to her.
“My relationship with Jeanie I will say is incredible,” James said Thursday. “She’s an unbelievable owner. She’s a powerful woman. I think what she believes in is an extension of her father, and continuing to build this legacy of this great franchise.”
I’m sure Buss absolutely glows at being compared to her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, one of the most beloved, respected, and successful owners in NBA history. This isn’t the first time that LeBron has expressed immense praise about the Lakers’ front office, as he said in February that his relationship with the Lakers’ front office was the best relationship he had had with any front office in his career.
That statement holds so much weight for Jeanie Buss, considering how successful LeBron has been with many front offices in his career. Hopefully, the lovefest can continue tonight with a championship, as Buss will look to become the first female owner/governor of an NBA team to win a championship.
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