Byron Scott: Dr. Jerry Buss would be unhappy with Lakers' current saga

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves entangled in a perplexing ownership saga, a narrative that has left many bewildered. Last week, Mark Walter relinquished his majority stake, which he had acquired from the Buss family just a year prior, to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. This week, five of the six Buss siblings, with the exception of Jeanie Buss, opted to sell their remaining 17.8% stake to the same duo. This ownership upheaval has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the franchise and the fans who support it.

The Buss dynasty, which has governed the Lakers since 1979, has seen its fair share of triumphs and trials. Dr. Jerry Buss, the franchise's visionary owner, passed away in 2013, leaving behind a legacy of 16 NBA Finals appearances and 10 championship titles. However, the current ownership scenario has left the elder Buss disheartened, according to former star player Byron Scott.

Scott, speaking at the 26th annual Harold & Carole Pump Foundation celebrity dinner, opined that the elder Buss would not have been pleased with the current state of the Lakers. "I don't think any of us know exactly what he would be thinking, but if I had to guess, I don't think he would be very happy with the state of the Lakers right now," Scott remarked.

Scott, who played during the era of Dr. Buss' ownership, expressed his hope that the new owners would emulate his predecessor's approach to running the franchise. "I never thought in my lifetime that I would see anybody or any other organization or company or corporation owning the Los Angeles Lakers either," Scott added. "I’m not that deep into it like that, you know what I’m saying?

I would hope that they would take a page from Dr. Buss’ book and just remember how he treated his employees, how he treated his players." The elder Buss was renowned for treating everyone equally, without discrimination, and fostering a sense of camaraderie among his players. Scott fervently expressed his desire to see the new ownership maintain this spirit of unity and familial bond.

Since the younger Buss took over as the controlling owner in 2014, the Lakers have experienced a period of inconsistency. While they clinched the NBA championship in 2020, they have since struggled to maintain consistency, failing to reach the playoffs seven times and advancing past the first round of the postseason only three times. The younger Buss is reportedly amenable to retaining her minimum 15% ownership stake required to remain as the team's governor until at least 2030.