Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has always had her eyes set on surpassing the Boston Celtics in total championships—a goal of her father, Dr. Jerry Buss. But the last two seasons have seen the Lakers stumble, despite hard-fought battles to make the playoffs, only to be shut down by the Denver Nuggets. With head coach Darvin Ham unable to shift the team’s trajectory, Buss and GM Rob Pelinka made a surprising move: hiring former NBA guard JJ Redick. Buss recently opened up about the pain of watching the Celtics snag their 18th banner, pulling ahead of the Lakers.
In an interview on the Above The Rim with DH 12 podcast, Buss didn’t hold back. “We were tied with the Boston Celtics,” she explained. “And then them winning this past year just really broke my heart because they got to banner 18, which means that they got one ahead of the Lakers,” she revealed on the podcast. Interestingly, this sentiment isn’t new for Buss.
Her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, had made it his mission to eclipse the Celtics when he took ownership of the Lakers in 1979. After the Lakers won their 17th championship in 2020, Jeanie Buss reflected on this, saying, “When he started, he wanted to take on the Boston Celtics and all the winning they had done.” But the tide has turned once again, and the Lakers find themselves in the same spot her father wanted to escape—a step behind Boston.
Amid this turmoil, the Lakers decided to hire JJ Redick, hoping to close the gap on the Celtics once again. However, it has raised many eyebrows. With limited coaching experience, many are questioning if he’s the right man for the job. But Buss remains confident in her decision, believing that Redick can bring a fresh perspective to the Lakers.
Why Jeanie Buss chose JJ Redick for the Lakers’ future
Amid growing doubts about the Lakers’ future, Jeanie Buss opened up about the decision to bring JJ Redick on board during her appearance on the Petros and Money radio show in August. With the team struggling to find consistency, fans have been buzzing about whether Redick, who lacks head coaching experience, is the right man for the job.
Buss made it clear that Redick’s vision played a key role in the hire. “We wanted to kind of think a different way,” she explained. Buss added, “We were looking for a candidate that would bring something different and really invest in developing young players. JJ is the right person for us.” Though cautious, Buss is confident that Redick will have time to show what he can bring to the table, noting, “I just want the work to really speak for itself.”
Even with All-NBA stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis still leading the team, Redick’s job is no small task. Buss shared that she also has high expectations for James, saying, “He consistently delivers. He’s not only a worldwide brand, but he is our leader.” She emphasized how James’ work ethic and dedication set the standard for everyone else on the team.
As Buss sees it, James remains a driving force both on and off the court. His commitment to winning is undeniable, but the Lakers will need more than just LeBron to get back on top.