The Buss family is the main owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. It is not considered a wealthy family in the United States. Even among the owners of various NBA teams, the Buss family's assets can only be regarded as medium-level. For example, Rockets owner Alexander and Mavericks owner Cuban are richer than Buss.
However, in the Los Angeles sports circle, the Bass family is a giant. In addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Buss family also owns the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, American football's Los Angeles Lasers, and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. At the same time, the Buss family also owns other assets such as sports television stations.
Jerry Buss, the founder of the Buss family, relied on real estate to buy more than 80% of the shares of the Lakers in 1979 for US$67.5 million, and turned the Lakers into the most successful professional basketball club in the world. , Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and now Kobe Bryant have all bloomed here.
Today, Jerry Buss is 77 years old. He lived a retired life a few years ago, and his second son Jim Buss has also become the heir to the old Buss and controls Los Angeles. Lakers.
The 4.5% of the Lakers shares controlled by Magic Johnson is far from enough to affect the Buss family's control of the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if Johnson wants to sell this part of the shares, he cannot bypass the Buss family.
At this time, in the Los Angeles Lakers president's office, Jim Buss seemed a little irritable. He did not want Johnson to sell the 4.5% stake in the Lakers.
After all, Johnson is a veteran of the Lakers and maintains a good relationship with the Buss family. In the view of the Buss family, it is better to place the equity in the hands of an acquaintance with whom he has a good relationship than to place it in the hands of a stranger, even if it is just 4.5% equity.
In order to prevent Johnson from selling this part of the equity, Jim even asked his father Buss to come forward to contact Johnson, but ultimately failed. Johnson was determined to sell the 4.5% equity of the Lakers.
Magic Johnson certainly won't be short of money. The reason he sold his shares in the Lakers is because Lakers head coach Phil Jackson expressed his intention to retire. Johnson believes that once Phil Jackson retires, the Lakers will fall into a long period of low ebb, and the Lakers' stocks will depreciate by then. It is better to sell the stocks while the Lakers have just won a championship. Cash out and earn more.
"Damn Phil Jackson!" Jim Bass cursed involuntarily when he thought of Phil Jackson.
Phil Jackson is obviously a special being in the Lakers. This meritorious coach has led the Lakers to achieve many brilliance. Looking at it purely as a coach, Phil Jackson is probably the most outstanding among the current NBA coaches. one. However, Phil Jackson is not satisfied with this. He hopes to participate in the management of the team and become the team's management.
Phil Jackson has requested many times, hoping to join the Lakers' management, but neither the old Buss nor the current Buss agreed. Although Buss was good friends with Jackson, he had always been wary of Jackson. He was worried that Jackson would take away the Lakers' property. Especially after Phil Jackson fell in love with Buss Sr.'s daughter Jenny Buss, Sr. Buss became even more wary of Phil Jackson. When Old Buss designated overtime workers, Jenny Buss was obviously more capable, but Old Buss finally chose Jim. The reason why he did not let Jenny Buss take over was because he was worried that the Lakers would fall into In the hands of Phil Jackson.
Among the Lakers, there is no doubt that Phil Jackson is the leader with high achievements. In fact, having high achievements is not the most critical issue. There are many kings in history who can live in harmony with ministers with high achievements. However, when When the king feels that this minister with great achievements wants to seize his kingdom, the conflict will definitely be inevitable. In Bass's view, Phil Jackson not only wanted to seize his own country, but also showed it clearly.
However, Phil Jackson has brought too much glory to the Lakers, so the Buss family cannot easily drive him away, and for the sake of the Lakers' record, the Buss family will try their best to keep Phil Jackson. , of course the premise is as the coach of the team. At the same time, the boss of the Lakers is Kobe. With Kobe's pride, if a coach is changed, Kobe may not be willing to follow the coach's arrangements.
Phil Jackson seemed to have noticed this, so he made a move to retreat and advance, saying that he would retire next year and no longer be the head coach of the Lakers. Of course, if the Buss family is willing to hand over some management rights or even transfer some shares, Phil Jackson would not mind staying and continuing to lead the Lakers.
This was actually a game. Phil Jackson was convinced that Jim could not find a more suitable coach, while Jim felt that Phil Jackson was bluffing. During this period, Magic Johnson became increasingly sensitive to selling this 4.5% stake.
"In any case, these 4.5% shares cannot fall into the hands of Phil Jackson." Jim Bass knocked on the table lightly. Although he knew that Phil Jackson would not blatantly buy these 4.5% shares, Phil - Jackson can use a third-party investor to come forward and take over this part of the shares without anyone noticing. Once that happens, Phil Jackson will have a springboard to participate in the Lakers' decision-making at any time. Among them, coupled with the help of Jenny Buss, Jim Buss is likely to be left out.
"If it really doesn't work, I can only agree to Kobe." Jim Buss sighed.
Kobe also showed interest in the 4.5% of the Lakers shares. US$50 million is not a huge amount for Kobe, and he can definitely afford it. Of course, Kobe didn't pay for it himself. Behind him was a Chinese financial backer named Patrick Chan, who was willing to pay for the 4.5% stake. Of course, as Kobe's financial backer, he must be with Kobe. Patrick Chen also represents Kobe's interests.
"Do you really want to sell it to Kobe!" Jim Buss continued to tap the table with his fingers.
Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly a symbol of the city of Los Angeles and a symbol of the Lakers. However, Jim is also afraid of Kobe. What he is most worried about is that Kobe will become the second Phil Jackson!
"It seems I need to talk to that Patrick Chen." Jim Buss was thinking about it when the phone rang. It was a call from Lakers general manager Kupchak.
"Jim, I just received a call from Zhang Guan." Kupchak said directly without going around in circles.
"Zhang Guan? That Chinese?" Jim recalled for two seconds: "I remembered it. The New York Times seemed to have reported recently that we were negotiating with him about signing a contract. He must have called for this matter. Right? Do you want us to clarify?"
"No. Zhang Guan didn't mention the New York Times at all." Kupchak continued: "He is interested in Johnson's 4.5% stake and hopes to have a phone call with you."
The first chapter has been delivered, please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket.
(End of chapter)