“Jerry Buss was the Lakers, so I don’t know if the Lakers will ever be the Lakers. I don’t think there was a smarter owner in the history of the NBA than Jerry Buss, so that’s tough to replace.
I don’t think people realize just how good of an owner Jerry was. I looked up to him a lot. Absolutely. So I don’t know if the Lakers will ever be the Lakers.
He just understood fans, entertainment, players, how to balance all of it together, how to deal with the NBA, when to listen to (ex-NBA commissioner) David (Stern) and when to ignore him and when to tell him what to do. He had that breath of skills that every time I spoke to him — usually I’m used to doing to the talking, just force of habit.
But he’s one of the few people that when we sat down I did all the listening. So I don’t think there’s any question he’s by far the best owner in the history of the NBA. No exception.”
h/t Dwain Price of Full-Court Press of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
