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After quite possibly the worst attempt at a coup ever seen, the Buss family drama is behind them. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Jeanie Buss was voted in as controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers for the rest of her life.
It still remains to be seen what this means for Jim Buss’ financial ties to the organization, but at this point, he wields no power in the board of trustees.
While the process by which we arrived here was certainly eventful, wandering and at most times eye-roll-inducing, this is probably what’s best for the franchise at least for the immediate future.
Here’s what Shelburne added:
Judge David J Cowan ordered trustees --Johnny, Jeanie & Janie-- to do everything in their power to ensure Jeanie remain as CO & head of BOD
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 3, 2017
The court order has now been signed by the judge, lawyers on both sides and the four eldest Buss siblings: Johnny, Jim, Jeanie & Janie
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 3, 2017
As the Lakers wrap up the regular season and prepare for the playoffs, lmao I said playoffs, lottery, it will be interesting to see which direction Jeanie takes the franchise with her as the unquestioned loudest voice in the room.
Jeanie obviously isn’t a new owner in the normal sense, but she is new to this role, and it might be tempting to halt the rebuild as it’s currently constituted — especially seeing as its length might’ve cost Jim and Mitch Kupchak their jobs.
As has been the case for quite some time now, the Lakers refuse to be boring, but having some consistency at the very top of the organization could help calm things down a bit.