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Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Granderson: Of course the Lakers' 2020 win counts as a real championship
It's been quite the summer for Lakers jealousy, hasn't it? For example, in July, Bleacher Report left Kobe Bryant — the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history — off its Top 10 all-time player list. In June, when the Buss family sold the franchise to Mark Walter for a historic $10 billion, Lakers haters immediately took to social media to say which teams were worth more. Now we are in August, and every NBA TV show and podcast has a segment to address the comments Philadelphia 76ers executive Daryl Morey made to the Athletic about the Lakers' 2020 NBA championship against the Miami Heat: 'Had the Rockets won the title, I absolutely would have celebrated it as legitimate, knowing the immense effort and resilience required.… Yet, everyone I speak to around the league privately agrees that it doesn't truly hold up as a genuine championship.' Given the historic circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic that year, to view that championship as 'less than' because teams did not travel during it and fans were not present is akin to discounting NFL championships or World Series titles won during World War II because the rosters were thinner because of enlistments. Morey suggested that victory should come with an asterisk as if the playoffs during a once-in-a-century global pandemic were not as challenging as in typical years. Different dynamic, yes — but easier? He has since walked his comments back, but you know what they say about genies and bottles. Besides, it's not as if he's alone in his Lakers disrespect. There are plenty of fans and former players who are quick to point out what the team did not do in that postseason because they don't appreciate what that championship required. Beginning with courage. It's been nearly five years since the Lakers won title No. 17 inside the $200-million logistics behemoth referred to as the Bubble, so maybe some of us forgot the details. Infectious disease experts, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, the league office, the players' union, ESPN and many other corporations all came together during a time when we had far more questions about COVID than answers. From when NBA play stopped in March 2020 to when play inside the Bubble began that July, the country had lost more than 140,000 people to the disease. When bubble play ended in October, it was above 206,000, and many cities were running out of places to store the dead. Far too often we forget that fame and fortune do not protect a person from problems or heartache. We forget that being a professional athlete does not protect you from the rest of the shared human experience. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mother to COVID that April and seven other relatives over the course of the pandemic. Towns, who turns 30 in November, was himself hospitalized in early 2021 because of the virus. You're not supposed to put an asterisk on a sports championship won during the worst of times. You're supposed to use an exclamation point to honor the mental and emotional dexterity it took. The months of isolation — away from family and friends, away from the routines that made them the athletes they are. Daily testing to guarantee the safety of other players as well as coaches and administrative staff. And while not having to travel to a hostile arena nullified the 'road game' in the playoffs, it also took away 'home court' from a Lakers team that had the best record in the Western Conference. A team that had just beat the other two title favorites — the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers — less than a week before the world shut down. One day, Morey is going to look back on his comments about the Lakers title in the Bubble with shame. Not because he's wrong in reporting the disrespect others in the league have expressed but because he chose to give that rhetoric oxygen. Morey and others have long had such jealousy of the Lakers, but this was the summer they turned petty. YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow If it's in the news right now, the L.A. Times' Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN Facing Backlash After Changing LeBron James, Luka Doncic Report
ESPN Facing Backlash After Changing LeBron James, Luka Doncic Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Speculation around LeBron James' future in Los Angeles continues to swirl, despite the four-time NBA champion opting into his player option for the upcoming season. Even after another strong individual campaign, reports of tension between James and the Los Angeles Lakers have only grown louder in recent weeks. Advertisement That tension reportedly stems from the franchise's recent pivot to build around superstar guard Luka Doncic. According to a recent report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers' front office sees Doncic as their long-term centerpiece, which has led some close to James to feel the team isn't fully valuing what he's done for the organization since arriving in 2018. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77).Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images In the report, Windhorst and Shelburne also noted that James hadn't even been notified when the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the Lakers to Mark Walter on June 18 — while Doncic had been given a heads-up and publicly congratulated the move. The original story implied that James was blindsided by the sale and suggested it was another example of the Lakers prioritizing their new star over the 22-time All-Star, who turns 41 in December. However, after the article was published, ESPN quietly updated the piece, adding that 'sources said James was notified of the sale, via his representation,' but chose not to post about it publicly. Advertisement The walk-back immediately sparked backlash from fans who accused the network of trying to manufacture unnecessary drama. 'They can't just get away with this man. They also lied about the Lakers not offering LeBron a contract,' one fan noted. 'I TOLD Y'ALL THESE GUYS WERE LYING,' another fan said. 'Why are we still calling those 'media'?' a fan questioned. 'ESPN are just a bunch of liars looking to create narratives to generate clicks,' another fan added. 'Brian Windhorst has straight up lied on Bron's name for a long [expletive] time,' another fan posted. '@ramonashelburne spreading lies about the lakers as usual.. why Ramona?' another fan wrote. Advertisement Related: Lakers' Different Treatment of LeBron James, Luka Doncic Revealed in New Report Related: Drake's LeBron James Diss on Saturday Turns Heads This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Late Lakers Owner Jerry Buss' Empire Started With Him Buying A Building In West LA For $1,000-His Daughter Just Sold The Team For $10 Billion
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The Buss family is known for owning the Los Angeles Lakers, but most people are unaware that the family amassed its wealth through real estate investments. According to People magazine, family patriarch Jerry Buss began building his empire by making a $1,000 investment in a 14-unit apartment building in West LA. A little over 60 years later, his daughter sold a majority stake in the family's crown jewel for $10 billion. People magazine's 1980 profile says Buss was raised in Wyoming by a single mother, who paid her rent with tips from her job waiting tables. She also taught him how to play cards in her free time, something that sparked Buss' love of poker and prepared him for the high-stakes life of an NBA franchise owner. Don't Miss: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's , starting today. $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. "I could play a reasonable hand of bridge by the time I was 4," Buss told People. "We'd gamble for chocolate bars. In the beginning, she'd have this tremendous edge, but then I'd get to where I could compete with her, and she'd switch games. She was always very proud of me that way. She gave me a lot of confidence." Rebellious by nature, Buss dropped out of school and began working for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP). He might have stayed a railroad worker if not for a chance encounter with chemistry teacher Walt Garrett, who convinced him to go back to school. Buss eventually earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, where he ended up teaching part-time after several stints with major engineering firms. According to People, Buss found the button-down world of engineering too restrictive, and he embarked on building a real estate empire. Buss' started his real estate portfolio by investing $1,000 in a West LA apartment building in 1959. By 1979, he was a partner in his own firm, Mariani-Buss Associates. The Mariani-Buss portfolio included three hotels, 1,000 single-family homes, and 4,000 apartment units. From there, he made the move that would catapult him to fame as the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. Trending: It's no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — At the time, Jack Kent Cooke owned theLakers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, and the Forum, which was the arena where they played. Buss, who had become involved in pro sports via ownership of the Los Angeles Strings pro tennis franchise, approached Cooke about purchasing the Lakers and Kings. They eventually struck a deal for Buss to buy the Lakers, Kings, the Forum, and a 13,000-acre ranch for $67.5 million. Buss' timing could not have been better. The Lakers had an all-time great player in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and they used their 1979 pick in the NBA draft to select Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Together, Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar would come to epitomize the "showtime" era of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. Showtime was Buss' vision, and it included more than just up-tempo play. Buss leveraged his team's geographic location and high visibility to make Lakers' games must-see events for Hollywood stars. Luminaries like Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon were regulars at the Forum, and the team went on an unprecedented run of success under Buss' leadership. They won 10 championships during the Showtime era, which was instrumental in the NBA's emergence as a major revenue the time Buss passed away in 2013, the team's value had skyrocketed. According to the Los Angeles Times, Buss set up a trust that divided his interest in the Lakers among his children before his death. It also named his daughter Jeanie Buss as governor, a position that gave her ultimate authority over the franchise's basketball and business operations. Under her leadership, the Lakers have transitioned from the Kobe Bryant era to the LeBron James era. James was pivotal in helping the Lakers win their 11th championship since 1979, and the team looks to have positioned itself for the future by acquiring superstar Luka Doncic. In June, ESPN reported that the Buss family had reached an agreement to sell a controlling stake in the club to Mark Walter for $10 billion. Jeanie Buss will continue as governor for the immediate future, and the family will retain a 15% stake in the club for the time being. The deal is still pending approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, who will meet in July. ESPN said the $10 billion sale price is a record high for a professional sports team in the U.S. It's amazing to think that this all started with a $1,000 investment in 1959. Read Next: Over the last five years, the price of gold has increased by approximately 83% — Investors like Bill O'Reilly and Rudy Giuliani are . Image: Imagn Images This article Late Lakers Owner Jerry Buss' Empire Started With Him Buying A Building In West LA For $1,000-His Daughter Just Sold The Team For $10 Billion originally appeared on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lakers Gave Luka Doncic Heads-Up On Ownership Change, But Not LeBron James
Lakers Gave Luka Doncic Heads-Up On Ownership Change, But Not LeBron James originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era, and it's becoming more obvious by the day that LeBron James is no longer at the center of it. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, when the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the team to billionaire investor Mark Walter on June 18, Luka Doncic was privately informed ahead of time. LeBron James, on the other hand, received no such courtesy—and made no public acknowledgment of the change. Advertisement "Since the Doncic trade Feb. 1, the Lakers have signaled this shift from James to Doncic through a series of microaggressions," reported ESPN. "When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. James was not given the same notice and did not post any public acknowledgement afterward." LeBron had been treated like royalty since his arrival in the summer of 2018. After leading the franchise to a championship two years later, his standing in the organization reached an all-time high, and they were doing everything they could to appease him. With Luka on board, however, LeBron's desires have come secondary, and they've been keeping him out of the loop. "They did not give him significant notice that they were trading Davis for Doncic, a transgression James forgave, sources said, because of his respect for Doncic and understanding of the franchise's reasoning for making the trade and for keeping it under wraps for as long as possible," wrote ESPN. At this point, there's no denying that the Lakers are Luka's team now. With averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game last season, he's shown enough in his short time with the organization to earn their full commitment and dedication. The fact that he's surpassed LeBron James in the team hierarchy so quickly says a lot about his talent and how quickly things have changed for the organization. Advertisement For James, this entire ordeal is unfamiliar territory, and he's struggling to find the appropriate response. Between being phased out of the team's decision-making and the state of his expiring contract, it's a given that his time in Los Angeles will soon be coming to an end. As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 22-year veteran, it's unheard of for a star of LeBron's caliber to be treated this way, and it makes sense why he has mentally checked out of the organization. For the first time in his career, uncertainty defines the path ahead for LeBron, but there are multiple teams who are still willing to give him the star treatment he feels he deserves. Whether it ends with a trade or a quiet exit in free agency, LeBron's time with the Lakers feels like it's nearing its final act. The franchise has clearly chosen a new direction and a new face in Luka Doncic. And while the King may no longer be the priority in L.A., his legacy and value still hold weight across the league. If this is how things end, it won't be on LeBron's terms, but it might just spark the next chapter in one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen. Related: Lakers Could Trade LeBron And Bronny James To Warriors In Bold Blockbuster Deal This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LeBron James Was Notified Beforehand About The Buss Family Selling The Lakers To Mark Walter
LeBron James Was Notified Beforehand About The Buss Family Selling The Lakers To Mark Walter originally appeared on Fadeaway World. All doesn't appear to be well behind the scenes between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. A fair few interesting reports have come out in recent weeks, and one ESPN article stated that James was not even notified about the Buss family selling their majority stake in the Lakers to Mark Walter. It turns out that wasn't the case, though, as the article has now gotten a notable update. Advertisement "When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. After the publication of this article, sources said James was notified of the sale, via his representation. But he did not post any public acknowledgement." It was somewhat alarming that Luka Doncic was given a heads-up about the sale, but James wasn't. That initial report just further added to the notion that the 21-time All-Star had just been completely pushed to the side by the franchise. James' interests were once the top priority for the Lakers, but that appears to no longer be the case following Doncic's arrival. Still, things haven't gotten so bad between the two parties that he wasn't even informed beforehand about Walter getting majority ownership of the franchise at a $10 billion valuation. Should this make Lakers fans more optimistic about James staying? Well, it's hard to say. Recently, James' agent and Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul made it clear that his client hadn't asked for a trade and hadn't even brought up the possibility of doing so in the future. Advertisement Paul did add, though, that four teams had contacted him with interest in trading for James, who averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2024-25. It will be interesting to see how this situation pans out. NBA insider Shams Charania stated we'll know about James' future within two months, with some hard conversations eventually taking place. The point of contention here appears quite simple. The 40-year-old James wants the Lakers to make moves to maximize their chances of winning now with him. The front office, meanwhile, is keeping an eye on the future as they look to compete long-term with Doncic as the centerpiece. The Lakers lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency partly because of their refusal to give him a long-term deal. According to Charania, they are prioritizing having enough cap space in 2027 to sign a star in free agency. As a result, the Lakers are only interested in handing out two-year deals, which is what Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia got. Advertisement This doesn't seem like the right approach, as the Lakers are not only hurting their chances of winning now with Doncic and James on the roster, but they are also potentially wasting two years of the former's prime. Time will tell if the front office's stance this summer was a masterstroke or a blunder. Even if James doesn't get traded in the coming weeks or months, it does seem likely that 2025-26 will be his last season with the Lakers. His tenure with the franchise has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. James led them to a title in 2020 and the Western Conference Finals in 2023, but hasn't had any postseason success outside of those two runs. Related: Source: LeBron James Felt Lakers Disrespected Him With Luka Doncic Rebuild; Imminent Exit Timeline Emerges This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
