Movies

Jeanie Buss Reveals the Untold Truth Behind Her Journey in the NBA

BBG News

In the year 2022’s spring season, Jeanie Buss, the head of the Lakers and its main proprietor, found herself reminiscing about the commencement of her professional journey as she tuned in to HBO’s series titled “Winning Time”.

The popular yet brief TV show, inspired by Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareum, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s“, detailed how Dr. Jerry Buss acquired a struggling NBA team and transformed it into a top-tier organization. This journey stirred memories for Buss, offering insights into her father’s brilliant yet stormy ownership, Magic Johnson’s rise to stardom, and her own college years amidst a predominantly male sports management environment.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but express how accurately they portrayed my father in the movie. However, it was incredibly disheartening not to have a hand in a production that essentially chronicles my personal history.

About a couple of years prior, Buss began exploring possibilities in Hollywood to create her own projects – initially as an executive producer for a documentary series, followed by developing narrative content. Over the course of several decades, Buss and her business partner Linda Rambis had amassed an array of unique stories and extraordinary events. They often discussed the potential for a TV show based on their experiences managing the Lakers, comparing their situations to Lucy and Ethel. It wasn’t until they met with writer and executive producer Mindy Kaling that a clear concept emerged. Buss explains, “She recognized something in our relationship and our situation, and was motivated by it.

After much delay, the outcome is “Running Point,” a 10-episode comedy series on Netflix that revolves around Isla Gordon (played by Kate Hudson), a freshly appointed and feisty blonde owner of a fictional Los Angeles basketball team, the Waves. Penned by Kaling, David Stassen, and Ike Barinholz, this show offers an energetic exploration into the inner workings of a struggling NBA franchise, delving into various aspects of Isla’s life – from her loving fiancé to her manipulative siblings, as well as her troupe of talented yet challenging players. Similar to many family-run businesses, Isla grapples with maintaining boundaries between her personal and professional spheres.

As a follower, I’d like to clarify that while the story has been greatly influenced by me, these characters are not my direct family or myself. However, if you look closely (or even casually follow basketball), you can see the striking parallels. Throughout the series, Isla Gordon faces off with her brothers for authority over the Waves, resists trading players against the team’s expectations, confronts misogynistic owners, handles scandalous tabloid rumors, and deals with an undeniable chemistry with her head coach. Although the Waves may not wear purple and gold, it’s hard to deny that this world mirrors my experiences and history.

Buss shares, “People seem to enjoy tales from backstage of the Lakers. You’ll notice we’ll be showing quite a bit of that side. It won’t always be flawless, let me tell you.

How Jeanie Buss’ career influenced the writing team

Prior to drafting the script, the team (Kaling, Stassen, and Barinholtz) delved into extensive research spanning over several months about Buss’ achievements, personal experiences, and the intricate family dynamics that would serve as the core of the series.

In my own words, I’ve chronicled my journey as a sports executive, starting back in 1979. That year, I forged a partnership with Magic Johnson, pursued studies at USC, and oversaw the L.A Strings, a World Team Tennis franchise owned by my father. As the ’90s rolled in, I stepped up to bigger roles. I managed the L.A Blades, a professional inline hockey team, took charge of the Forum, and even attended NBA board meetings. These positions not only enriched my resume but also opened doors to valuable connections. When my father passed away in 2013, I inherited the controlling ownership of the Lakers, a move that reshuffled the family dynamic and challenged the traditional boys’ club culture within the league.

During the process of creating their Netflix series, Buss and Rambis frequently welcomed and graciously accommodated the writing team. They showed the group around the arena and spent countless hours answering questions. Stassen was keen to delve into Buss’s intricate daily tasks as well as her broader perspective as president. “As you listen to their stories, your viewpoint begins to shift,” Stassen explains. “You start questioning things like ‘What tasks are delegated to people beneath you? How often do you interact with players? How does a team manage to move 25 players and staff across the country for a road trip‘.

As a dedicated cinephile, I found myself hesitant about mirroring Buss’ narrative step by step when crafting our story. While I delved into her autobiography, I consciously opted against watching “Winning Time” to safeguard my creative freedom. Our aim was to develop a captivating protagonist with a distinct personality, yet one deeply rooted in Buss’ authentic struggles and ingenious solutions. As I put it, “We were tempted to veer into a straight comedy,” but the Lakers’ greatness, the immense pressure they faced from the town, and the weight cast on Buss served as an inspiring backdrop for our storyline.

When it came to selecting Hudson for the role, Buss was confident she’d be game for it. She had an advantage due to their past connections. The proprietor of the Lakers recalls giving Hudson rides and showing her around the Forum during the 1990s when her parents Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn attended L.A. Kings games. “I took a special interest in her because she’s quite inquisitive, always asking questions,” Buss explains. “I knew she could deliver a convincing performance since she had witnessed my workings, and she grasped the behind-the-scenes operations of a sports team.

“I really didn’t have to coach her at all. She brought it and she nailed it.”

The challenges of running a family business

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I find a striking resemblance between the tumultuous lives portrayed in films and the Gordon family’s drama. Following the demise of their patriarch, the eldest brother, Cam (Justin Theroux), who was running the Waves, stepped down due to a drug scandal, handing over the reins to his often-overlooked sister Isla. This decision didn’t sit well with brothers Sandy (Drew Tarver) and Ness (Scott MacArthur), serving as team CFO and general manager, who were determined to trade away key players and settle for missing the playoffs. They eventually took their disagreement with Isla’s hopeful approach to the board and attempted a vote of no confidence to remove her, but their plan backfired.

The series of occurrences closely mirrors reality. When Dr. Buss passed away in 2013, he designated Jeannie as the majority owner and appointed her brother, Jim, to manage basketball affairs. Yet, it was always Dr. Buss’s dream for Jeannie and Magic Johnson to co-manage the Lakers; a vision that came true in 2017 when Jeannie replaced her brother with Magic to halt six consecutive losing seasons.

According to Buss, his brother believed it was beneficial for the team to experience a losing streak in order to accumulate draft picks and salary cap space, which could then be used to rebuild the team. However, this was not the type of outcome Dr. Buss promised the fans. At some point, I felt that our reputation was being damaged too much, so I decided it was time for a change.

The reorganization in the front office didn’t go down well. Jim and his brother Johnny convened a shareholders meeting with the intention of removing Jeanie from the board by electing fresh candidates. However, Jeanie’s lawyer obtained a temporary injunction to halt the meeting, and the NBA supported her. In due course, the brothers abandoned the election, settled the lawsuit, and entered into an agreement that made Jeanie the team owner with ultimate control for the remainder of her life. Just under two years later, LeBron James joined the Lakers, and according to her, “that completely transformed the situation.

Buss clarifies that while it may seem like I seized control from my brother, it was actually the way our father set up the trust that made it apparent I was in charge. She explains, ‘My dad entrusted me with the responsibility of caring for the baby because he saw it was suffering. In that situation, I had to take the necessary actions.’ Buss and her brother are now on good terms.

A constant battle prove herself

In her fresh role with the highly renowned NBA team, Isla soon realizes it’s no walk in the park, especially given she’s a woman. She frequently encounters disregard due to her modeling background. At board meetings, she experiences backstabbing and lewd advances from older males. Additionally, every basketball decision she makes is subjected to scrutiny by her brothers, adding an extra layer of judgment.

In her daily life, Buss, who had previously participated in beauty pageants and modeled for Playboy magazine in 1995, found herself attempting to conform to certain expectations. As she explained, “I spent much of my thirties trying to dress appropriately, behave in a manner that was expected, and impress the people around me.” Eventually, Buss came to understand that no matter what she did, there would always be those who wouldn’t like her, and it was futile to spend time trying to change their opinion.

Her mindset proved beneficial as she started dating (and later married) Phil Jackson, the Lakers’ head coach, in 1999. Their 14-year relationship attracted much media attention, but Buss found his philosophical outlook valuable, stating that he gave her “the confirmation I needed” at times. As Stassen recalls, Buss didn’t mind dating someone she worked with, viewing their relationship as a unique blend of professional and personal passions – a perspective seldom shared by others.

In the fictional series Running Point, characters face relatable dilemmas such as Isla’s growing feelings for the Waves’ head coach (portrayed by Jay Ellis from Insecure) and a misconstrued dinner date with a point guard (Chet Hanks). The show also explores the confusion that arises when friendships between men and women can lead to unwarranted speculation about romantic entanglements on social media. As the coach explains, “I have players who are close friends, and because of our gender dynamic, people might jump to conclusions about any kind of physical relationship, which is not true. It’s astounding that people would want to assume such things.

Reflecting on her highs and lows

The television series incorporates numerous aspects inspired by Buss’ real life; one such instance is the subplot about the Gordon family’s hidden half-brother Jackie, portrayed by Fabrizio Guido. Initially, he demands a financial compensation, but eventually accepts a modest position within the family enterprise after reconsidering. (It’s worth noting that in 2018, Buss and her siblings found out they had an older sister who had been adopted without their knowledge during third grade.)

However, one particularly relatable moment in the series stood out – when Isla unwittingly signed a document presented by her brothers, marking the beginning of her career. “I can still feel the pain of those kinds of encounters,” Buss admits. “Many women will likely empathize with that. I want people to see various aspects of this story – professional women grappling with similar predicaments, and individuals working within a family business, experiencing the internal competition.

Reflecting on it now was therapeutic, yet it underscored some critical choices Jeanie Buss had to make in her father’s absence. For instance, the move to execute the Anthony Davis trade (which required sacrificing several valued players), ultimately culminating in an NBA title during the pandemic-induced bubble season. “My dad was quite skilled at poker, and he would try to show me the ropes, lead me to the tables,” Buss recalls. “I eventually told him, ‘Dad, why are you making me do this? I don’t enjoy playing poker.’ And he replied, ‘I’m just trying to teach you that poker is about patience. It may take time, but when you get the right cards, you need to be able to switch from zero to a hundred in an instant.’

“I believed he would have been extremely pleased with me [for the trade], as I confidently placed the chips on the table.” As for your second question, it is speculated that a significant trade (perhaps analogous to her recent Luka Doncic deal) might be incorporated into Season 2. Buss chuckles and expresses, “Well, we could potentially include that aspect.”

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2025-02-27 18:07

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