Lakers Legend Scott Criticizes Team for Becoming Too Corporate: The Buss Era’s Family Feeling Is Gone

In 1979, Jerry Buss walked into The Forum after he had just purchased the Lakers, the Kings, and the arena itself for a total of $67.5 million. After taking over, the first thing he did was not make a trade or change coaches, but ensure that the front office secretary remembered every player's name, birthday, and all important personal details. That secretary later became the emotional center of the team for two decades. Today, the team has changed ownership twice in 14 months, with a combined price approaching $23 billion. One Lakers legend said that version of the team is completely gone.

On the 'Byron Scott's Fast Break' podcast, Scott made no attempt to hide how far the Lakers' culture has moved away from the Buss era. He said: "To me, all of this has become too corporate, it's unbelievable. In Dr. Jerry Buss' organization, everything was about family. That family relationship built strong bonds because you wanted everyone to do well. Now this is a corporate acquisition... I feel that for owners today, building that kind of relationship between Dr. Buss and the players, employees, and everyone else is no longer as important."

Scott also mentioned Mary Lou, the former front office secretary from that era. He said: "Mary Lou, the Lakers' secretary back then, was like everyone's mother. You could go to her and talk about anything, and she would tell you the truth directly. In today's organizations, you can't find the kind of connection we had back then."

Scott made these comments as the Lakers' ownership situation was involved in a family legal dispute. Fourteen months ago, Mark Walter purchased the Buss family's controlling stake at a valuation of $10 billion. Later, reports said Bob Iger and Josh Kushner would complete an acquisition worth $12.5 billion. Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss is fighting her siblings in court over control of the team.

Jeanie Buss filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Jim, Jeanie, Johnny, Joey, and Jesse Buss, accusing co-trustees Jeanie and Joey of "openly, knowingly, and intentionally" violating a 2017 court order and the terms of their father Jerry Buss' family trust.