Jeanie Buss stops brothers' attempt to oust her from Lakers leadership
A power struggle is playing out to determine control of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jeanie Buss is the president and controlling owner of the NBA franchise, but her brothers, Jim and Johnny, are attempting to oust her from the post, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
The brothers planned to hold a meeting next week to elect a new board of directors for the Lakers, but attorneys for Jeanie Buss asked for a restraining order in Los Angeles Country Superior Court on Friday. Following the motion, the brothers withdrew the request for a meeting.
Adam Streisand, an attorney for Jeanie Buss, said in a statement: "It is good news for fans that Jim and Johnny backed down in court today, but I’m afraid it’s just the beginning. I’m confident we will continue to uphold Dr. (Jerry) Buss’s wishes and Jeanie will remain in control."
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Johnny and Jim Buss proposed four directors, but the list of names did not include their sister. If Jeanie Buss lost her title as director, she would also be stripped of her job as controlling owner.
"It is also obvious that the actions of Johnny and Jim are motivated as retaliation," lawyers for Jeanie Buss wrote in the court filing. "Despite the fact that Petitioner (Jeanie Buss) gave Jim more than ample time to prove himself as executive vice president of basketball operations, she could not allow the damage being done over the past several years to continue."
The power struggle comes in the wake of Jeanie Buss' decision to name Magic Johnson president of basketball operations two weeks ago. The Lakers legend replaced Jim Buss, who was fired from his job as vice president of basketball operations. Johnny Buss remains in charge of corporate development.
"An injunction is necessary to prevent irreparable injury to the Lakers," the court filing said. "A new Controlling Owner would have the power to make changes that could cause serious and irreversible damage to the Lakers basketball team and to the brand, particularly at this key juncture when Petitioner has taken significant steps to attempt to reverse the harm done by Jim."
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Jeanie Buss took control of the Lakers in 2013 following the death of their father, Jerry Buss.
The family trust that controls the franchise mandates that the co-trustees, Johnny and Jim Buss, take actions to ensure Jeanie Buss is controlling owner. The trust can elect three of the board's five members.
A probate court trial is scheduled for May.
In a statement Friday night, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said: "Jeanie Buss is the sole Governor of the Los Angeles Lakers and under league rules, she has control over the team. She has not only been a terrific leader for the Lakers organization, guiding the business before and after her father's passing, but an incredibly influential voice among all our team owners."
