Today, the latest soap opera hit the storied franchise, as excerpts from Jeanie Buss' upcoming update to her acclaimed memoir, entitled "Laker Girl," were released by the Los Angeles Times and, at least from the sound of things, there's more than a little tension within the organization (via ESPN.com).
Jeanie Buss, the chief of the Los Angeles Lakers' business operations and fiancee of Hall of Famer Phil Jackson, wrote in an upcoming update to her "Laker Girl" memoir that she felt the hiring of Mike D'Antoni as head coach last year instead of Jackson was "a betrayal."
Buss, in an excerpt published Sunday in the Los Angeles Times, wrote she felt she "got played," referring to the decision ultimately made by her brother Jim, which she has said took her and Jackson by surprise and had been an unsettling experience.
Obviously, Buss' opinions are about as biased as they come in this particular situation, as the 51-year-old is engaged to the 13-time NBA champion and coaching legend, but her take on the situation does merit consideration.
It's strange to think that the Lakers' brass would ever dream of "leading on" a living legend like Jackson, especially given how much success he had with the core of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace in the past.
Apparently, Buss felt "betrayed" by the team's decision to hire Mike D'Antoni over the former Bulls and Lakers bench boss and, regardless of how much truth there is to that notion, it's pretty obvious that there were opposing views on which coach should lead the team following Mike Brown's dismissal.
However, as Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld.com and the L.A. Times points out, Jeanie Buss' decision to air these feelings ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
