1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: back to another edition to All the Smoke. Man, it's 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: been like six months since we sat in these things. 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: On my hands. Bad to be back out here. It's 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: safe travels in the l A. Yes, he's good to 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: see you. Good to see that. Man. I just this 8 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: new glasses you I mean, is it only like when 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: we shoot remote episodes where these beyond are only these 10 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: are only live glasses. The best way I can explain 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: it is a man that thinks the same at fifteen 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: as you do as thirty, has ways of fifteen years 13 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 1: of life. So I'm just to grow. I'm just going okay, yeah, yeah, 14 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: but you ustill to ask my question. What was the question? 15 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: Are you gonna have these on like when we do 16 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: remote Are these only glasses that come out when you 17 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: do in person interviews? Okay, yeah, that's what I thought. 18 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: That's anyway, man. We have a very special guest today, 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: um the only female to win a professional world championship, 20 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: Genie Bus. Welcome to the show. Thank you for having me, 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming to be here. We appreciate it. 22 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: We appreciate it. Thank you very much. What do you 23 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: inspired by in one? Obviously we'll get to the mess 24 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: that was, but what are you inspired by coming out 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: of It's nice to have the Lakers be part of 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: the conversation again. You know, it had been a few 27 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: years that we were at the bottom and watching everybody 28 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: else go to the playoffs. So you know, I just 29 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: want to continue and keep going and keep building this team. 30 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: But that's a lot of pressure, like you guys have obviously, 31 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, won seventeen titles, eleven under your guys reign. 32 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: But that's a lot of pressure for the Lakers. You Like, 33 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: some teams can go years without even being in the playoffs, 34 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: but for you guys, it's not so much even the playoffs. 35 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: It's championships. Playoffs is not good enough. How much pressure 36 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: is that on just a day to day basis Because 37 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: you've been in this since you've basically been a teenager, well, 38 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's really hard to win a championship. Really, 39 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: everything has to like line up perfectly, stay away from injuries. 40 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: Just it's it's really really hard. But a person in 41 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: my position, what our job is is to give the 42 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: team everything that they need to be successful to be 43 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: able to compete. So that's you know, every year, you know, 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: Phil Jackson kind of taught me this, that every year 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: there's a pathway to winning. Some might be more uphill 46 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: than others, but that's what you always go into it 47 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: thinking how am I going to get there? And that's 48 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: what you do and and you know, people like me, 49 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: we make sure that we give the team all the 50 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: resources possible. Absolutely. So the end of nineteen you unfortunately 51 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: lost your mother, the beginning of you lost some another 52 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: mentor to you, David Stern, and then we all lost 53 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: Kobe the end of that January. Um, talk to us 54 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: just about where you were as a person outside of business, 55 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: but obviously business had to continue. But as a person, 56 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: that's a lot for anyone to handle. Um, yeah, it's 57 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: And I'm I'm glad the way you said, um that 58 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: we all lost Kobe, because when people would say to 59 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: me and express their condolences, I would correct them and say, hey, 60 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: the world lost somebody really special. And just him as 61 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: a friend and as a motivator and watching him as 62 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: a father and a husband, you know, he just he 63 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: was a leader and you know he's irreplaceable and the 64 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: knowledge that he shared with people. I had no idea 65 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: until after he passed it. I mean, I knew he 66 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: helped basketball players, everybody. He helped everybody, people in every 67 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: kind of sport, and even me when I think back 68 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: to Um, you know he Um after my father passed 69 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: away in he invited me to have lunch and I, 70 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: you know, I met him down in Orange County and 71 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: he brought Gianna with him and he said, I hope 72 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: it's okay with you. I brought Gianna because I want 73 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: her to see a really powerful woman. And and I 74 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: realized later that really what he was doing was motivating me. 75 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: And He's just he was, you know, somebody that I 76 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: valued and will continue to value. And I hope that 77 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: what he stood for and you know, the lessons that 78 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: he taught people like me, I will continue to pass 79 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: on to other people. And I think his his legend 80 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: will continue to grow. Yeah, we had an opportunity Um 81 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 1: one of his last, if not his last interviews. We 82 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: went out there and interviewed him, and before we even 83 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: got to the interview, he brought me and Jack into 84 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: his office and he was just so adamant on putting 85 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: the first twenty years of his greatness to bed and 86 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: being that next what was but what's my next act? 87 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: The businessman, the father, the you know, everything else he 88 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: was involved in. But it was amazing to me just 89 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: all the other things he was into. And he was, 90 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: you know, at the time, finishing his i think his 91 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: second or third children's novel, and he had signed some 92 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: books for me and the boys, and you know, we 93 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: asked him how he got into it and just the 94 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 1: detail he would give us in in in getting a 95 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: chance to play with them, the verocity he the approach 96 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: he took the basketball, he took that same approach to business, 97 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: you know. And it was scary because he was such 98 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: a competitor on the court, but he was even more 99 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: competitive off the court because it's like, Okay, the Kobe 100 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: I was in the past doesn't mean ship now, Like 101 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: I got to kind of reinvent myself and and and 102 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: move forward. And that really just touched me. But um, 103 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: you know, obviously we lost, uh, we all lost something 104 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: very special. We'll talk about Code a little later. Have 105 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: you had time to reflect with everything going on with Code? 106 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: How are you able to pull off championship doing all that? 107 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: You never really recover from something like losing Kobe and 108 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: David Stern and and for me my mother all into 109 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: a short time period. But what happened was watching um 110 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: Lebron lead us, lead Laker Nation that first game back 111 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: at the end of January. He made a speech where 112 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: he told Laker Nation, I'm strong, you know, lean on me. 113 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: And that's really what we did, was we you know, 114 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: basketball brought us, you know, some kind of relief from 115 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: our pain, the community coming together, and I don't think 116 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: I have a really valued how important that was to 117 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: keep going. And yeah, it's just a basketball game, but 118 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: it has meaning because we're coming together to do something. 119 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: And so now we kind of get back into some 120 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: kind of rhythm and all of a sudden, COVID shuts 121 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: everything down and the one thing that was comforting us, 122 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: you know, being together, being basketball, was taken away once again. 123 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: And I think those months where we didn't know bubble 124 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: hadn't been invented yet and we were all just hanging waiting, 125 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: having to isolate, be away from each other, I think 126 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: it made it worse. It really I think affected my 127 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: mental wellness, you know, and I wasn't sleeping well. I 128 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: would wake up in the morning. I literally had been 129 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: crying in my sleep like it was that powerful. I 130 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: was really so grateful to the NBA for coming up 131 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: with the idea of the bubble and a way of 132 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: keeping our players safe because that was probably the safest 133 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: place for them to be. And you know, the way 134 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: I was feeling, I wanted to just embrace all things 135 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: Lakers are fans, are players, and keep every anybody safe. 136 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: And it meant a lot to me to to uh 137 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: have a chance to compete and finish out the season. 138 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: Are you I think if taught us to anything, it 139 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: is that tomorrow isn't promised, cherish your days, shares your 140 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: time through your loved ones. I think Jack and I. 141 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: You know, normally when you're in the midst of something, 142 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: you can't really step out and appreciate what you've gone through, 143 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: what you've been through, and what you're a part of. 144 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: Have you been able to do that considering the process 145 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: and how up and down it's been. Have you kind 146 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: of just got to think back, like, I'm running or 147 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 1: one of the people running the most historical franchise in 148 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: the history with all the ups, all the downs. But 149 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: I'm in it. I'm in the mix. You know, it's like, 150 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: until we have the fans at Staples Center. I just 151 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: even though I'm wearing a ring from the championship, it 152 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: still doesn't seem real because we haven't had that. And 153 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: what we did. We we gave the players the rings 154 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: on opening night, but we did not veil the banner. 155 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: So we've kept that covered until we could have fans. 156 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: And now we're finally in a position where we're gonna 157 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: start having fans. It might be tenent capacity, so maybe 158 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: fire two thousand people, but you know, when when I 159 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: hear the roar of the crowd, then it'll be real 160 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: for me. I know, I've heard you speak and your 161 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: father his goal was to obviously hang more banners than 162 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: the Celtics, and obviously losing him in thirteen, you were 163 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: able to tie. And what does it mean to you 164 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: to follow through with his dream and his legacy and 165 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: know that you have a great chance of putting number 166 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: eighteen up and possibly a nineteenth Like what is that? 167 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: Doing a great job? Yeah? I mean, my god, it 168 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: was It would just that that would be um, you know, 169 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: that's what he asked me to do, and so accomplishing 170 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: that would be phenomenal. I'm happy that we we got seventeen. Uh, 171 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: certainly if the Celtics win, then they you know, they're 172 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: going to raise the bar that much more. So we 173 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: have to continue to be competitive. Um, but I'm hoping 174 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: to get there. I think. Um, having a player like 175 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: Lebron James gives you reason to kind of put your 176 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: foot on the gas and um, you know how many 177 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: years he's going to play. I hope he plays another 178 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: ten years, but you know, uh, you don't want to 179 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: lose that time. Absolutely, like a dad, you gotta go 180 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,719 Speaker 1: all in. You gotta go all in. Take us back 181 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 1: to your childhood, because you really were groomed for this, 182 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: and it's not normal for a female to rise in 183 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: a position, although you're making it normal, but back then, 184 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: it wasn't normal. And you started by you know, being 185 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: a part of you know, a tennis organization with your 186 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: father purchased and then I think rollers roller skating situation, 187 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: and then you know that that we were we were 188 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 1: studying that. What blew me away that your dad bought 189 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: the form the Kings in the la Akers all for 190 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: sixty seven million dollars, which is insane now because obviously 191 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: the value was astronomical. But take us back to your 192 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: childhood and just realizing that you were part of something 193 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: that wasn't normal. My father made his money in real 194 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: estate development, and I thought that was that was the 195 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: family business when I was growing up, and I thought 196 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: that's what I would end up going into. But then 197 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: he decided because he was such a big sports fan, 198 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: that he had this opportunity to buy the Lakers and 199 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: the Kings um and the forum where they played, and 200 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, the family business went from you know, 201 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: real estate to sports and entertainment. So when you own 202 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: an arena and you have a hockey team and a 203 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: basketball team, that's about a hundred nights a year, Well 204 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: there's another two fifty nights that you got to keep 205 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: it busy. To keep it busy, So any weird sport 206 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: or any any kind of entertainment he put me in 207 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: charge of. So we had roller hockey, we had volleyball, 208 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: we did gymnastics, we did indoor soccer. We couldn't do 209 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: arena football because the yeah, the scoreboard was too low. Um. 210 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: And even when I was, you know, twenty six years old, 211 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: he sent me to Russia to negotiate with the government 212 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: officials to get the Moscow Circus to come to America 213 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: and tour. That didn't work out, but you know, I 214 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: mean it was whatever it was. He that that's kind 215 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: of what I did, and that was great experience for 216 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: me as I um continued on my path. Then in 217 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: UM the last five years that we were at the Forum, 218 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: I was named head of the arena operations. So it 219 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: was a really good move for me because I was 220 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: able to understand the nuts and bolts of how how 221 00:12:55,040 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: an arena operated and dealing with unions and UM, you know, putting. 222 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: Now I'm on the other side. I used to be 223 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: a promoter. Now I'm on the other side. And that 224 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: experience was so valuable. As we moved to Staples Center 225 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: and became a tenant in a building that we don't 226 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: own or operate, I was named UM to my Laker 227 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: position in UH and UM. I remember when the w 228 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: n B A was launched twenty five years ago, David 229 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: Stern went to my dad and said, well, you know, 230 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: it's kind of obvious, like Genie should run you know, 231 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: the women's team, And my dad said to him, you know, 232 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: Genie is going to run the Lakers, you know, like 233 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: I already have a job for Jennie to do so, um, 234 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: you know he really his intention was always for me 235 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: to be in the position that I'm in. Talk to 236 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: us about your dad between I heard you speak on 237 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: when you call him Dr Bus for business affairs and 238 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: then but you also call him Dad. What's the different 239 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: between the two? Very different? Um? You know Dr Buss, Um, 240 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: he got his PhD in physical chemistry, so he's a 241 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: brilliant mathematical mind. Um. And you know he was he 242 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,719 Speaker 1: was a great businessman. Uh, you know, lead with compassion 243 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: and empathy, but cut throat. You know, he knew, he 244 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: knew how to make money and he knew how to, um, 245 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: get right to the heart of the matter. And so 246 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: you know, when dealing with Dr Buss you better be 247 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: on your toes because I mean he he could sit there. 248 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: I would have a calculator and we'd be going over 249 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: numbers and he was faster than my calculat can punch 250 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: it in. Yeah, like he just I didn't get that. 251 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: I didn't get that side of him, unfortunately. But that's 252 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: why he was a great poker player as well. He 253 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: just had that that mind that that numbers just clicked 254 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: for him. So what about Dad, though, when was he Dad, Dad, um, dad, Um. 255 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: You know, he was worried that I was, um too 256 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: so ambitious for my career, that I would miss out 257 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: on having a really you know, creating a family for myself. 258 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: And so when I met Phil Jackson, and when when 259 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: my dad was thinking about hiring Phil, I was really 260 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: against it because we had had um another high profile 261 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: coach in pat Riley, and um at that time on 262 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: our team, we had Shaquille O'Neal, the biggest personality in 263 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: the league, and a young Kobe Bryant, and UM, I 264 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: thought having another big personality but kind of yeah, it 265 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: would upset things. Um. But of course my dad didn't 266 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: listen to me. So then when I when I met Phil, 267 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: there was just something, um so something about his voice 268 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: that just it just you know, I was like, whoa, 269 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: who is this guy? Like? Because he single, I didn't 270 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: know what his deal was and he was going through 271 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: a divorce, and um, you know, there was a spark 272 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: between us. And he asked me to dinner and I said, 273 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: you know, you know, I am interested in you know, 274 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: a relationship with you, but I am not interested in 275 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: in you know, keeping it on the down low, like 276 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: if if if we're going to see each other, then 277 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: it has to be with full disclosure. Otherwise I could 278 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: compromise the organization. I would never do that. But you know, 279 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: I'm going to have to tell my dad and how 280 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: am I gonna do this? And my dad you know, 281 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: and I'm getting to the story of what, you know, 282 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: who my dad was. Um, when I told him that 283 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: I was, you know, starting a relationship with Phil Jackson, 284 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: he took a second and he said, you know, I've 285 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: always thought you should date someone older than you because 286 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 1: he'll appreciate you. And um, you know, so there he was, 287 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: being the support of dad. What's the time frame? So 288 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: this is right, his feels first year with your guys 289 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: team was when you guys so initially right from the joke, 290 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, like it was, I mean the second time 291 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: that I mean, if you know, of course I had 292 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: heard of Phil Jackson, but I thought he was just 293 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: some hippie dude that you know, like listened to the 294 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 1: grateful Dad. I didn't. He wasn't my type. And um, 295 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: we were together almost seventeen years and and you know, 296 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: really one of the most important relationships of my life. 297 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: What are your NBA memories, Like your dad watched around 298 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: the team. Um, the n b A, I watched it 299 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: grow from I think when my dad bought the team 300 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 1: there was only twenty two teams in the league. So 301 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: we went through this great growth period of expansion with 302 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: teams like Dallas in Vancouver and Toronto at Memphis, and um, 303 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: you know, really um watching the league become kind of this, 304 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: you know, little niche sport to really becoming I think 305 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: the leader in all of professional sports in terms of 306 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: our relationship with the players and and and really looking 307 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: at it as a partnership between the league and the players. 308 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: And you know, the greater we grow the business, both 309 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: sides benefit. So you know, I just I couldn't be 310 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: more proud to be associated with the NBA, especially after 311 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: the summer of So your dad buys a team. In 312 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: seventy nine, you guys draft Magic Johnson, first impressions of 313 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: him as just a person. Um, you know, I was 314 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: um seventeen and Magic was nineteen, so you know, we're 315 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: like basically the same age. And in those days, there 316 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: wasn't like a big draft event. They literally called you 317 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: and said you've been drafted by the Lakers, and so um, 318 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: he flew out to Los Angeles, and Um, I was 319 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: over at my dad's house and the doorbell rang and 320 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: my dad said, you know that's that's gonna be Bill 321 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: Sharman bringing Magic over. He goes, I got to run upstairs. Um, 322 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: you know, bring them in, offer them something to drink, 323 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: and I'll be down in a few minutes. So I 324 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: opened the door and all I could see was this 325 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: smile like I like dazzling, smiled Magic Johnson. And you know, 326 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: we sit down, we start talking and Magic said, you know, 327 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm really really excited that I was drafted by the Lakers, 328 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: but I'm only going to stay for three years because 329 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: i want to play for the Pistons that you know, 330 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: that's where I'm from. I want to go back home 331 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 1: and play. And I heard that and I said, excuse 332 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: me a second. I ran upstairs to my dad and 333 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: I said, Dad, you're not gonna believe it. Um, Magic 334 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: is He said, he's only going to stay three years. 335 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,919 Speaker 1: And my dad didn't missbeat and he said, Jeanie, the 336 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: first time he puts on a Laker uniform, he's never 337 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: going to leave. And that's exactly what happened, and he's 338 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: Magic is More or Los Angeles than he's never left. 339 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: How closely are you watching the games? Where were you 340 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: watching the games back then? Um? You know, I when 341 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: I was in high school, I played basketball at Palisades 342 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: High School. I was centered, No, I was terrible, But 343 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: I was also the scorekeeper for the boys team. So 344 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: um on that team my senior year was I by 345 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: the name of Chip England, who is um the one 346 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: of the assistant coaches in San Antonio. He's like, I 347 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: did the shot doctor. So um. I had this great 348 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: experience as a scorekeeper and you know, learning how to 349 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: do stats. So I was. I was always kind of 350 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: on the manager side of things anyway. Not that I'm 351 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: a basketball expert. I I leave that to the basketball people. 352 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: But UM, I've always you know, loved being involved behind 353 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: the scenes. Um, you know, doing whatever it takes to 354 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: get you know, to get the team where they need 355 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: to be to win. So again, you guys get the 356 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: team at seven none, you get magic. You already have kareem. 357 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: You guys win a championship your first year, Like, talk 358 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: to us about that, and you're thinking, like, okay, I 359 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 1: could if it's winning a championship, is this I can 360 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: do this? Right? I can do it well, that that's 361 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: my dad. So it was my dad's workie year and 362 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: Magic's workie year and they won together, and that really 363 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: relationship was really so so special that um, you know, 364 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: they really were as close as any two people. Uh, 365 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: Their friendship, my dad's mentorship of Magic, because you know, 366 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 1: Magic wanted to learn the business and you know my dad, 367 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: you know, was a willing teacher. And um, you know 368 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: what was frustrating was, um my dad owning a hockey team. 369 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: He couldn't figure out how to win, and he was 370 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: having so much success with the Lakers. He finally kind 371 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: of gave up in eighties six and sold the team. 372 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: It was winning five championships in the eighties. The Lakers 373 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: were deemed team of the eighties, which was a great honor. 374 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: But to have that kind of success and then really 375 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: not be prepared for the way Magic had to retire. 376 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 1: People don't realize he's only thirty two when he retired, 377 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: and how many more years we had with him. Um. 378 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 1: I remember when Kareem retired. Um, you know, Kareem made 379 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 1: a big announcement that this would be his last year, 380 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: and so you know, as he went to every city, 381 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: there was gifts his farewell tour. Um, you know, the 382 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: next year, because we didn't have Kareem my dad, we 383 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: got a new scoreboard at the Forum because it was like, 384 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: how do you replace a star? It's really hard, Um, 385 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: you know, what what can we do for the fans 386 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,959 Speaker 1: to to keep them interested? While a new scoreboard with 387 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: a video that was like the first time we had this, 388 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: So you guys are too young to remember that. But anyway, so, um, 389 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: when Magic retired, we had no notice. It was preseason, 390 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: and you know, he did his routine blood test and 391 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 1: that's how we found out. So as soon as they 392 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 1: found out, Um, you know, he was um, you know, 393 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: he could have kept it quiet, but instead he took 394 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: at and you know, I'll never forget that day, that 395 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: press conference. You know, I only saw my dad cry 396 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: twice in my whole life. Once was when his mother, 397 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: my grandmother, passed away. And that day and um, you know, 398 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: everybody was crying in the room and everybody was leaning 399 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: on Magic. Magic was the strongest person there, the person 400 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: that was dealing with this face on was the strongest person. 401 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: And um, he took that opportunity to be a leader. 402 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: And we didn't know, you know, nobody knew it was 403 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: so new and we didn't know what the timing, how 404 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: things were going to go. So we immediately retired his number, 405 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: and um, you know, thankfully, after a year or two, 406 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: he was able to you know, play in the Olympics, 407 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: play in the ninety two All Star Game, and then 408 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: you know, decided to come back, so we had to 409 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: cover up his retired number so he could try to play. 410 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: But um, it just really never he never got back 411 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: in that rhythm again. But um, that that was devastating. 412 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: So then we now we're going into the nineties and 413 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: you know, the team you know, struggled, you know, we 414 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:28,640 Speaker 1: missed the playoffs. Um, and I remember praying one night 415 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: and saying, if if you know, the universe ever sends 416 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: us another player like Magic Johnson, I will never ever 417 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: ever take that player for granted. I will do everything. 418 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 1: And you know that. You know, a few years later, 419 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: there's Kobe Bryant, and uh, the idea that Kobe you know, 420 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: stayed with the Lakers his entire career twenty years. Will 421 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: never see that again. The way the CBA works now, 422 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: I really don't see a player's first of all, playing 423 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: for twenty years, and second staying with one team for 424 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: twenty years before we get speaking of Magic year one, 425 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: Game six, remember that, yes, tell me what you what 426 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: were your feelings about that game? Well? Okay, so like, 427 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: um so people can refresh their memory. Kareem was hurt. 428 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 1: He twisted his ankle and back then it was and 429 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 1: we're back to that now where we would play if 430 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 1: you had home court, you got game five and then 431 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,479 Speaker 1: game six was the other team back home for game seven. 432 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: So Kareem had twisted an ankle. The thought was don't 433 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 1: let him fly because it'll just make the swelling the worse. 434 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 1: And we'll we you know, we can get them seven, 435 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: We'll get them game seven and um so everybody was 436 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 1: like okay, well, okay, game six. We're gonna lose anyway. 437 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 1: And the coach, I guess, was saying, well, who's who's 438 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 1: going to play center? And Magic was like I want 439 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: to play center and it was like what And he 440 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: started at center and had one of the most amazing 441 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: games unbeleigal. I've watched that game at least ten times. Yeah, 442 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: that was a great finals MVP two a m before 443 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: we jumped to night, there was a couple of things. 444 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: One on Magic contracting HIV. Obviously we don't don't ever 445 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: want to have, you know, anyone to have it, But 446 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: I don't want to say this wrong. It happened to 447 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: the right person from a standpoint, and he can handle it, 448 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: teach from it, and save thousands, if not millions of 449 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: lives being able to be a spokesperson in the face 450 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: for it because, like you touched on, it was so 451 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 1: new at that time, especially for a superstar and in 452 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: the superstar superstars to have it Magic Johnson, like I said, 453 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: I think he really embracing. Like you said, he could 454 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 1: have kept it private, he could have tried to disappear, 455 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 1: but he took his head on, spoke on an advocate 456 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: for it, and I think save thousand nobody would have 457 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: no ex And you know, and Arthur Ashe who was 458 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: a tennis player, had contracted it through a blood transfusion 459 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 1: that he had gotten for another thing. And we watched him, 460 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 1: you know, and and that's you know, get weaker and 461 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: weaker because that's what the disease um, the progression of 462 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: that disease did and so we really you know, didn't 463 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: know what the time frame was going to be. And 464 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: and here he is as healthy and strong, as strong 465 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: as he's ever been. Real quick before we get to 466 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: the nineties show, what was Showtime Lakers like from a 467 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: young twentysomething owner of the team's daughter perspective in l A. 468 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: Because Showtime captivated the world, I think there's this isn't 469 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: there a series being done about that team? If I'm 470 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: not mistaken, you might not be able to man, what 471 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:58,959 Speaker 1: was it? Just like you? I mean, obviously you can 472 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: never be normal, and that's a situation, but kind of 473 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: just watching everything transpire from the great play to the championships, 474 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: to how you guys are kind of captivating l A 475 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: in the basketball nation and then just you as a 476 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: twentysomething woman in l A. Well, I'm glad you asked 477 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: that question. Just to clarify, we are, um, we are 478 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: making a nine part docuseries about the Lakers, starting from 479 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: when my dad bought the team at seventy nine, and 480 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: you know very much. I think people enjoyed the last dance, 481 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: So we're we're going to, you know, give give our 482 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: fans what they're hungry. Well, no, that that's something different. 483 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: There is a series being developed at HBO, a scripted 484 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: series which we are not involved in. And um, you know, 485 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,959 Speaker 1: I really don't know what you know, I don't know 486 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: how they're going to be able to tell our story 487 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: if we're not involved in it. So, you know, so 488 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: back to your Guys nine part then yeah, so so 489 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: the occuseries will tell the story, especially in the context 490 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: of you know, my dad buying the team until you know, 491 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: we won the championship last year, and how it all 492 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: weaves together, and how how my dad had had really 493 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: hoped that there would be a day that Magic and 494 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: I would work together running the team. And you know 495 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: it was Magic Um coming back and standing with me, 496 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: Um beside me two that helped me make the changes 497 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: that were necessary in order to get the team back 498 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: to being competitive. So my dad really he saw that. Yeah, 499 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: so as far as did, Like I said, again, what 500 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: was that that that era like of Lakers basketball in 501 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: the eighties. I think just looking at the people sitting 502 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: on the floor and and the popularity and certainly Jack 503 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: Nicol since being you know, a hardcore Laker fan and 504 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: and a lot of people think that's when he started 505 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: coming was in in showtime. It's not true. He's he 506 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: was a season ticket holder since the seventies or the 507 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: early seventies and um, you know, he bought his ticket 508 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: like it wasn't like, oh, give him some some free 509 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: tickets because he's the hot guy. He he loves basketball 510 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: and he still has his seats. Um, we miss seeing 511 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 1: him because we haven't been able to have fans. But 512 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 1: there seemed to be a heartbeat in for the city 513 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: of Los Angeles. And that was really important to my 514 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: dad as well, that in a city as spread out 515 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: and as diverse as Los Angeles is, that we were 516 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: able to unite a city under a purple and gold flag. 517 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: And during the eighties we had, you know, even the 518 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: riots in the early nineties, you could see that the 519 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: says a city that it's it's smoldering with um, you know, 520 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:13,880 Speaker 1: just being divided and that. Um my father loved Los 521 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 1: Angeles because he wasn't born here, but the city embraced him, 522 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:24,479 Speaker 1: and he wanted his city to be whole. He wanted 523 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 1: his city to be together together and happy and and 524 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:35,480 Speaker 1: and united. And that's what the Lakers ultimately meant to him, 525 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 1: was about community and about being a leader in um, 526 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, bringing people together. Maybe from the outside looking 527 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 1: and I never got a chance to play for your father, 528 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 1: but from from me, from my side, he was one 529 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 1: of the most righteous owners I've ever seen, you know 530 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: what I mean, that's one thing I've always respected. Um, 531 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: Jerry wist talk about his role and help him build 532 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: the showtime after post time, right, yeah, I mean, you 533 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: know it's it's uh. When my dad bought the team, 534 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 1: the general manager was Bill Sharman and then he a 535 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: few years later moved to another position as advisor, UM 536 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: in the front office, and then Jerry West became the 537 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: general manager, and um, you know, there was so much 538 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: trust in his ability to evaluate talent. And and you know, 539 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: when you play well and you're at the top of 540 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: the standings, you don't get to pick the number one pick, 541 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: and so you you have to draft really well. And 542 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: that's that's something Jerry West could always do. And when 543 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: he found a player like Vladi di Vac, who wasn't 544 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 1: drafted until number twenty six in the first round because people, 545 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: you know, weren't willing to take the risk on him. 546 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: You know that he's who, you know, replaced Kareem abdul 547 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: Jabar for us as our big man. And you know 548 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: that that takes a lot of talent. And then also 549 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: that the key piece to get cod. Yes, he's the 550 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 1: one that knew Kobe. What made pat Riley a perfect 551 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 1: fit UM when he came along, because you spoke to earlier. 552 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: Obviously you thought with Kobe and Shaq the film might 553 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,919 Speaker 1: have not have been the mix. What made pat fit 554 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: in with with Magic and the rest of the guys. 555 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: He was just born to be a coach. And it's 556 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: funny because the way it went was, you know, my 557 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 1: my dad buys the team in May, drafts Magic in 558 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 1: June hires Jack McKinney to be the head coach, and 559 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:42,959 Speaker 1: then in October, as there's Um starting training camp, Jack 560 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: McKinney Um had a bicycle accident and hit his head 561 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: and was unable to coach that year. So Paul west Had, 562 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,360 Speaker 1: who was his top assistant, took over the role of 563 00:34:56,400 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: head coach. So now to replace the assistant coach on 564 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 1: the staff, It was kind of like, wow, we're already 565 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 1: starting the season. How we're going to replace this assistant coach. Well, 566 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 1: they looked to the broadcast booth and pat Riley was 567 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:15,160 Speaker 1: working with Chicker calling the games, and they knew obviously 568 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: he was available because that's the season. So that's how 569 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: he became on the coaching staff. We won the championship 570 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: that first year. The next year, west Head wanted to 571 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 1: take the ball out of Magic's hands and that did 572 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:40,839 Speaker 1: not make and so we lost that um second year 573 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:45,440 Speaker 1: to Houston. And of course, you know, back then the 574 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 1: first round was best two out of three, and you know, 575 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 1: my dad said, that's that's not enough games. So eventually 576 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: we got it to seven games, because you know, in 577 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,879 Speaker 1: a seven game series, the better team will always win, 578 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:03,959 Speaker 1: whereas in a three game series you might have more 579 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: upsets than than you normally would. But anyway, so west 580 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,280 Speaker 1: Head we lost the second year. Now we're going into 581 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: the Magic's third year and Magic says to my dad, 582 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not happy the way this coach is 583 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: coaching me, and I want to you know, my dad said, look, 584 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,399 Speaker 1: you guys are leaving for Utah. You know, go play 585 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 1: the game there, and um, you know, just just you know, 586 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: we'll talk about when you get back. So after that 587 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,800 Speaker 1: game we lose in Utah, Magic says to the media, 588 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: I want to be traded. And so now now the 589 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 1: pressure is on, you know, my dad has to make 590 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:50,840 Speaker 1: a tough decision. And so my dad's decision was he 591 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 1: he really wasn't comfortable with Pat taking over, so he 592 00:36:55,040 --> 00:37:01,240 Speaker 1: wanted Jerry West and Pat to co coach and Jerry said, no, Pat's, 593 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 1: Pat's our coach. And you know it's like they never 594 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: looked back. Yeah, all the you know, Pat just stepped 595 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:13,239 Speaker 1: into a role and that's where we went. I'll never 596 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 1: forget like seeing him, you know, walking past him in 597 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: the hallway and we always said his nicknames Ryles, right, Hey, Ryles, 598 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: and he said he I go hey, Ryles, and he 599 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:27,960 Speaker 1: stops and he goes, Jennie, you got to start calling 600 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,440 Speaker 1: me coach. And then that's when he started, like because 601 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:35,399 Speaker 1: that's what his dad did. And and you know, he 602 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:38,360 Speaker 1: took on that role of as a leader that the 603 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:41,640 Speaker 1: team needed and uh, you know he was born for 604 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:44,839 Speaker 1: that position. When you guys came into the league, this 605 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:49,400 Speaker 1: the persona of the league was. It was drug Field, Um, 606 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:52,440 Speaker 1: very black and just not in a good place. And 607 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:54,799 Speaker 1: I think the growth of the league kind of coincided 608 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: with your guys. Rise. Your guys is robbery the Celtics, 609 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:03,799 Speaker 1: the big TV deal that was signed in or eighty four, 610 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:07,879 Speaker 1: if I'm not mistaken, UM, talk to us about that 611 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 1: era like I said, because you guys really catapult the 612 00:38:10,239 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: growth of a league. Well I think I think really 613 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: it was you know, the rivalry between you know and Magic, 614 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:24,440 Speaker 1: and it captivated a nation. And um, you know, in 615 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:29,240 Speaker 1: the late seventies, Um, the NBA Finals were on tape 616 00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:35,000 Speaker 1: delay you can find it, right, and so people wanted 617 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:38,399 Speaker 1: to see Bird and Magic. Then we signed a big 618 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 1: deal with NBC Sports and they really got behind it 619 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 1: and they helped build not only the league and the teams, 620 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:50,919 Speaker 1: but they knew how to build personalities. And that's when 621 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: the players really shine. Right. It wasn't just about um, 622 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 1: the city that you were, you know, represent It was 623 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 1: about the players personalities and and sports marketing you know 624 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:11,560 Speaker 1: that didn't exist, you know, like it it really right, 625 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:16,520 Speaker 1: like with you know, selling soda and you know, potato chips, 626 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:20,040 Speaker 1: you know, and but that the power of the branding 627 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 1: and the exposure that our players got just made the 628 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: league even that much more powerful. Please describe what the 629 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:31,359 Speaker 1: NBA Finals in the forum felt like between the Lakers 630 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:37,280 Speaker 1: and Celtics in the mid eighties. Take us there. Um, 631 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,960 Speaker 1: you know, the demand for tickets, you know, I just 632 00:39:41,239 --> 00:39:46,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to go into hiding because it was every celebrity, 633 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:55,440 Speaker 1: every um sports figure in golf, you know, tennis, hockey, everybody, everybody, everybody, 634 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 1: you know. And so there was a player, Wayne Gretzky, 635 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:04,160 Speaker 1: who was um playing for the Edmonton Oilers, and um, 636 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,440 Speaker 1: so of course Wayne Gretzky, I mean, you know, the 637 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:12,320 Speaker 1: great one. He came and I had also gotten tickets 638 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: for a girl by the name of Janet Jones who 639 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 1: was a actress and dancer, and so that game, I 640 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 1: think it was an eighty five. They you know, they 641 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:30,920 Speaker 1: had met once before because he was a judge on 642 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:34,239 Speaker 1: Dance Fever and she was a dancer Dance Fever, and 643 00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 1: so they reconnected at this Laker game and ended up 644 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:43,160 Speaker 1: getting married and they invited me to the wedding that 645 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,880 Speaker 1: you know, so you know, you just it just brought 646 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:52,640 Speaker 1: every everybody together and um, you know, and then the parades, 647 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:58,120 Speaker 1: you know, just you know, take your breath away, um, 648 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, in just the city shutting down and everybody 649 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:07,920 Speaker 1: being happy. Great experience. How did the Laker Girls come about? 650 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:10,759 Speaker 1: Because I mean that was entertainment and the stuff. I mean, 651 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:13,000 Speaker 1: you guys had a young Paula Abduel and other young 652 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: l A scarlets at the time, but no one really 653 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:17,719 Speaker 1: brought like it kind of just seemed like your dad 654 00:41:17,719 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: was about full and experience, not just a game, not 655 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:22,920 Speaker 1: just I'm gonna give you everything when you come to 656 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:26,400 Speaker 1: our games. Exactly right, thank you. The Lakers were the 657 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:30,160 Speaker 1: first team to have a dance squad. No team in 658 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:34,359 Speaker 1: the NBA had that. And the reason, you know, was 659 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:39,360 Speaker 1: that the Laker girls performed when the team was taking 660 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: a break. So he wanted the show to keep going. 661 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:45,960 Speaker 1: He didn't, and so he felt that you know, the 662 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:49,720 Speaker 1: guys got center stage, now the girls get center stage. 663 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:53,480 Speaker 1: At that time, they they the girls, um were all 664 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:57,000 Speaker 1: graduates from either USC or U c l A. Because 665 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:59,920 Speaker 1: both teams had really great song girls is what they 666 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:04,760 Speaker 1: were called. Then Paula Abduel was hired as the choreographer. 667 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:09,200 Speaker 1: She tried at as a dancer and so she was 668 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:12,759 Speaker 1: the one who came up with these amazing routines. And 669 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:17,759 Speaker 1: because of that, you know, the Jackson family, Um, you 670 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:23,600 Speaker 1: know Janet Um, all the Jackson's came to games, and um, 671 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:28,399 Speaker 1: they liked how she did her choreography. They hired her 672 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:31,439 Speaker 1: to do all their music videos and then that led 673 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:36,400 Speaker 1: to her having right so you know, and she's still 674 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:39,600 Speaker 1: you know, just a gem. We love her and you 675 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:42,719 Speaker 1: know she's part of like her family, absolutely, but it's 676 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:46,600 Speaker 1: it's great opportunities for for the girls to dance and 677 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:50,040 Speaker 1: and they're not just on the court, their ambassadors out 678 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,840 Speaker 1: of community. Her girls and the Cowboy Girls are like 679 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 1: the two historical you know what do you call them? 680 00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,560 Speaker 1: Dance on whatever you want to call him like figures 681 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:03,240 Speaker 1: next to the team and obviously Lakers being huge. Um, 682 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:08,319 Speaker 1: let's talk about Kareem passing the torch to Magic. But 683 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:10,799 Speaker 1: let's talk about Kareem because I think obviously it's great 684 00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:12,960 Speaker 1: as magic wealth. I think Kareem gets overlooked a lot 685 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:15,560 Speaker 1: in a lot of different conversations. How important was he 686 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,360 Speaker 1: to you your guys franchise? I mean, he still is 687 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:24,080 Speaker 1: a valuable part of our franchise today. UM. He is 688 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:29,400 Speaker 1: um an advisor to our you know, to me, to 689 00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:34,200 Speaker 1: um you know, all of our executives use him as 690 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 1: a resource. But I agree with you that he is 691 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:43,600 Speaker 1: often um, you know, just because I think his personality 692 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,080 Speaker 1: really wasn't He wasn't he wasn't a big media guy. 693 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:50,520 Speaker 1: He was to himself. Yeah, it was more introverted and 694 00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:54,560 Speaker 1: thoughtful and how he approached things. And I don't think 695 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:56,680 Speaker 1: a lot of people realize he played til he's forty 696 00:43:56,719 --> 00:44:02,000 Speaker 1: two years old, and how he took his craft very seriously. 697 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 1: You know, an intellectual, brilliant man um and really, um, 698 00:44:10,080 --> 00:44:14,000 Speaker 1: you know, somebody who's stood for the right things his 699 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:19,239 Speaker 1: entire career. He's been a leader. And the idea that 700 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:23,239 Speaker 1: you know, he started in Milwaukee and then you know, 701 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:26,400 Speaker 1: wanted to come back to l a where he played 702 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:30,719 Speaker 1: college at u c. L a Um really was you 703 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:34,440 Speaker 1: know important for the Lakers franchise. It was before my 704 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:39,000 Speaker 1: dad bought the team. And his chemistry with Magic was 705 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:44,600 Speaker 1: so so great because Magic deferred to him and respected 706 00:44:44,719 --> 00:44:48,200 Speaker 1: him and then did all the media so he didn't 707 00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:53,560 Speaker 1: have to because really they matched duo. Um. So we're 708 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:57,000 Speaker 1: in the nineties now in a rebuilt phase, Jerry being 709 00:44:57,080 --> 00:45:01,360 Speaker 1: instrumental in that. But take us down a path of 710 00:45:01,760 --> 00:45:08,640 Speaker 1: the Shack recruitment um getting Kobe and what was next. 711 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:12,200 Speaker 1: You know, you guys went through a small, small dead period, um. 712 00:45:12,239 --> 00:45:15,400 Speaker 1: But talk to us about the mid nineties regrowth of 713 00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:19,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers, the recruitment of Shock. Really you know there 714 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:25,120 Speaker 1: because he was a free not until he was declared 715 00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:27,840 Speaker 1: a free agent, but you had to be set up, 716 00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:31,440 Speaker 1: you know, and take that risk that he might have 717 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 1: stayed in Orlando or gone to any other team. So 718 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:39,839 Speaker 1: that was probably the most like stressed I'd seen my 719 00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:44,239 Speaker 1: dad about, um, you know, the team in terms of 720 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:49,200 Speaker 1: having to clear all that the cap space in order 721 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:53,640 Speaker 1: to you know, to get him. And then also you know, 722 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 1: trading to Charlotte Vlade Divac. So now if you don't 723 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:03,560 Speaker 1: get shock, you traded Vlady to get Kobe and probably 724 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:05,359 Speaker 1: just to kid out of high school at the time, right, 725 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:07,759 Speaker 1: you didn't know if that was going to pan out, 726 00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:10,960 Speaker 1: and so I think that was Um, it was a 727 00:46:11,040 --> 00:46:16,600 Speaker 1: huge relief when Jack decided to become a Laker. Um, 728 00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:22,839 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, just what a what a tremendous 729 00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 1: personality and and so much fun to work with. We 730 00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:28,880 Speaker 1: just had him on the show two weeks ago. Character 731 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:30,600 Speaker 1: I got a chance to play with them, So yeah, 732 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:35,520 Speaker 1: we we get it. Yeah, he's an entertainer. Absolutely. That's 733 00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:38,480 Speaker 1: the memories of what it was like to going through 734 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:43,879 Speaker 1: the sign Shack. He was the you know, the best 735 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:47,479 Speaker 1: player in the league, and you know, the Lakers had 736 00:46:47,560 --> 00:46:51,280 Speaker 1: this tradition of having to have a big man, and 737 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:55,399 Speaker 1: you know, he was the best that you could get. 738 00:46:56,120 --> 00:47:00,399 Speaker 1: And you know, we're just happy he decided to sign 739 00:47:00,480 --> 00:47:04,520 Speaker 1: with the Lakers and then you know, now building a 740 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:09,439 Speaker 1: team around him, and you know, but it took three 741 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:12,960 Speaker 1: or four years how we really started to get going. 742 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:16,560 Speaker 1: And um, you know there was a couple of wasted 743 00:47:16,680 --> 00:47:21,680 Speaker 1: years maybe of his career in the mid to late 744 00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:24,520 Speaker 1: nineties where we we really didn't do a lot in 745 00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:29,120 Speaker 1: the playoffs. You touched on in a second ago, But 746 00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:31,160 Speaker 1: what are your thoughts when you guys are able to 747 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:34,120 Speaker 1: trade Vloody for Kobe? Um, you know, a kid fresh 748 00:47:34,160 --> 00:47:37,080 Speaker 1: out of high school. Um, you prayed that if you 749 00:47:37,080 --> 00:47:40,520 Speaker 1: ever got another Heaven sent such as Madge Johnson. Uh, 750 00:47:40,560 --> 00:47:43,880 Speaker 1: and you're able to land a Kobe Bryant at eighteen, 751 00:47:43,920 --> 00:47:45,839 Speaker 1: fresh out of high school? What was that like for 752 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:48,520 Speaker 1: your franchise? Well, you know, my dad was really close 753 00:47:48,560 --> 00:47:53,440 Speaker 1: to Vlade, you know, and and um, that was that 754 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:56,200 Speaker 1: was a big leap from my dad to take. You know, 755 00:47:56,719 --> 00:48:02,959 Speaker 1: he he he really didn't like losing Vlada Um, and 756 00:48:03,960 --> 00:48:07,160 Speaker 1: you know he had to be he convinced it was 757 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:11,200 Speaker 1: the right decision. And you know, Kobe, It's funny because 758 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:13,719 Speaker 1: it's like We're also used to Kobe with all his 759 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:18,640 Speaker 1: great accomplishments, but he wasn't Rookie of the Year. You know, 760 00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:21,120 Speaker 1: it bothered him too. We when we had him on 761 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:23,200 Speaker 1: the show, it bothered like he sat and he was 762 00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:25,360 Speaker 1: pissed and he felt like he could have did so 763 00:48:25,480 --> 00:48:27,400 Speaker 1: much more. He saw it as he saw as you know, 764 00:48:27,560 --> 00:48:29,200 Speaker 1: the guy that came in the draft with doing what 765 00:48:29,239 --> 00:48:31,319 Speaker 1: they were doing. And he said it really hurt him 766 00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:33,040 Speaker 1: that he wasn't getting a chance to really show who 767 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:35,600 Speaker 1: he was. Yeah, I mean he they they made sure 768 00:48:35,640 --> 00:48:37,759 Speaker 1: he wasn't going to be a starter, you know, they 769 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:40,400 Speaker 1: made that decision instead of throwing him in there. And 770 00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:44,520 Speaker 1: that was brought up recently because the passing of Elgin Baylor, 771 00:48:44,920 --> 00:48:51,480 Speaker 1: another Laker great, who was the only Laker drafted that 772 00:48:51,640 --> 00:48:54,240 Speaker 1: was a Rookie of the Year. Which it's really hard 773 00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:58,520 Speaker 1: for me to believe that, right, but you know, such 774 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:02,640 Speaker 1: as the case, how did Shack and Kobe parents involved 775 00:49:02,680 --> 00:49:08,279 Speaker 1: your up? Um Shack and Kobe, Um, that's that could 776 00:49:08,320 --> 00:49:15,839 Speaker 1: be a whole show. And it's they just two two 777 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:22,000 Speaker 1: different um approaches to life, I think and Um, you 778 00:49:22,080 --> 00:49:26,879 Speaker 1: know a match that on the court, Um could bring 779 00:49:26,960 --> 00:49:29,799 Speaker 1: out the best in each other. UM. I think when 780 00:49:29,880 --> 00:49:34,640 Speaker 1: Phil came that was um, his emphasis was on Shack 781 00:49:34,960 --> 00:49:39,359 Speaker 1: and making sure that the ball went through Shack and um, 782 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, really highlighting, um what Shack was good at, 783 00:49:44,239 --> 00:49:48,839 Speaker 1: and you know, trying to make sure that UM, as 784 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:52,279 Speaker 1: as Phil likes to build a team, you have to 785 00:49:52,520 --> 00:49:56,160 Speaker 1: to make sure that everybody knows what their role is 786 00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:59,960 Speaker 1: and how they play into that role. And I think 787 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:04,520 Speaker 1: there there might have been some headbetting between Phil and 788 00:50:04,680 --> 00:50:11,240 Speaker 1: Kobe early on. UM that resolved itself, especially the second 789 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:15,759 Speaker 1: time Phil came back. UM, but UM, you know, they 790 00:50:15,840 --> 00:50:20,839 Speaker 1: were obviously a very successful duo. When my my dad 791 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:25,279 Speaker 1: hired Phil, he signed Phil to a five year contract. 792 00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:29,520 Speaker 1: And you know, in in into making a decision about 793 00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:33,439 Speaker 1: a coach, it's like you really have to to show 794 00:50:34,040 --> 00:50:37,800 Speaker 1: the players that you're behind your coach. Otherwise the players 795 00:50:37,880 --> 00:50:42,719 Speaker 1: are thinking who's next, you know, like right, And so 796 00:50:43,200 --> 00:50:45,760 Speaker 1: so my dad signed Failed to a five year contract 797 00:50:45,840 --> 00:50:48,759 Speaker 1: and he said to Fail, you know, I expect you 798 00:50:48,840 --> 00:50:51,560 Speaker 1: to win a championship. I want I want a championship 799 00:50:51,600 --> 00:50:55,359 Speaker 1: in these five years, and and Phil was like, why 800 00:50:55,400 --> 00:51:00,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't you want five? You know, like and so you know, 801 00:51:00,840 --> 00:51:04,640 Speaker 1: Phil ended up winning his first year with the team, 802 00:51:04,920 --> 00:51:08,759 Speaker 1: and they you know, went in won three in a row, 803 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 1: which is really hard to do, really really hard to 804 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:14,840 Speaker 1: do because you have to stay healthy, you know. And 805 00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:17,800 Speaker 1: that one there was one season where shock, you know, 806 00:51:18,320 --> 00:51:21,880 Speaker 1: um started the season late, um, and we had to 807 00:51:21,960 --> 00:51:26,279 Speaker 1: catch up. But um, you know there was you know, 808 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:28,440 Speaker 1: so three out of five that was out at that 809 00:51:28,560 --> 00:51:31,120 Speaker 1: five year contract. My my dad got what you paid 810 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:34,880 Speaker 1: for and uh, you know it was it was great. 811 00:51:34,960 --> 00:51:39,600 Speaker 1: But as as things have shown, things aren't meant to last. 812 00:51:40,400 --> 00:51:46,880 Speaker 1: And UM, Shack was UM in a contract year and 813 00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:51,400 Speaker 1: he wanted because of the way the Collective Bargaining Agreement 814 00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:56,240 Speaker 1: UM was structured, there were some players that were grandfathered 815 00:51:56,400 --> 00:52:00,200 Speaker 1: in in the new agreement that we're able to you 816 00:52:00,239 --> 00:52:03,160 Speaker 1: were able to pay them more than the current players. 817 00:52:03,560 --> 00:52:07,080 Speaker 1: So Shack was one of those grandfather players and he 818 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:11,880 Speaker 1: wanted you know, an amount of money that that was 819 00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:15,160 Speaker 1: you know, legal under the c b A. But it 820 00:52:15,320 --> 00:52:17,960 Speaker 1: wasn't what my dad wanted to pay them. And so 821 00:52:18,560 --> 00:52:21,839 Speaker 1: it came to the point where the decision was made 822 00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:25,160 Speaker 1: to trade Shack. And a lot of people want to 823 00:52:25,280 --> 00:52:29,200 Speaker 1: put that blame on Kobe. It wasn't it was purely 824 00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:33,840 Speaker 1: a money situation, right, So if if Shack had agreed 825 00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:36,759 Speaker 1: to be paid what my dad wanted to pay them, 826 00:52:37,080 --> 00:52:43,800 Speaker 1: he did that. Yeah, and so well, and so that 827 00:52:44,080 --> 00:52:48,400 Speaker 1: that's why my dad looked to see in in the league, 828 00:52:48,680 --> 00:52:54,520 Speaker 1: who who had empty seats? Who who which team could 829 00:52:54,920 --> 00:52:57,239 Speaker 1: you know, bring on a player and pay him that 830 00:52:57,400 --> 00:53:01,000 Speaker 1: kind of money and and reap the benefits because they 831 00:53:01,120 --> 00:53:04,760 Speaker 1: have seats to sell. And Miami was the right place 832 00:53:04,880 --> 00:53:08,000 Speaker 1: for him to go, and they paid him his money 833 00:53:08,480 --> 00:53:11,840 Speaker 1: and he brought them a championship, so you know, and 834 00:53:12,239 --> 00:53:14,920 Speaker 1: and and a lot of people are like, you know, oh, 835 00:53:15,040 --> 00:53:18,000 Speaker 1: are you know, aren't you like pissed that Shack is 836 00:53:18,080 --> 00:53:21,080 Speaker 1: winning a championship with Miami. I'm like, no, are you kidding? 837 00:53:21,239 --> 00:53:25,719 Speaker 1: I'm I'm happy for him everything he accomplishes. I think 838 00:53:25,960 --> 00:53:29,000 Speaker 1: him as family and I want him to be successful. 839 00:53:29,600 --> 00:53:33,600 Speaker 1: And um, you know, and some people, you know, my 840 00:53:33,760 --> 00:53:36,720 Speaker 1: newer friends, when I say, well, when Shack was in Miami, 841 00:53:36,800 --> 00:53:40,480 Speaker 1: and they're like, Shack was on another team besides the Lakers. 842 00:53:40,600 --> 00:53:43,960 Speaker 1: They don't even know, but you know, it was, um, 843 00:53:44,680 --> 00:53:48,640 Speaker 1: you know it. I know it hurts Shack to be traded. 844 00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:50,759 Speaker 1: I mean it would hurt any of us. You know 845 00:53:50,920 --> 00:53:54,279 Speaker 1: that it's it's not a fun situation to be in, 846 00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:58,680 Speaker 1: but you know, I spent my time building that bridge 847 00:53:58,719 --> 00:54:02,160 Speaker 1: back to him so that there was a way that 848 00:54:02,280 --> 00:54:05,080 Speaker 1: we could reconnect. And and now I sit on his 849 00:54:05,200 --> 00:54:10,280 Speaker 1: board of his foundation. And he wanted his jersey retired 850 00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:12,439 Speaker 1: and he wanted to go into the Hall of Fame 851 00:54:12,920 --> 00:54:17,040 Speaker 1: as a Laker, And um, you know that that's what's 852 00:54:17,080 --> 00:54:20,839 Speaker 1: important to me because unfortunately, trades are part of our 853 00:54:20,880 --> 00:54:25,400 Speaker 1: business and it's probably the toughest part for me, but um, 854 00:54:26,200 --> 00:54:29,800 Speaker 1: you know, we have to acknowledge we're we're dealing with 855 00:54:29,960 --> 00:54:32,680 Speaker 1: human beings. We're all human beings and this and that 856 00:54:32,920 --> 00:54:35,840 Speaker 1: comes with emotion, and you have to allow people to 857 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,759 Speaker 1: feel their emotions. Um, you know, when it comes to that, 858 00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:42,480 Speaker 1: I wanted to be rhin real quick. In you were 859 00:54:42,560 --> 00:54:46,440 Speaker 1: named executive vice president of Business of business Operations for 860 00:54:46,480 --> 00:54:48,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers. How excited were you for that next step 861 00:54:49,040 --> 00:54:52,640 Speaker 1: And did you realize at the time, being a woman 862 00:54:52,800 --> 00:54:56,640 Speaker 1: making these kind of moves that you were viewed as 863 00:54:56,800 --> 00:54:58,920 Speaker 1: a role model in the idol and people looked up 864 00:54:58,960 --> 00:55:03,279 Speaker 1: to you. Well, certainly when I started attending Board of 865 00:55:03,320 --> 00:55:06,839 Speaker 1: Governors meetings, there was never aligned for the ladies room. 866 00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:10,640 Speaker 1: Let's put it that way. It's like, you know, a 867 00:55:10,760 --> 00:55:14,120 Speaker 1: couple of women who worked for the league and um, 868 00:55:14,280 --> 00:55:19,240 Speaker 1: but now you know, uh, twenty years later, there's there's 869 00:55:19,600 --> 00:55:23,000 Speaker 1: you know two other women governors, um, Gail Benson in 870 00:55:23,160 --> 00:55:27,360 Speaker 1: New Orleans and and Jody Allen and with the Portland Trailblazers. 871 00:55:27,840 --> 00:55:32,280 Speaker 1: So um, you know, while I get you know, credit 872 00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:37,360 Speaker 1: and accolades for being the first woman uh governor to 873 00:55:37,920 --> 00:55:41,000 Speaker 1: you know, win an NBA championship, I know there's going 874 00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:43,920 Speaker 1: to be more. And I you know, and if I 875 00:55:44,560 --> 00:55:48,240 Speaker 1: am considered you know, uh, you know, breaking the glass 876 00:55:48,280 --> 00:55:51,800 Speaker 1: ceiling or being a role model for other people. I 877 00:55:52,280 --> 00:55:55,120 Speaker 1: know what it meant for me to see women in 878 00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:59,520 Speaker 1: positions of power and um, you know, so when I 879 00:55:59,680 --> 00:56:03,879 Speaker 1: look to Billy Jane King, um, you know who who 880 00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:06,759 Speaker 1: is a friend and a and an inspiration for me. 881 00:56:07,360 --> 00:56:11,040 Speaker 1: I like what she said after you know, winning this 882 00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:15,719 Speaker 1: this championship. Her quote about me was, you know how 883 00:56:15,840 --> 00:56:21,120 Speaker 1: important it was because um, you know they people need 884 00:56:21,239 --> 00:56:24,040 Speaker 1: to see when that women cannot only lead women, but 885 00:56:24,160 --> 00:56:28,319 Speaker 1: also men as well. And and you know that that's 886 00:56:28,600 --> 00:56:31,360 Speaker 1: that that's why that was an important part of history. 887 00:56:31,600 --> 00:56:37,160 Speaker 1: Absolutely so Phil Jackson arrives in after winning six titles 888 00:56:37,480 --> 00:56:41,160 Speaker 1: UM in eight years, you guys spark a relationship. What 889 00:56:41,320 --> 00:56:44,480 Speaker 1: did he bring to the Leggas From a coaching perspective, UM, 890 00:56:44,800 --> 00:56:49,640 Speaker 1: I think it was really about UM creating the team 891 00:56:49,760 --> 00:56:56,200 Speaker 1: atmosphere and UM he you know, having a system like 892 00:56:56,360 --> 00:56:59,880 Speaker 1: the triangle, Like you know, the triangle has been malian 893 00:57:00,640 --> 00:57:04,480 Speaker 1: Um many times, but you guys can talk more about 894 00:57:04,560 --> 00:57:08,920 Speaker 1: the basketball aspect of what the triangle means. But you 895 00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:12,800 Speaker 1: know it was about UM, you know, highlighting your strengths 896 00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:16,440 Speaker 1: as a player and as a team. And that's how 897 00:57:16,520 --> 00:57:20,680 Speaker 1: you would score your points. Was wherever your your strength was, 898 00:57:20,880 --> 00:57:24,640 Speaker 1: you highlighted it. And you you know, Um tried to 899 00:57:25,320 --> 00:57:28,560 Speaker 1: um hide your flaws or your you know, the the 900 00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:32,480 Speaker 1: weak parts of your of your team that you didn't have. 901 00:57:33,120 --> 00:57:37,560 Speaker 1: And so he brought a discipline that was needed. UM 902 00:57:38,040 --> 00:57:42,600 Speaker 1: his leadership. UM. I would get in fights with him 903 00:57:42,720 --> 00:57:48,120 Speaker 1: because he would he would make the team practice on 904 00:57:48,280 --> 00:57:52,000 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving and I was like, I finally snapped that, and 905 00:57:52,160 --> 00:57:54,280 Speaker 1: I'm like, why are you doing this? They just got 906 00:57:54,320 --> 00:57:58,360 Speaker 1: back from a road trip and you know they're they're tired, Like, 907 00:57:58,600 --> 00:58:00,600 Speaker 1: you know, why do you bring them in for practice, 908 00:58:01,120 --> 00:58:03,840 Speaker 1: and he said, he goes. First of all, they'll have 909 00:58:03,920 --> 00:58:06,040 Speaker 1: plenty of time to be at home with their families 910 00:58:06,080 --> 00:58:09,120 Speaker 1: and have Thanksgiving dinner, he said, But I'm building a 911 00:58:09,240 --> 00:58:12,040 Speaker 1: family here and they need to know that. And that's 912 00:58:12,080 --> 00:58:15,600 Speaker 1: what families do. They're together on holidays. So that's why 913 00:58:15,680 --> 00:58:17,400 Speaker 1: we need to beat He was a winner though, he 914 00:58:17,520 --> 00:58:19,440 Speaker 1: just he was just a winner. Right. What if you 915 00:58:19,480 --> 00:58:21,440 Speaker 1: think about what he did his first three years to 916 00:58:21,520 --> 00:58:23,400 Speaker 1: win three in a row with them, but coming off 917 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:25,600 Speaker 1: six and eight years of the Bulls, so he won 918 00:58:25,720 --> 00:58:29,760 Speaker 1: what nine championships in twelve years, And I mean I 919 00:58:30,120 --> 00:58:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of heard insane, you know what I mean. And 920 00:58:32,280 --> 00:58:34,440 Speaker 1: the one thing I got a chance to last night 921 00:58:34,600 --> 00:58:40,640 Speaker 1: when I was with him, I always right, I got 922 00:58:40,720 --> 00:58:43,040 Speaker 1: his you know, I got his lap. Was blessed enough 923 00:58:43,080 --> 00:58:44,800 Speaker 1: to play his last year when he went through the 924 00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:47,400 Speaker 1: cancer and everything. But the one thing that his approach 925 00:58:47,560 --> 00:58:50,280 Speaker 1: was like the mental aspect in the game was the 926 00:58:50,520 --> 00:58:54,080 Speaker 1: most important aspect. And we would meditate and talk and 927 00:58:54,240 --> 00:58:56,440 Speaker 1: he would play these chimes like he would just do 928 00:58:56,600 --> 00:58:58,880 Speaker 1: some ship. You're like, well, it's got to work at 929 00:58:58,920 --> 00:59:01,040 Speaker 1: Phil Jackson, But like it really, like looking back on 930 00:59:01,120 --> 00:59:03,240 Speaker 1: it now, it was just really like it was strengthening 931 00:59:03,320 --> 00:59:05,080 Speaker 1: your mind. He would give you books to read like 932 00:59:05,240 --> 00:59:08,560 Speaker 1: he really thought the mental I mean, once we get 933 00:59:08,600 --> 00:59:10,360 Speaker 1: to this top level, I mean everyone could pretty much 934 00:59:10,400 --> 00:59:11,800 Speaker 1: do everything, but what's going to set you a part 935 00:59:11,840 --> 00:59:14,800 Speaker 1: of your mind? And that's what he really really focused on. 936 00:59:15,240 --> 00:59:20,480 Speaker 1: How do you think he helped push Kobe and Shock 937 00:59:21,120 --> 00:59:23,520 Speaker 1: to be their best on the court, because that was 938 00:59:23,560 --> 00:59:25,280 Speaker 1: the one thing I found when I played for Phil. 939 00:59:25,680 --> 00:59:27,440 Speaker 1: Phil would talk to Kobe like he would talk to 940 00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:29,160 Speaker 1: the twelfth guy like Phil it and give a funk 941 00:59:29,240 --> 00:59:31,680 Speaker 1: like if Kobe was bullshit, and Phil would be the 942 00:59:31,720 --> 00:59:33,080 Speaker 1: first one to tell him, you know what I mean. 943 00:59:33,160 --> 00:59:35,760 Speaker 1: But he said there was no favoritism or anything like 944 00:59:35,840 --> 00:59:37,960 Speaker 1: obviously Kobe was our best player, but he was treated 945 00:59:38,000 --> 00:59:39,520 Speaker 1: like everyone else. But how do you think he was 946 00:59:39,560 --> 00:59:42,200 Speaker 1: able to push those two guys in particulars buttons to 947 00:59:42,240 --> 00:59:45,720 Speaker 1: get them to jel on the court? Um? I think 948 00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:48,400 Speaker 1: that's um. You said it well when you said pushing 949 00:59:48,440 --> 00:59:53,520 Speaker 1: their buttons, Like he knew um how to reach each person. 950 00:59:54,240 --> 01:00:00,240 Speaker 1: And um, you know, I think you know he he 951 01:00:00,440 --> 01:00:03,320 Speaker 1: understood Shack as a big man, because you know, Phil 952 01:00:03,440 --> 01:00:07,640 Speaker 1: was a big man, and and the importance of respecting 953 01:00:07,720 --> 01:00:12,160 Speaker 1: the big man, and he managed that situation very well. 954 01:00:12,240 --> 01:00:16,400 Speaker 1: But it was tough because Kobe was just becoming this 955 01:00:16,760 --> 01:00:21,160 Speaker 1: beast in terms of you know, his his playing ability, 956 01:00:21,920 --> 01:00:25,680 Speaker 1: and you needed to keep Shack motivated and that that's 957 01:00:25,760 --> 01:00:29,760 Speaker 1: two different personalities and how you keep them motivated and 958 01:00:30,320 --> 01:00:34,640 Speaker 1: um and I think that that may be frustrated Kobe, 959 01:00:35,280 --> 01:00:40,360 Speaker 1: that that Shack maybe was a little bit um more 960 01:00:40,480 --> 01:00:43,959 Speaker 1: babied or not called out as much. But I wasn't 961 01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:45,640 Speaker 1: in the locker room, so it's hard for me to 962 01:00:45,840 --> 01:00:50,160 Speaker 1: really explain. But there were times that Phil was very 963 01:00:50,320 --> 01:00:54,680 Speaker 1: frustrated with both of them and you know, wanted to um, 964 01:00:55,320 --> 01:01:00,920 Speaker 1: you know really you know, emphasized to them. You know, 965 01:01:01,400 --> 01:01:03,720 Speaker 1: the talent that they had, they could they could have 966 01:01:03,800 --> 01:01:07,120 Speaker 1: won five championships in a row, and you know that 967 01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:11,280 Speaker 1: those opportunities are so rare. But you know, both of them, 968 01:01:11,320 --> 01:01:15,720 Speaker 1: being young, they didn't get they didn't know you. So 969 01:01:17,280 --> 01:01:19,480 Speaker 1: you know, he did, he did the best he could. 970 01:01:19,720 --> 01:01:21,080 Speaker 1: But I have to ask you, do you remember the 971 01:01:21,120 --> 01:01:24,880 Speaker 1: book he gave you? And you know it's funny because 972 01:01:24,960 --> 01:01:27,440 Speaker 1: that was another thing is he would give the books 973 01:01:27,520 --> 01:01:30,880 Speaker 1: out right, and you know, guys would make fun of 974 01:01:30,960 --> 01:01:33,919 Speaker 1: it and you know, just leave them in the locker room. 975 01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:37,600 Speaker 1: And I said to feel like, you know, why why 976 01:01:37,680 --> 01:01:39,680 Speaker 1: do you do this if they're if they're not going 977 01:01:39,760 --> 01:01:42,360 Speaker 1: to pay attention to it? And he said, he goes, 978 01:01:42,440 --> 01:01:45,400 Speaker 1: I'm not asking them to read it right now. He said, 979 01:01:45,440 --> 01:01:48,360 Speaker 1: the message that I have for them is there whenever 980 01:01:48,440 --> 01:01:51,840 Speaker 1: they're ready to hear it. And that book sits for 981 01:01:52,120 --> 01:01:54,439 Speaker 1: each person too, like he had read so many books 982 01:01:54,480 --> 01:01:57,040 Speaker 1: that month. He knew your personality and my situation. When 983 01:01:57,080 --> 01:01:58,800 Speaker 1: I started reading it. I don't remember it, but I 984 01:01:58,880 --> 01:02:00,920 Speaker 1: tore my knee that year. Saw was fun everything I 985 01:02:01,040 --> 01:02:02,560 Speaker 1: was like, that was my ment. I was like, funny, 986 01:02:02,600 --> 01:02:04,320 Speaker 1: have a chance to play for the Lakers going for 987 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:06,320 Speaker 1: three championships in a row, and I tear my knee. 988 01:02:06,320 --> 01:02:08,120 Speaker 1: So I was in a different place with Phil at 989 01:02:08,160 --> 01:02:10,160 Speaker 1: that particular time. But it was interesting, because you said 990 01:02:10,160 --> 01:02:12,160 Speaker 1: it was he had had so much knowledge on all 991 01:02:12,200 --> 01:02:13,960 Speaker 1: these books. Once he would get to know your personality, 992 01:02:14,000 --> 01:02:15,880 Speaker 1: he would give you a book that would fit who 993 01:02:15,960 --> 01:02:18,000 Speaker 1: you he who he felt you were. So it's crazy, 994 01:02:18,080 --> 01:02:20,440 Speaker 1: you said. It wasn't an unnecessary right away thing, but 995 01:02:20,520 --> 01:02:22,160 Speaker 1: at some point it would be there waiting for you. 996 01:02:22,400 --> 01:02:25,080 Speaker 1: And you were with the team that year that he 997 01:02:25,200 --> 01:02:29,000 Speaker 1: went through his battle with prostate cancer. And and so 998 01:02:29,920 --> 01:02:33,960 Speaker 1: if if he hadn't had that other, you know, issue 999 01:02:34,040 --> 01:02:37,040 Speaker 1: he was dealing with, he really would have embraced you 1000 01:02:37,480 --> 01:02:40,800 Speaker 1: because he had been hurt as a player and he 1001 01:02:40,960 --> 01:02:43,840 Speaker 1: knows what it felt like to be separated from the team, 1002 01:02:44,240 --> 01:02:46,320 Speaker 1: and he would have Well, we actually connected, to be 1003 01:02:46,400 --> 01:02:48,160 Speaker 1: honest with you, because it was on road trips he 1004 01:02:48,200 --> 01:02:50,320 Speaker 1: would start. We would talk after games on what I 1005 01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:52,960 Speaker 1: saw and what I thought. And so it was I 1006 01:02:53,040 --> 01:02:55,040 Speaker 1: only had him for a year, you know what I mean, 1007 01:02:55,120 --> 01:02:57,720 Speaker 1: But it was amazing to like think that, like I'm 1008 01:02:57,760 --> 01:03:00,560 Speaker 1: talking to Phil after games on what I saw the Lakers. 1009 01:03:00,640 --> 01:03:02,160 Speaker 1: You know, I'm at home rehab in my knee, but 1010 01:03:02,240 --> 01:03:04,680 Speaker 1: he I'm talking to Phil Jackson about strategy. So like 1011 01:03:04,800 --> 01:03:06,400 Speaker 1: he really did care, and I thought it was dope 1012 01:03:06,440 --> 01:03:08,360 Speaker 1: for him to just take the time to even call me, 1013 01:03:09,000 --> 01:03:10,640 Speaker 1: you know, and have that kind of conversation. Well he 1014 01:03:10,760 --> 01:03:13,320 Speaker 1: was like he was like thinking that maybe you might 1015 01:03:13,400 --> 01:03:16,560 Speaker 1: be a coach, and like possibly, especially as a father, 1016 01:03:16,680 --> 01:03:21,760 Speaker 1: you're going to coach talking about you and feel in particular, 1017 01:03:21,840 --> 01:03:26,360 Speaker 1: how much was it basketball talk all the time, or actually, hey, 1018 01:03:26,480 --> 01:03:29,600 Speaker 1: let's not talk about basketball. Let's what's let's talk about 1019 01:03:29,680 --> 01:03:32,280 Speaker 1: us or or whatever else anything but basketball. Was there 1020 01:03:32,280 --> 01:03:33,920 Speaker 1: a balance or with it a lot of basketball. There 1021 01:03:34,000 --> 01:03:36,400 Speaker 1: was a lot of basketball, and you know, like he 1022 01:03:36,480 --> 01:03:40,960 Speaker 1: would he would be watching um, you know games on 1023 01:03:41,120 --> 01:03:43,560 Speaker 1: TV and like you know, not just our you know, 1024 01:03:43,640 --> 01:03:46,040 Speaker 1: obviously not our games because he'd be there, but you know, 1025 01:03:46,280 --> 01:03:49,560 Speaker 1: other games around the league, and then he'd stop something 1026 01:03:49,640 --> 01:03:52,160 Speaker 1: and he'd rewind. He goes, okay, watch this, and I'd 1027 01:03:52,160 --> 01:03:54,680 Speaker 1: be like, what am I looking for? He you know, 1028 01:03:55,040 --> 01:03:58,080 Speaker 1: all the nuances that he saw, Like I am not 1029 01:03:59,080 --> 01:04:03,919 Speaker 1: uh sophisticated of an eye for basketball to to see 1030 01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:07,240 Speaker 1: those things. Um, but you know he would he What 1031 01:04:07,680 --> 01:04:11,680 Speaker 1: I think made him most upset watching games around the 1032 01:04:11,800 --> 01:04:17,040 Speaker 1: league is when coaches made mistakes. That really because when 1033 01:04:17,240 --> 01:04:21,480 Speaker 1: when a coach makes a mistake, that's it hurts the players, 1034 01:04:21,600 --> 01:04:23,760 Speaker 1: Like a coach should never make a mistake that's going 1035 01:04:23,840 --> 01:04:27,919 Speaker 1: to affect the team, the players and lead to a loss. 1036 01:04:28,600 --> 01:04:32,520 Speaker 1: And so it was always interesting to see the coaches 1037 01:04:32,600 --> 01:04:36,800 Speaker 1: that he liked and who he respected. And of course 1038 01:04:36,880 --> 01:04:41,200 Speaker 1: then there's referees, so don't even go there those conversations. 1039 01:04:41,520 --> 01:04:43,480 Speaker 1: But we we would be at dinner and you know, 1040 01:04:43,640 --> 01:04:47,960 Speaker 1: he'd be diagramming things with the salt shaker and I 1041 01:04:48,080 --> 01:04:52,320 Speaker 1: a I'm like, oh, please, not this again. I love it. 1042 01:04:52,720 --> 01:04:55,520 Speaker 1: So you guys went through some down years, um oh, 1043 01:04:55,680 --> 01:04:59,200 Speaker 1: four oh seven in particular, talk to me what you 1044 01:04:59,400 --> 01:05:05,280 Speaker 1: saw him Kobe as a growing up man and leadership 1045 01:05:05,480 --> 01:05:07,800 Speaker 1: kind of changing him because you could say whose team 1046 01:05:07,840 --> 01:05:10,760 Speaker 1: it was, possibly Shocks team. I wasn't in those locker rooms. 1047 01:05:10,760 --> 01:05:13,640 Speaker 1: It was Shot but now Shock is gone. Now obviously 1048 01:05:13,640 --> 01:05:15,320 Speaker 1: it's Kobe's team, and there's a lot of these shows 1049 01:05:15,360 --> 01:05:17,240 Speaker 1: and he takes a lot of pride in that. What 1050 01:05:17,320 --> 01:05:19,280 Speaker 1: did you say as a man? His development as a 1051 01:05:19,360 --> 01:05:22,200 Speaker 1: man and as a leader during those down years, he 1052 01:05:22,440 --> 01:05:25,560 Speaker 1: was a strong leader and he wanted to win. His 1053 01:05:25,720 --> 01:05:31,680 Speaker 1: appetite for winning was um like all consuming. And so 1054 01:05:32,240 --> 01:05:34,960 Speaker 1: you know when because the year that Shack got traded, 1055 01:05:35,040 --> 01:05:39,360 Speaker 1: Phil also was let go and so now we hire 1056 01:05:39,840 --> 01:05:44,640 Speaker 1: uh Rudy tom Janovich and you know, uh it was 1057 01:05:45,560 --> 01:05:47,640 Speaker 1: you know the time that I was with theil was 1058 01:05:47,920 --> 01:05:50,760 Speaker 1: I really I kind of became like the team, mom, 1059 01:05:50,920 --> 01:05:54,640 Speaker 1: Like I was more around the basketball side of things. 1060 01:05:54,840 --> 01:05:56,600 Speaker 1: I had always been on the business side, but I 1061 01:05:56,720 --> 01:06:00,200 Speaker 1: really wasn't around the team that much. And so when 1062 01:06:00,440 --> 01:06:03,400 Speaker 1: when he was gone, I just kind of lost that 1063 01:06:03,880 --> 01:06:08,080 Speaker 1: contact and continuity with the team. UM, but I could 1064 01:06:08,080 --> 01:06:11,680 Speaker 1: see that Kobe wasn't happy and we were we weren't 1065 01:06:11,720 --> 01:06:16,600 Speaker 1: doing well. And Phil took that year to travel to 1066 01:06:16,760 --> 01:06:19,720 Speaker 1: Australia and New Zealand, you know, take a trip that 1067 01:06:19,840 --> 01:06:22,480 Speaker 1: he'd always wanted to take. And I didn't go with 1068 01:06:22,680 --> 01:06:26,479 Speaker 1: them because I had a job. I had to stay 1069 01:06:26,520 --> 01:06:32,520 Speaker 1: and work, and so um, you know, Rudy ended up 1070 01:06:32,600 --> 01:06:38,720 Speaker 1: stepping down, um for health reasons, and they put Frank 1071 01:06:38,800 --> 01:06:42,240 Speaker 1: Hamlin in as the interim coach to finish out the year. 1072 01:06:43,040 --> 01:06:45,680 Speaker 1: And I was like, oh, now, you know, what are 1073 01:06:45,680 --> 01:06:48,200 Speaker 1: they gonna do? Now? Who's going to be the next coach? 1074 01:06:49,000 --> 01:06:54,360 Speaker 1: And um, there was a game I forget which game 1075 01:06:54,440 --> 01:06:57,840 Speaker 1: it was. It was some time in January or February, 1076 01:06:58,320 --> 01:07:01,840 Speaker 1: and I was watching the game and it was U 1077 01:07:02,040 --> 01:07:06,400 Speaker 1: in the game situation and Kobe was running the huddle 1078 01:07:07,120 --> 01:07:11,240 Speaker 1: and he called a play that was Phil's play, and 1079 01:07:11,800 --> 01:07:16,400 Speaker 1: it was like the what the F? And I was like, 1080 01:07:16,920 --> 01:07:18,800 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, I thought, oh my god, he 1081 01:07:19,680 --> 01:07:24,360 Speaker 1: he's running a Phil play. Maybe there's like a bridge 1082 01:07:24,400 --> 01:07:28,720 Speaker 1: here that we could bring this back. And so I 1083 01:07:29,520 --> 01:07:32,760 Speaker 1: started working on Phil, like, hey, do you want to 1084 01:07:33,280 --> 01:07:35,919 Speaker 1: would you ever coach again? Are you going to coach again? 1085 01:07:36,120 --> 01:07:38,120 Speaker 1: How hard are these conversations for you to have them? 1086 01:07:38,120 --> 01:07:41,080 Speaker 1: Because like it's the business of Genie, this is also 1087 01:07:41,200 --> 01:07:45,560 Speaker 1: my boyfriend, Like where is there a like the boundaries working? 1088 01:07:46,760 --> 01:07:50,440 Speaker 1: And I but I mean, I like, I I felt 1089 01:07:50,520 --> 01:07:53,480 Speaker 1: so protective of Kobe, Like, you know, I wanted Kobe 1090 01:07:53,560 --> 01:07:56,880 Speaker 1: to have what was best for him. And I asked, 1091 01:07:57,040 --> 01:07:59,200 Speaker 1: even asked Phil like I don't I don't know what 1092 01:07:59,280 --> 01:08:02,840 Speaker 1: they're gonna do next for a coach, you know, I go, 1093 01:08:03,000 --> 01:08:05,120 Speaker 1: who do you think would be best for Kobe? And 1094 01:08:05,200 --> 01:08:09,080 Speaker 1: he goes me and I'm like, okay, well, now I 1095 01:08:09,200 --> 01:08:12,120 Speaker 1: have to see I have to float this idea to 1096 01:08:12,240 --> 01:08:16,240 Speaker 1: my dad and like, you know, is there any possible 1097 01:08:16,320 --> 01:08:20,760 Speaker 1: way of bringing Phil back? Because when when my dad 1098 01:08:20,880 --> 01:08:24,599 Speaker 1: made the decision to trade Shack because of the money um, 1099 01:08:24,800 --> 01:08:27,799 Speaker 1: Phil said to him, I think you're making a big mistake, 1100 01:08:28,200 --> 01:08:31,360 Speaker 1: you know, like Shock is the most dominant player in 1101 01:08:31,439 --> 01:08:34,000 Speaker 1: the league. And my dad said, well that you know, 1102 01:08:34,240 --> 01:08:36,200 Speaker 1: I'm glad you feel that way because you're not gonna 1103 01:08:36,200 --> 01:08:42,400 Speaker 1: be coaching this team and workship. So it didn't end badly, 1104 01:08:42,560 --> 01:08:45,680 Speaker 1: but they were not on the same page, right, So 1105 01:08:45,840 --> 01:08:48,000 Speaker 1: now it's like, how how is this going to work? 1106 01:08:48,240 --> 01:08:53,320 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, after having an organization that 1107 01:08:53,520 --> 01:08:57,440 Speaker 1: had Phil at the helm and things ran really smoothly, 1108 01:08:58,360 --> 01:09:00,920 Speaker 1: you know, to going into chao us having a coach 1109 01:09:01,040 --> 01:09:03,320 Speaker 1: quit in the middle of the season or stepped down 1110 01:09:03,400 --> 01:09:06,680 Speaker 1: in the middle of the season, that it was, um 1111 01:09:07,240 --> 01:09:10,000 Speaker 1: those good old days Phil, days of Phil Jackson weren't 1112 01:09:10,040 --> 01:09:14,360 Speaker 1: so bad. And so they you know, came back together 1113 01:09:14,840 --> 01:09:20,679 Speaker 1: and Phil returned as the That was two thousand six, 1114 01:09:21,520 --> 01:09:24,360 Speaker 1: five or six, so he Phil only missed one year. 1115 01:09:24,960 --> 01:09:28,360 Speaker 1: And so now now it's like, okay, how do how 1116 01:09:28,439 --> 01:09:32,080 Speaker 1: do we make sure that things are you know, good 1117 01:09:32,160 --> 01:09:35,240 Speaker 1: with Kobe and and Phil Because there was a little, 1118 01:09:35,479 --> 01:09:37,280 Speaker 1: there was a little, there was a little. He came 1119 01:09:37,320 --> 01:09:41,479 Speaker 1: out with a book book. Sele is a writer, and 1120 01:09:41,640 --> 01:09:44,720 Speaker 1: so he kind of talked about coaching Kobe and what 1121 01:09:44,880 --> 01:09:49,400 Speaker 1: it was like, and um, I was like, oh, no, work, 1122 01:09:50,120 --> 01:09:54,080 Speaker 1: And I remember what we we decided to do because 1123 01:09:54,760 --> 01:09:58,640 Speaker 1: um her came Katrina had just happened, and there was 1124 01:09:59,760 --> 01:10:03,439 Speaker 1: a dog rescue here in l A that that arranged 1125 01:10:03,520 --> 01:10:07,720 Speaker 1: to have dogs brought from this area where you know, 1126 01:10:07,840 --> 01:10:10,800 Speaker 1: there was all these you know, people had lost their homes, 1127 01:10:10,920 --> 01:10:14,439 Speaker 1: they couldn't take care of their beats. So, um, we 1128 01:10:14,640 --> 01:10:19,560 Speaker 1: did a calendar where we had a photo shoot of 1129 01:10:19,680 --> 01:10:23,080 Speaker 1: players with different dogs that were up for adoption, thinking 1130 01:10:23,200 --> 01:10:26,520 Speaker 1: that that would be you know, help them get them adopted, 1131 01:10:27,080 --> 01:10:30,800 Speaker 1: and so, um, you know that was the cover of 1132 01:10:30,880 --> 01:10:33,160 Speaker 1: the calendar was phill and Kobe and a dog, and 1133 01:10:33,560 --> 01:10:36,840 Speaker 1: it was kind of like that's going to eat like 1134 01:10:37,320 --> 01:10:41,880 Speaker 1: this dog, like you know, and doing something positive and 1135 01:10:42,200 --> 01:10:45,880 Speaker 1: and and helping. They both wanted to win, so that's 1136 01:10:46,000 --> 01:10:49,240 Speaker 1: always what their common ground was. I mean, I could 1137 01:10:49,280 --> 01:10:52,000 Speaker 1: do whatever I could do, but it was their two 1138 01:10:52,080 --> 01:10:56,120 Speaker 1: basketball mines that just mashed. And so then you know 1139 01:10:56,360 --> 01:10:59,920 Speaker 1: that year, the team that we had, um, you know 1140 01:11:00,080 --> 01:11:03,120 Speaker 1: we almost beat Phoenix in the playoffs. Were you on 1141 01:11:03,240 --> 01:11:07,040 Speaker 1: that team trying to think? Um, that was you know, 1142 01:11:07,479 --> 01:11:12,400 Speaker 1: um the Steve Nash was on that team. Yeah, like 1143 01:11:12,560 --> 01:11:14,680 Speaker 1: it was. It was a really good team and we 1144 01:11:15,360 --> 01:11:17,680 Speaker 1: we almost had it, but we you know, lost in 1145 01:11:17,760 --> 01:11:19,959 Speaker 1: the first round. But he got us back into the playoffs. 1146 01:11:20,320 --> 01:11:24,200 Speaker 1: You know, we had missed that that previous season, and 1147 01:11:24,760 --> 01:11:28,200 Speaker 1: that led to a draft pick that became Andrew behind him. 1148 01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:33,800 Speaker 1: Then Pal came in February two thousand and eight, and 1149 01:11:34,520 --> 01:11:39,160 Speaker 1: you know Pal, you know that was having Pau Gasol, 1150 01:11:39,640 --> 01:11:42,120 Speaker 1: who was you know, he was Rookie of the year. 1151 01:11:42,880 --> 01:11:46,280 Speaker 1: So here we go. We went, you know, right before 1152 01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:49,439 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. We get Pau Gasol and then we 1153 01:11:49,640 --> 01:11:52,799 Speaker 1: just went on a tear like Pal learned the triangle 1154 01:11:52,840 --> 01:11:56,880 Speaker 1: in two days, super smart, super smart, and it just 1155 01:11:57,280 --> 01:11:59,639 Speaker 1: it was like, did you guys think Jerry, because wasn't 1156 01:11:59,680 --> 01:12:05,320 Speaker 1: Jerry over Memphis? And well we traded Mark, people who 1157 01:12:05,360 --> 01:12:07,080 Speaker 1: you got him for nothing, not realizing that what you 1158 01:12:07,120 --> 01:12:09,519 Speaker 1: guys gave him was Marc Assault and Kwamie Brown and 1159 01:12:10,240 --> 01:12:17,720 Speaker 1: so and umay with Mark, No, this that was one 1160 01:12:17,840 --> 01:12:21,160 Speaker 1: man trade. You just name the name just there. So 1161 01:12:21,560 --> 01:12:24,320 Speaker 1: now we get Pal, we go on this run and 1162 01:12:24,520 --> 01:12:30,439 Speaker 1: we end up in the NBA Finals against the Boston right, 1163 01:12:31,200 --> 01:12:35,519 Speaker 1: and the team wasn't prepared to go from like, you know, 1164 01:12:36,479 --> 01:12:38,840 Speaker 1: like losing in the first round. Now of a sudden, 1165 01:12:38,880 --> 01:12:41,880 Speaker 1: you're in the NBA Finals and you've got Pal and 1166 01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:45,479 Speaker 1: power and never you know, this was all new to 1167 01:12:45,600 --> 01:12:50,040 Speaker 1: him and you guys can a test how different playoffs are, 1168 01:12:50,640 --> 01:12:55,160 Speaker 1: different level game and so you know, we were kind 1169 01:12:55,200 --> 01:13:01,320 Speaker 1: of humiliated. That was his is his his worst loss 1170 01:13:01,360 --> 01:13:04,439 Speaker 1: of his career, losing in O eight to Boston. How 1171 01:13:04,520 --> 01:13:08,080 Speaker 1: close was Kobe to the Clippers? That really happened? Um, 1172 01:13:08,720 --> 01:13:11,800 Speaker 1: you know, I never had that conversation with Kobe, but 1173 01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:16,280 Speaker 1: there was a game where he wore Clippers throwbacks, right, yeah, 1174 01:13:16,720 --> 01:13:20,160 Speaker 1: not even the jersey. He wore like the colors. Yeah, 1175 01:13:20,280 --> 01:13:24,080 Speaker 1: like very subtle. And I'm like, you know, I could 1176 01:13:24,120 --> 01:13:29,200 Speaker 1: see like he loves challenges, right, and and that would 1177 01:13:29,240 --> 01:13:34,320 Speaker 1: have been like right, So, I mean I I do 1178 01:13:34,520 --> 01:13:38,599 Speaker 1: think that was something that was, um, you know, very possible. 1179 01:13:40,479 --> 01:13:43,920 Speaker 1: So you guys lose, could you imagine that? Though? My god, 1180 01:13:44,600 --> 01:13:47,280 Speaker 1: I remember they were Clipper I remember they were talking 1181 01:13:47,320 --> 01:13:49,200 Speaker 1: about they were going to build an arena out in 1182 01:13:49,280 --> 01:13:51,479 Speaker 1: Orange County for me, he wouldn't have to travel now, 1183 01:13:51,720 --> 01:13:54,080 Speaker 1: and like the Clippers put the full court press to 1184 01:13:54,200 --> 01:13:56,160 Speaker 1: try to get Kobe, and I was just like, there's 1185 01:13:56,200 --> 01:13:58,599 Speaker 1: no way this can happen. So that that was crazy. 1186 01:13:58,600 --> 01:14:01,360 Speaker 1: I would give up everything you got to, including children. 1187 01:14:01,400 --> 01:14:08,200 Speaker 1: You So, you guys lose an oh eight um to Boston, 1188 01:14:08,840 --> 01:14:12,080 Speaker 1: come back the next year, beat Orlando and get a 1189 01:14:12,160 --> 01:14:15,320 Speaker 1: chance for redemption in two thousand ten, talk to us 1190 01:14:15,360 --> 01:14:17,800 Speaker 1: about Okay, Yeah, so like two thousand and eight. Now 1191 01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:21,640 Speaker 1: we were humiliated by Boston in that game six. We 1192 01:14:21,720 --> 01:14:25,519 Speaker 1: had to like fly. We barely won game five, and 1193 01:14:25,840 --> 01:14:28,800 Speaker 1: now I have to go to Boston, to Boston and 1194 01:14:28,960 --> 01:14:34,800 Speaker 1: lose by thirty whatever points. And so now I've got 1195 01:14:35,320 --> 01:14:38,439 Speaker 1: grumpy fill, you know, because it's so hard to lose 1196 01:14:38,479 --> 01:14:41,040 Speaker 1: your last game. You know, now it's going to stick 1197 01:14:41,120 --> 01:14:44,839 Speaker 1: with you the whole summer. And but you know, Kobe 1198 01:14:45,560 --> 01:14:49,360 Speaker 1: had the Olympics, right, so now he's got a chance 1199 01:14:49,479 --> 01:14:54,519 Speaker 1: to like get back into beating somebody. And so of 1200 01:14:54,680 --> 01:14:58,960 Speaker 1: course they end up playing Spain and you know for 1201 01:14:59,080 --> 01:15:02,760 Speaker 1: the gold medal against Pal and you know there's it's 1202 01:15:02,840 --> 01:15:08,280 Speaker 1: on YouTube. I watched it recently. Um him, you know, uh, 1203 01:15:09,000 --> 01:15:11,960 Speaker 1: just kind of leveling Pal during the game and just 1204 01:15:12,080 --> 01:15:14,840 Speaker 1: kind of standing over. I'm like, you know, this is 1205 01:15:14,960 --> 01:15:17,519 Speaker 1: what needs to happen. Yeah, this is Pal got You 1206 01:15:17,600 --> 01:15:19,439 Speaker 1: don't want to say, but Pal got bullied. Pal got 1207 01:15:19,479 --> 01:15:21,840 Speaker 1: punked a lot. But Kobe took that ship personal, and 1208 01:15:21,960 --> 01:15:24,240 Speaker 1: Kobe had a it was always out of love, but 1209 01:15:24,320 --> 01:15:26,200 Speaker 1: he was tough on Pal because he saw how great 1210 01:15:26,240 --> 01:15:28,679 Speaker 1: Poal was. And I think Power spoke on how Kobe 1211 01:15:28,760 --> 01:15:31,320 Speaker 1: kind of molded him kind of into a different mindset 1212 01:15:31,560 --> 01:15:34,479 Speaker 1: because Poal was always so talented. But I remember Boston, 1213 01:15:34,520 --> 01:15:37,200 Speaker 1: they just tried to punk him, kg perk all them dudes, 1214 01:15:37,240 --> 01:15:39,800 Speaker 1: and that's what they did. And Kobe fucking hated that ship. 1215 01:15:40,040 --> 01:15:41,960 Speaker 1: So when it happened to the limits, I remember that 1216 01:15:42,080 --> 01:15:43,519 Speaker 1: and I was just like, pow, this is what the 1217 01:15:43,560 --> 01:15:46,160 Speaker 1: fund needed to happen. But I saw that in the 1218 01:15:46,240 --> 01:15:48,120 Speaker 1: locker room sometimes, like he would be hard on Pal 1219 01:15:48,240 --> 01:15:50,280 Speaker 1: because he knew how great Pot was. He was just 1220 01:15:50,400 --> 01:15:52,439 Speaker 1: such a nice guy, and Kobe didn't like that on 1221 01:15:52,520 --> 01:15:55,439 Speaker 1: the court, right, yeah, you can be nice on you 1222 01:15:55,479 --> 01:15:57,519 Speaker 1: didn't like that on the court. Well, then then he 1223 01:15:58,000 --> 01:16:01,000 Speaker 1: when you know, we were getting ready for that next season, 1224 01:16:02,439 --> 01:16:06,680 Speaker 1: Kobe hung his gold medal in Pal's locker just to 1225 01:16:06,800 --> 01:16:13,920 Speaker 1: remind him. So now we you know, we get back 1226 01:16:14,400 --> 01:16:18,920 Speaker 1: to the NBA Finals, but it's against Orlando, and um, 1227 01:16:20,080 --> 01:16:24,120 Speaker 1: it's funny because we ended up afterwards having Dwight Howard 1228 01:16:24,200 --> 01:16:26,680 Speaker 1: on our team and that was you know, Orlando was 1229 01:16:26,840 --> 01:16:29,680 Speaker 1: Dwight Howard's team at that time and we're playing them 1230 01:16:29,720 --> 01:16:35,280 Speaker 1: in the finals, and um, you know, it was just 1231 01:16:35,960 --> 01:16:39,400 Speaker 1: it was great to be redeemed and win that championship. 1232 01:16:40,080 --> 01:16:45,840 Speaker 1: So now the following year, Um, we get back to 1233 01:16:46,040 --> 01:16:49,160 Speaker 1: the the NBA Finals and this time it is against 1234 01:16:49,200 --> 01:16:54,559 Speaker 1: Boston and it is um, you know, the way things 1235 01:16:54,600 --> 01:16:58,920 Speaker 1: should have been, and no, but having it go to 1236 01:16:59,000 --> 01:17:03,160 Speaker 1: a game seven, UM, you know you couldn't have written 1237 01:17:03,200 --> 01:17:06,240 Speaker 1: it any better. That's what's so great about sports is 1238 01:17:06,479 --> 01:17:12,440 Speaker 1: it's it's so dramatic and ironic and emotional and hysterical 1239 01:17:12,800 --> 01:17:15,960 Speaker 1: and just every different kind of emotion you can imagine. 1240 01:17:16,760 --> 01:17:21,200 Speaker 1: And so beating them was was super sweet. What I 1241 01:17:21,320 --> 01:17:23,479 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you, because I was actually on the team, 1242 01:17:23,920 --> 01:17:28,479 Speaker 1: what happened with the CP three trade getting voided? I 1243 01:17:28,560 --> 01:17:31,760 Speaker 1: can tell you exactly what happened. And it's it's hard 1244 01:17:31,800 --> 01:17:35,519 Speaker 1: to understand if you don't know like the background of 1245 01:17:36,080 --> 01:17:40,080 Speaker 1: how the league operates. So if you remember, we were 1246 01:17:40,120 --> 01:17:45,160 Speaker 1: in a lockout, right, so so UM, when there's a lockout, 1247 01:17:45,200 --> 01:17:48,080 Speaker 1: there's a moratorium on everything. You can't make trades, you 1248 01:17:48,120 --> 01:17:53,680 Speaker 1: can't do anything. And so as UM we were um 1249 01:17:54,920 --> 01:17:58,080 Speaker 1: making a deal with the union and then starting to 1250 01:17:58,240 --> 01:18:05,000 Speaker 1: lift the the you know, the lockout rules. UM, we 1251 01:18:05,160 --> 01:18:10,240 Speaker 1: had to UM all the representatives of the team teams 1252 01:18:10,320 --> 01:18:12,919 Speaker 1: had to be in New York for Board of Governors 1253 01:18:13,000 --> 01:18:18,280 Speaker 1: meeting to ratify the the new c b A and 1254 01:18:18,840 --> 01:18:23,479 Speaker 1: with that UM it also um was tied to the 1255 01:18:23,560 --> 01:18:27,720 Speaker 1: revenue sharing that was, you know, an important component of 1256 01:18:27,800 --> 01:18:32,400 Speaker 1: our league. And so as as we're in this room 1257 01:18:32,920 --> 01:18:36,160 Speaker 1: ratifying the union and the c b A with the 1258 01:18:36,320 --> 01:18:41,160 Speaker 1: union and and voting on revenue sharing, all of a sudden, 1259 01:18:41,560 --> 01:18:45,360 Speaker 1: there's kind of this rumor that goes around the room 1260 01:18:45,520 --> 01:18:49,800 Speaker 1: about a trade. Well, at that time, the team was 1261 01:18:50,000 --> 01:18:54,000 Speaker 1: run by the league, right, so there's no way a 1262 01:18:54,120 --> 01:18:57,599 Speaker 1: trade could be happening if we're all in this room 1263 01:18:58,040 --> 01:19:03,599 Speaker 1: doing league business. Except the general manager of the team 1264 01:19:03,800 --> 01:19:06,559 Speaker 1: felt that he had the authority to make a trade 1265 01:19:06,960 --> 01:19:10,960 Speaker 1: of New Orleans at the time, and so he felt 1266 01:19:11,000 --> 01:19:14,280 Speaker 1: that he could make a trade. And my dad at 1267 01:19:14,360 --> 01:19:20,160 Speaker 1: that time was you know, beginning to his health was declining, 1268 01:19:21,240 --> 01:19:24,120 Speaker 1: and he didn't make the trip to New York. I 1269 01:19:24,320 --> 01:19:27,599 Speaker 1: was representing the team, so I didn't. I didn't, I don't. 1270 01:19:27,960 --> 01:19:32,240 Speaker 1: I wasn't responsible for trades. So the trade was happening 1271 01:19:33,320 --> 01:19:37,519 Speaker 1: while everybody is in this room. So teams felt like, 1272 01:19:37,600 --> 01:19:40,720 Speaker 1: how is that possible? We didn't get a chance to 1273 01:19:41,040 --> 01:19:44,800 Speaker 1: to make a trade for Chris Paul, And so they 1274 01:19:45,040 --> 01:19:48,720 Speaker 1: all attacked the league and said this wasn't fair. We 1275 01:19:48,840 --> 01:19:51,560 Speaker 1: didn't all get a chance to to you know, but 1276 01:19:51,680 --> 01:19:53,599 Speaker 1: he wasn't going to you guys, So it doesn't matter. 1277 01:19:53,680 --> 01:19:56,439 Speaker 1: But but it was I understand what they're saying. Like 1278 01:19:56,600 --> 01:20:03,520 Speaker 1: David Stern didn't reject the trade as commissioner, he rejected 1279 01:20:03,600 --> 01:20:07,320 Speaker 1: the trade as governor of the New Orleans team, right 1280 01:20:07,680 --> 01:20:12,479 Speaker 1: because he wasn't asked permission to okay the trade. But 1281 01:20:12,600 --> 01:20:15,840 Speaker 1: the general manager, when they said we're going to have 1282 01:20:15,960 --> 01:20:21,439 Speaker 1: a hands, you know, arms distance from making basketball decisions 1283 01:20:21,479 --> 01:20:24,200 Speaker 1: because we're the league, felt that he could make that 1284 01:20:24,400 --> 01:20:29,360 Speaker 1: decision without having to have someone stamp it. So like 1285 01:20:29,600 --> 01:20:34,760 Speaker 1: it wasn't the NBA trying to keep the Lakers from 1286 01:20:34,840 --> 01:20:40,320 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, it was it was about them him. David 1287 01:20:40,400 --> 01:20:43,680 Speaker 1: Stern had a responsibility to make sure that it was 1288 01:20:44,160 --> 01:20:47,479 Speaker 1: a trade that he would approve. So now he just 1289 01:20:47,880 --> 01:20:51,160 Speaker 1: calls off the trade and wants everybody to cool down, 1290 01:20:51,280 --> 01:20:54,360 Speaker 1: because now you had a lot of teams thinking there 1291 01:20:54,520 --> 01:20:58,040 Speaker 1: was some some funny business going on, but it wasn't. 1292 01:20:58,320 --> 01:21:02,640 Speaker 1: It was just by coincidence how things lined up. So 1293 01:21:03,280 --> 01:21:08,040 Speaker 1: so now our front office decided to make a different 1294 01:21:08,120 --> 01:21:13,240 Speaker 1: trade and traded lamar Odom to Dallas. So now you 1295 01:21:13,400 --> 01:21:16,640 Speaker 1: can't resurrect the trade because you just broke up the 1296 01:21:16,720 --> 01:21:20,640 Speaker 1: pieces that made it. And so now it was like 1297 01:21:21,040 --> 01:21:23,840 Speaker 1: now it was everybody was trying to get Chris Paul 1298 01:21:24,040 --> 01:21:27,360 Speaker 1: and the Clippers offered the best deal. Yeah, that was 1299 01:21:27,400 --> 01:21:30,000 Speaker 1: crazy because I remember being on the team, and I 1300 01:21:30,040 --> 01:21:33,040 Speaker 1: remember guys that were involved in the initial trade. I mean, 1301 01:21:33,080 --> 01:21:35,400 Speaker 1: I think Poal was talked about, l O ended up 1302 01:21:35,400 --> 01:21:37,600 Speaker 1: going to Dallas and and the trade got vetoed. So 1303 01:21:37,720 --> 01:21:40,320 Speaker 1: it just had a crazy energy in the locker room, 1304 01:21:40,520 --> 01:21:41,640 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, because I remember I was 1305 01:21:41,720 --> 01:21:45,519 Speaker 1: with Cope talking to Chris like, oh ship look out. 1306 01:21:45,920 --> 01:21:47,960 Speaker 1: So basically what you're saying is if the GM of 1307 01:21:48,400 --> 01:21:50,120 Speaker 1: New Orleans would have kind of just took his time, 1308 01:21:50,840 --> 01:21:56,599 Speaker 1: it would have happened. So so it really, I mean, 1309 01:21:56,840 --> 01:21:59,920 Speaker 1: the league isn't against the Lakers sometimes because I never 1310 01:22:00,040 --> 01:22:01,800 Speaker 1: need that whole story. And that's what I thought. I'm like, day, 1311 01:22:01,880 --> 01:22:04,680 Speaker 1: how did David Stern void this? Like he's never done that, 1312 01:22:05,400 --> 01:22:08,800 Speaker 1: but it was acting governor of the team that he 1313 01:22:08,880 --> 01:22:12,160 Speaker 1: did it. As Wow, So massive changes occur in two 1314 01:22:12,280 --> 01:22:15,040 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen, not only on the basketball front front in 1315 01:22:15,080 --> 01:22:19,200 Speaker 1: your personal life. Unfortunately, you lose your father, Kobe tears 1316 01:22:19,280 --> 01:22:21,799 Speaker 1: as Achilles, and you guys kind of start a drought 1317 01:22:22,840 --> 01:22:26,680 Speaker 1: of bad basketball that no one in laker Land is 1318 01:22:26,680 --> 01:22:29,439 Speaker 1: accustomed to. Talk to me, not about the basketball side, 1319 01:22:29,479 --> 01:22:31,560 Speaker 1: but about the personal side and and how hard that 1320 01:22:31,640 --> 01:22:34,400 Speaker 1: time was for you. Um it was. It was difficult 1321 01:22:34,479 --> 01:22:38,240 Speaker 1: for me, you know, losing my dad, and then Phil 1322 01:22:38,439 --> 01:22:42,320 Speaker 1: decided to take a job in New York. So now 1323 01:22:42,920 --> 01:22:45,080 Speaker 1: I've got to stay back in l a And and 1324 01:22:45,240 --> 01:22:49,360 Speaker 1: do my job. And Phil has now moved to New York, 1325 01:22:49,920 --> 01:22:54,120 Speaker 1: and you know, I just I felt, you know, it 1326 01:22:54,280 --> 01:22:57,760 Speaker 1: was it was a challenging time for me personally and 1327 01:22:58,320 --> 01:23:01,840 Speaker 1: my dad when he passed to way, I had left 1328 01:23:02,120 --> 01:23:05,719 Speaker 1: my brother in charge of basketball and myself in charge 1329 01:23:05,760 --> 01:23:09,639 Speaker 1: of business, and he wanted us to run the team together. 1330 01:23:10,600 --> 01:23:14,120 Speaker 1: And whatever my dad wanted is what I wanted to do. 1331 01:23:15,040 --> 01:23:18,800 Speaker 1: And so my brother and I really saw things very 1332 01:23:18,880 --> 01:23:24,360 Speaker 1: differently about the team and how things should operate. But um, 1333 01:23:24,840 --> 01:23:29,200 Speaker 1: you know I said to him, after you know, missing 1334 01:23:29,760 --> 01:23:33,439 Speaker 1: out in the playoffs, I said, you know, we had 1335 01:23:33,479 --> 01:23:36,400 Speaker 1: a family meeting with all my siblings, and what my 1336 01:23:36,520 --> 01:23:40,680 Speaker 1: dad did was, you know, really difficult to do when 1337 01:23:40,720 --> 01:23:44,960 Speaker 1: you have a asset the size of that. You know, 1338 01:23:45,080 --> 01:23:49,479 Speaker 1: the value of the Lakers. Um, it's really difficult to 1339 01:23:50,160 --> 01:23:54,919 Speaker 1: transfer that to the next generation because of inheritance taxes 1340 01:23:55,720 --> 01:24:00,639 Speaker 1: and UM. So he he knew he wanted the family 1341 01:24:00,760 --> 01:24:04,280 Speaker 1: to keep the team. So for the ten years prior 1342 01:24:04,400 --> 01:24:10,080 Speaker 1: to that, he would transfer the Lakers stock into a 1343 01:24:10,240 --> 01:24:14,640 Speaker 1: trust that would benefit his children and would pay the 1344 01:24:14,800 --> 01:24:19,080 Speaker 1: taxes as he made each transfer, so that there was 1345 01:24:19,520 --> 01:24:22,200 Speaker 1: a really great opportunity for us to be able to 1346 01:24:22,320 --> 01:24:25,200 Speaker 1: keep the team in the family. So, you know, the 1347 01:24:25,360 --> 01:24:29,920 Speaker 1: idea that he he was so disciplined and thoughtful that 1348 01:24:30,040 --> 01:24:33,400 Speaker 1: he had this this tenure plan to make it happen. 1349 01:24:34,080 --> 01:24:37,280 Speaker 1: I really wanted to stick with his plan. That's how 1350 01:24:37,360 --> 01:24:40,640 Speaker 1: important it was to him. And so, you know, with 1351 01:24:40,920 --> 01:24:44,320 Speaker 1: with my brother, I said, you know, we we sat down. 1352 01:24:44,400 --> 01:24:47,439 Speaker 1: There's there's six of us siblings and we had a 1353 01:24:47,520 --> 01:24:50,599 Speaker 1: family meeting and I said, you know, on the business side, 1354 01:24:51,120 --> 01:24:55,040 Speaker 1: I need to know what's like it's and and not 1355 01:24:55,360 --> 01:24:57,720 Speaker 1: basketball wise, just you know, when are we going to 1356 01:24:57,800 --> 01:24:59,840 Speaker 1: be back in the playoffs? I have to you know, 1357 01:25:00,160 --> 01:25:03,719 Speaker 1: figure out the finances and how to price the tickets 1358 01:25:03,800 --> 01:25:06,360 Speaker 1: and how things are going to go. And you know, 1359 01:25:06,720 --> 01:25:09,120 Speaker 1: he said, I go, just tell me when we're going 1360 01:25:09,160 --> 01:25:12,240 Speaker 1: to be back in the playoffs and and and competing 1361 01:25:12,760 --> 01:25:15,439 Speaker 1: for a championship. I'm not saying you have to win 1362 01:25:15,520 --> 01:25:18,640 Speaker 1: a championship. It's just like we got to be in 1363 01:25:18,720 --> 01:25:21,920 Speaker 1: the conversation. You always wanted to be in the conversation 1364 01:25:22,200 --> 01:25:25,320 Speaker 1: because otherwise you can't get free agents because they don't 1365 01:25:25,479 --> 01:25:30,639 Speaker 1: know they And so now we're experiencing these like free agents, 1366 01:25:30,760 --> 01:25:35,280 Speaker 1: like not even returning our our phone calls. Right, I'm 1367 01:25:35,320 --> 01:25:37,920 Speaker 1: not saying like we have the formula of how you win, 1368 01:25:38,120 --> 01:25:41,880 Speaker 1: but you have to be you know, considered and respected 1369 01:25:42,080 --> 01:25:46,120 Speaker 1: to be you know, to get stay up at the top. 1370 01:25:46,760 --> 01:25:50,120 Speaker 1: So um, he said it would it would take him 1371 01:25:50,200 --> 01:25:53,719 Speaker 1: three years. And I said, well, if after three years, 1372 01:25:53,840 --> 01:25:55,840 Speaker 1: if we're not back in the playoffs, then I'm gonna 1373 01:25:55,840 --> 01:25:59,400 Speaker 1: have to make some changes. And he said, oh, absolutely, 1374 01:25:59,520 --> 01:26:02,479 Speaker 1: you know I would step down if I couldn't succeed. 1375 01:26:03,000 --> 01:26:06,479 Speaker 1: He announce it that That's what I was going to say, 1376 01:26:06,600 --> 01:26:10,400 Speaker 1: is that here this was a private conversation. And and 1377 01:26:10,520 --> 01:26:13,040 Speaker 1: then he's the one who went to the media. So 1378 01:26:13,240 --> 01:26:16,720 Speaker 1: now the media comes to me and says, are you 1379 01:26:16,800 --> 01:26:19,840 Speaker 1: going to hold your brother to the timeline? And I 1380 01:26:20,000 --> 01:26:24,439 Speaker 1: have to say yes, because first of all, why would 1381 01:26:24,439 --> 01:26:26,880 Speaker 1: he say it if it he didn't feel that that's 1382 01:26:27,080 --> 01:26:30,600 Speaker 1: was possible. So I said, of course, you know, like 1383 01:26:30,800 --> 01:26:34,599 Speaker 1: we're back on the road too. And so then as 1384 01:26:34,720 --> 01:26:39,320 Speaker 1: time went on and I saw some of the decisions 1385 01:26:39,360 --> 01:26:42,960 Speaker 1: that were being made, they none of them made sense 1386 01:26:43,040 --> 01:26:46,759 Speaker 1: to me. Like we had Mike Brown, who's a great coach, 1387 01:26:47,680 --> 01:26:53,920 Speaker 1: right and um, but more defensive minded. Right now, you 1388 01:26:54,160 --> 01:26:57,560 Speaker 1: fire him after eighteen months, and you hire Mike D'Antoni, 1389 01:26:58,040 --> 01:27:02,400 Speaker 1: another good coach, but offensive mine, like your roster can't 1390 01:27:03,640 --> 01:27:09,679 Speaker 1: get crossed the boom. I mean, like, like I'm seeing 1391 01:27:09,840 --> 01:27:12,720 Speaker 1: both of those coaches are really good, but like you 1392 01:27:12,840 --> 01:27:16,599 Speaker 1: can't change your roster fast enough to accommodate what kind 1393 01:27:16,640 --> 01:27:19,920 Speaker 1: of style of basketball play. And Phil always taught me, like, 1394 01:27:20,400 --> 01:27:22,000 Speaker 1: you know, what you have to do is you have 1395 01:27:22,120 --> 01:27:24,639 Speaker 1: to decide the style of play you're going to play, 1396 01:27:25,240 --> 01:27:27,840 Speaker 1: and then you hire the coach, and then you get 1397 01:27:27,960 --> 01:27:31,839 Speaker 1: the players, and then you did like right, it's a process, 1398 01:27:32,040 --> 01:27:36,960 Speaker 1: and like you can't possibly find success changing coaches every 1399 01:27:37,040 --> 01:27:41,160 Speaker 1: eighteen months. And and you know, and I sat in 1400 01:27:41,320 --> 01:27:44,080 Speaker 1: the in a meeting with a free agent who's on 1401 01:27:44,160 --> 01:27:47,320 Speaker 1: another team who I can't say because he's on another team. 1402 01:27:47,640 --> 01:27:51,280 Speaker 1: But you know, he sat there and he said, well, 1403 01:27:51,479 --> 01:27:53,719 Speaker 1: how are you going to use me to our coach? 1404 01:27:54,360 --> 01:27:57,800 Speaker 1: And the coach his answer to him was, I don't 1405 01:27:57,800 --> 01:27:59,240 Speaker 1: know because I don't know who's going to be on 1406 01:27:59,320 --> 01:28:03,479 Speaker 1: the team. So it's like, okay, like free agents gonna 1407 01:28:04,040 --> 01:28:09,400 Speaker 1: say I, I can't just leave that in your hands 1408 01:28:09,439 --> 01:28:12,080 Speaker 1: and you can't answer the question. So, I mean, I 1409 01:28:12,360 --> 01:28:15,559 Speaker 1: I knew that, like things just weren't going the way 1410 01:28:15,800 --> 01:28:20,960 Speaker 1: they needed to go. And now, um, you know, now 1411 01:28:21,080 --> 01:28:23,680 Speaker 1: I realized, you know, we're coming up on the three 1412 01:28:23,800 --> 01:28:27,360 Speaker 1: year time span and the clock is taking and I'm 1413 01:28:27,400 --> 01:28:31,920 Speaker 1: going to have to make a decision on on what's 1414 01:28:31,960 --> 01:28:36,000 Speaker 1: going to happen next. And that was really hard for me. Yeah, 1415 01:28:36,080 --> 01:28:37,920 Speaker 1: I mean to have to fire your and if I'm 1416 01:28:37,960 --> 01:28:40,160 Speaker 1: not mistaken, you did it right before the trade deadline, too, right, 1417 01:28:40,200 --> 01:28:42,080 Speaker 1: you have to pull the trigger quick. So not only 1418 01:28:42,160 --> 01:28:44,320 Speaker 1: are you firing someone, but that person you're firing is 1419 01:28:44,360 --> 01:28:47,880 Speaker 1: your brother. Right And and mind you, the person that 1420 01:28:48,040 --> 01:28:51,680 Speaker 1: I used to lean on was Phil. Well, Phil is 1421 01:28:51,760 --> 01:28:54,840 Speaker 1: now with another team. I can't talk basketball with him. 1422 01:28:55,280 --> 01:28:57,599 Speaker 1: I mean, the the NBA made a sign a letter 1423 01:28:58,360 --> 01:29:01,920 Speaker 1: that we wouldn't you know, like people were complaining that, 1424 01:29:02,120 --> 01:29:06,400 Speaker 1: like it was too close. So now it's like who 1425 01:29:06,479 --> 01:29:09,680 Speaker 1: do I turn to? I turned to Magic, and I 1426 01:29:09,960 --> 01:29:13,960 Speaker 1: have a heart to heart conversation with Magic, and I said, 1427 01:29:14,160 --> 01:29:17,160 Speaker 1: am I seeing things the right way? You know, like 1428 01:29:17,400 --> 01:29:22,519 Speaker 1: you and and and having conversation with Magic is like 1429 01:29:22,840 --> 01:29:27,160 Speaker 1: talking to my dad, like meaning he taught you know, 1430 01:29:27,280 --> 01:29:29,640 Speaker 1: he was taught by my dad. Like he sees the 1431 01:29:29,800 --> 01:29:32,439 Speaker 1: things the same exact way that I do. We spoke 1432 01:29:32,560 --> 01:29:37,000 Speaker 1: the same language, and you know, he he was the 1433 01:29:37,080 --> 01:29:40,760 Speaker 1: strength that I needed at a time when I was 1434 01:29:41,120 --> 01:29:44,479 Speaker 1: really at a crossroads. But like you said, we had 1435 01:29:44,560 --> 01:29:49,040 Speaker 1: to make the decision before the trade deadline because I 1436 01:29:49,200 --> 01:29:52,560 Speaker 1: was worried that my brother was gonna crash it and 1437 01:29:52,680 --> 01:29:55,519 Speaker 1: burn it and that then we it would be that 1438 01:29:55,720 --> 01:30:00,559 Speaker 1: much harder to recover from something. So, you know, because 1439 01:30:00,600 --> 01:30:04,280 Speaker 1: there was a lot of pushback about that, we didn't 1440 01:30:04,760 --> 01:30:08,960 Speaker 1: you know, do interviews for you know, front office. And 1441 01:30:09,439 --> 01:30:11,599 Speaker 1: the thing is is that it had to be kept toping. 1442 01:30:13,680 --> 01:30:16,559 Speaker 1: So I couldn't ask permission of a team to talk 1443 01:30:16,640 --> 01:30:21,479 Speaker 1: to their assistant general manager without tipping like what's going 1444 01:30:21,560 --> 01:30:25,360 Speaker 1: on with the Lakers? So um, you know, that's that's 1445 01:30:25,400 --> 01:30:30,840 Speaker 1: when Rob was Rob Polinka. It was you know, you know, 1446 01:30:30,920 --> 01:30:34,160 Speaker 1: who who I had dealt with, and another person that 1447 01:30:34,840 --> 01:30:38,080 Speaker 1: you know, thought like Kobe thought like you know, a 1448 01:30:38,240 --> 01:30:42,160 Speaker 1: person that I understood, um, you know, was was the 1449 01:30:42,240 --> 01:30:45,920 Speaker 1: perfect person for us to bring in as general manager. 1450 01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:49,599 Speaker 1: But really it was about putting Magic at the front 1451 01:30:50,000 --> 01:30:54,559 Speaker 1: of and the top of the basketball operations, which then 1452 01:30:54,640 --> 01:30:59,040 Speaker 1: our fans knew Magic's not coming back to lose. So 1453 01:30:59,800 --> 01:31:04,519 Speaker 1: that was a key moment for me. And you know, 1454 01:31:04,640 --> 01:31:10,160 Speaker 1: of course it was met with disbelief by my brothers, 1455 01:31:10,560 --> 01:31:15,120 Speaker 1: my two oldest brothers, who didn't realize that what my 1456 01:31:15,280 --> 01:31:18,439 Speaker 1: dad did and he didn't tell any of us when 1457 01:31:18,520 --> 01:31:22,960 Speaker 1: he told me, but that that he put the power 1458 01:31:23,080 --> 01:31:27,200 Speaker 1: in my hands and that um, you know, my brother 1459 01:31:27,360 --> 01:31:31,439 Speaker 1: took me to court to try to take me out 1460 01:31:31,520 --> 01:31:36,360 Speaker 1: of um, my position. And you know that the lead 1461 01:31:36,479 --> 01:31:40,639 Speaker 1: leagues don't like that. Leagues don't like when when teams 1462 01:31:40,680 --> 01:31:45,880 Speaker 1: are in turmoil and chaos es exactly, and so it 1463 01:31:46,080 --> 01:31:48,120 Speaker 1: was kind of like we had to deal with it 1464 01:31:48,280 --> 01:31:54,240 Speaker 1: swiftly and smoothly and firmly, and that's you know, that's 1465 01:31:54,280 --> 01:31:57,599 Speaker 1: exactly what we did and turned you know, everything around 1466 01:31:58,240 --> 01:32:02,000 Speaker 1: and let people know who's in charge now and that 1467 01:32:02,320 --> 01:32:05,880 Speaker 1: was that was the turning point to get us to 1468 01:32:06,520 --> 01:32:11,639 Speaker 1: a championship that was huge. Um Magic and Rob Magic 1469 01:32:11,720 --> 01:32:14,400 Speaker 1: obviously standing by you in that in that tough transition, 1470 01:32:14,680 --> 01:32:16,479 Speaker 1: Rob coming on board and then there was being a 1471 01:32:16,520 --> 01:32:19,400 Speaker 1: little friction between them. Um, you know you spoke on 1472 01:32:19,479 --> 01:32:21,080 Speaker 1: I think that you know, there was some cracks in 1473 01:32:21,120 --> 01:32:22,960 Speaker 1: the ship and there was some leakage getting out. You 1474 01:32:23,000 --> 01:32:25,960 Speaker 1: guys were able to fix that. How tough was it 1475 01:32:26,080 --> 01:32:29,360 Speaker 1: to have knowing Magic the way you do and and 1476 01:32:29,439 --> 01:32:31,320 Speaker 1: the love you have for him and then him kind 1477 01:32:31,360 --> 01:32:33,720 Speaker 1: of stepping away publicly and then kind of have a 1478 01:32:33,800 --> 01:32:35,880 Speaker 1: whole another wrath coming at you. How tough was that 1479 01:32:35,960 --> 01:32:40,400 Speaker 1: to deal with? It? Was? It was again, you know, 1480 01:32:40,560 --> 01:32:42,439 Speaker 1: I mean you've been through a lot of ships. I mean, 1481 01:32:42,479 --> 01:32:44,120 Speaker 1: you got some nice jewelry, but you've been through a 1482 01:32:44,200 --> 01:32:47,040 Speaker 1: lot of ship to earn it well that you know, 1483 01:32:47,479 --> 01:32:52,200 Speaker 1: Like that's when when Um Magic stepped down, Like I 1484 01:32:52,320 --> 01:32:56,320 Speaker 1: had no idea that he felt that way, and Um, 1485 01:32:57,360 --> 01:33:00,519 Speaker 1: you know, I I would never want Mad to be 1486 01:33:00,920 --> 01:33:04,160 Speaker 1: in a job that he that wasn't fulfilling to him, 1487 01:33:04,479 --> 01:33:07,840 Speaker 1: or that he wasn't happy, and so I I, you know, 1488 01:33:08,880 --> 01:33:10,679 Speaker 1: I just wish he would have done it a different 1489 01:33:10,720 --> 01:33:14,320 Speaker 1: way because that it took me off guard. But now 1490 01:33:14,640 --> 01:33:17,960 Speaker 1: in retrospect, when I look back at it, it was 1491 01:33:18,160 --> 01:33:22,200 Speaker 1: very similar to that story I told earlier when when 1492 01:33:22,520 --> 01:33:26,040 Speaker 1: Magic wasn't happy with the way the coach was playing him, 1493 01:33:26,439 --> 01:33:29,160 Speaker 1: and my dad said, just just give me a you know, 1494 01:33:29,640 --> 01:33:32,519 Speaker 1: give it some time. And you know, Magic wears his 1495 01:33:32,640 --> 01:33:36,120 Speaker 1: heart on his sleeve when he feels something that's right there. 1496 01:33:36,720 --> 01:33:39,679 Speaker 1: And and so that day, it was the last game 1497 01:33:39,960 --> 01:33:45,320 Speaker 1: of our regular season, and um, I was driving to 1498 01:33:45,360 --> 01:33:48,559 Speaker 1: Staples Center, and I get a call from Tim Harris, 1499 01:33:48,640 --> 01:33:53,160 Speaker 1: who's head of our business operations, and and and I 1500 01:33:53,320 --> 01:33:56,600 Speaker 1: answered the phone because I'm late and I'm supposed to 1501 01:33:56,640 --> 01:33:58,880 Speaker 1: be at Staple Center. I'm not there yet. And I 1502 01:33:59,040 --> 01:34:02,040 Speaker 1: just answered the phone. I said, I got a flat tire. 1503 01:34:02,360 --> 01:34:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm on my way. I'll be there soon. And he 1504 01:34:04,880 --> 01:34:07,360 Speaker 1: goes turn around and I go, no, no, no, no, 1505 01:34:07,600 --> 01:34:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm okay, like I got it fixed. I'm on my way. 1506 01:34:10,320 --> 01:34:12,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to get there. And he goes, no, no, no, no, 1507 01:34:12,280 --> 01:34:15,120 Speaker 1: he goes, Magic just quit. I go, what are you 1508 01:34:15,240 --> 01:34:18,120 Speaker 1: talking about? And he goes, I don't know what's going on. 1509 01:34:18,400 --> 01:34:23,719 Speaker 1: He's on TV right now. And I said, oh, my god. 1510 01:34:24,240 --> 01:34:27,439 Speaker 1: So you know, we turn around and we convene at 1511 01:34:27,640 --> 01:34:31,760 Speaker 1: our headquarters in El Segundo and try to figure out 1512 01:34:31,800 --> 01:34:36,560 Speaker 1: what's happening. And I think, what, you know, had I 1513 01:34:36,840 --> 01:34:40,560 Speaker 1: been on time, because Magic was looking for me. And 1514 01:34:40,680 --> 01:34:43,320 Speaker 1: when he was looking for me, he you know, people 1515 01:34:43,320 --> 01:34:44,800 Speaker 1: are like, I don't know where Genie is. She's not 1516 01:34:44,920 --> 01:34:48,519 Speaker 1: here yet, I'm not in my usual spot. He walked 1517 01:34:48,640 --> 01:34:52,720 Speaker 1: by the media and that's so if I had been 1518 01:34:52,800 --> 01:34:55,840 Speaker 1: on time, I would have he probably would have, you know. 1519 01:34:56,080 --> 01:34:58,400 Speaker 1: And but he did say he was afraid to see 1520 01:34:58,439 --> 01:35:00,960 Speaker 1: me because he was come out of it because I 1521 01:35:00,960 --> 01:35:05,479 Speaker 1: would have started crying. So I get why if he 1522 01:35:05,640 --> 01:35:07,560 Speaker 1: wasn't happy, I wouldn't want him to be in a 1523 01:35:07,680 --> 01:35:10,400 Speaker 1: job where he's not happy. That's when you you you 1524 01:35:10,640 --> 01:35:13,800 Speaker 1: you want to keep your two feet on the ground 1525 01:35:13,880 --> 01:35:17,040 Speaker 1: and say, I don't really know what's happening here. And 1526 01:35:17,120 --> 01:35:21,240 Speaker 1: then the rumors and you know, it's like, you know, 1527 01:35:21,439 --> 01:35:25,320 Speaker 1: I accidentally sent an email to Magic where I was 1528 01:35:26,080 --> 01:35:28,360 Speaker 1: you know, I was really thinking I was talking to Rob, 1529 01:35:28,479 --> 01:35:30,760 Speaker 1: but I was making fun of Magic and like, I mean, 1530 01:35:31,240 --> 01:35:36,000 Speaker 1: like I never emailed with Magic, like I talked to him, right, 1531 01:35:36,400 --> 01:35:39,519 Speaker 1: it was, but I mean the rumors who were just 1532 01:35:39,680 --> 01:35:43,639 Speaker 1: like out of control, and so I knew that something 1533 01:35:43,840 --> 01:35:46,400 Speaker 1: was feeding it and that we had to kind of 1534 01:35:46,560 --> 01:35:51,200 Speaker 1: shore up, um, you know, the leaks that were taking place, 1535 01:35:51,920 --> 01:35:55,519 Speaker 1: and you know, we we got we got our feed 1536 01:35:55,600 --> 01:35:57,920 Speaker 1: on solid ground, because I mean, it's you know, you 1537 01:35:58,000 --> 01:36:00,920 Speaker 1: guys have experienced so much success, so it's almost like 1538 01:36:01,120 --> 01:36:03,439 Speaker 1: a and it's crazy to think because this is really 1539 01:36:03,520 --> 01:36:05,280 Speaker 1: your life and you've been through a lot of people 1540 01:36:05,360 --> 01:36:07,800 Speaker 1: were happy to see the Lakers struggle because you guys 1541 01:36:07,840 --> 01:36:10,440 Speaker 1: have done so fucking well and win so many championships, 1542 01:36:10,479 --> 01:36:11,960 Speaker 1: so to see, oh they are a little bit normal. 1543 01:36:12,120 --> 01:36:13,920 Speaker 1: They do have some leaks in the ship. Like people 1544 01:36:14,080 --> 01:36:16,120 Speaker 1: really enjoyed that time, you know. And me, as someone 1545 01:36:16,160 --> 01:36:18,320 Speaker 1: who played as long as I played, always had a 1546 01:36:18,360 --> 01:36:20,320 Speaker 1: special place in my heart for your organization because I 1547 01:36:20,360 --> 01:36:22,280 Speaker 1: grew up watching magic you with my favorite player, my 1548 01:36:22,320 --> 01:36:24,120 Speaker 1: favorite team. It was just kind of hard to see 1549 01:36:24,240 --> 01:36:26,960 Speaker 1: where you guys were at currently. Obviously I didn't know 1550 01:36:27,120 --> 01:36:29,360 Speaker 1: the behind the scene situation. I'm just getting done playing. 1551 01:36:29,360 --> 01:36:31,680 Speaker 1: But it's just like it looks like a lot, but 1552 01:36:32,439 --> 01:36:34,720 Speaker 1: you guys never stayed down long, is is the thing, 1553 01:36:35,000 --> 01:36:36,800 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? And that's obviously a hat 1554 01:36:36,840 --> 01:36:38,360 Speaker 1: off to you because you've kind of been on this 1555 01:36:38,560 --> 01:36:41,200 Speaker 1: this journey the whole entire time. Well, I you know, 1556 01:36:41,400 --> 01:36:44,040 Speaker 1: I just I went back to the way my dad 1557 01:36:44,360 --> 01:36:47,519 Speaker 1: ran the team, and like it didn't mean, you know, 1558 01:36:47,800 --> 01:36:50,720 Speaker 1: my dad didn't win every single year, but it's like 1559 01:36:51,120 --> 01:36:55,040 Speaker 1: you you you have to get things in the right order. 1560 01:36:55,640 --> 01:36:59,640 Speaker 1: And um, you know, we were we were all over 1561 01:36:59,720 --> 01:37:03,720 Speaker 1: the place, and you know now, and I wouldn't. I 1562 01:37:03,760 --> 01:37:07,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't have faulted after Magic stipped down. I wouldn't have 1563 01:37:07,920 --> 01:37:11,120 Speaker 1: faulted Lebron coming back and saying, you know, this isn't 1564 01:37:11,200 --> 01:37:14,519 Speaker 1: what I signed up for, because Magic was a big 1565 01:37:14,600 --> 01:37:17,800 Speaker 1: reason why Lebron came to the Lakers to begin with. 1566 01:37:18,720 --> 01:37:21,120 Speaker 1: Lebron wasn't going to waste the last few years of 1567 01:37:21,240 --> 01:37:24,200 Speaker 1: his career being in a place that didn't know what 1568 01:37:24,360 --> 01:37:27,080 Speaker 1: it was doing. And so I would you know, he 1569 01:37:27,560 --> 01:37:30,880 Speaker 1: could have easily said, you know, I want out, you know, 1570 01:37:31,040 --> 01:37:34,519 Speaker 1: I want to go somewhere else. Um, but instead it 1571 01:37:34,640 --> 01:37:37,760 Speaker 1: was like he's he stood even with you deeper he 1572 01:37:37,880 --> 01:37:40,120 Speaker 1: was in We'll talk to us about that process. I mean, 1573 01:37:40,160 --> 01:37:42,800 Speaker 1: you guys pull off one of the biggest free age 1574 01:37:42,800 --> 01:37:44,360 Speaker 1: signings in the history of the game. You know, you 1575 01:37:44,400 --> 01:37:47,280 Speaker 1: get Lebron James to come to the Los Angeles Laker. 1576 01:37:47,400 --> 01:37:49,880 Speaker 1: It seems like a match bade in heaven, but it 1577 01:37:49,960 --> 01:37:55,040 Speaker 1: really happened. It did, And like I said, I value 1578 01:37:55,120 --> 01:37:59,639 Speaker 1: a player's career because it is it is. It's such 1579 01:37:59,680 --> 01:38:02,880 Speaker 1: a small all amount of time that a player can be, um, 1580 01:38:03,360 --> 01:38:06,560 Speaker 1: you know, playing at his top level. And you know, 1581 01:38:07,000 --> 01:38:12,080 Speaker 1: we we had to really you know, I'll tell the 1582 01:38:12,160 --> 01:38:15,759 Speaker 1: story about you know, my dad was a great poker player. 1583 01:38:15,880 --> 01:38:19,040 Speaker 1: He was actually ranked on the World Poker Tour and 1584 01:38:19,640 --> 01:38:22,160 Speaker 1: he would always try to get me to play poker. 1585 01:38:22,240 --> 01:38:25,200 Speaker 1: He tried to teach me the game. And I was 1586 01:38:25,320 --> 01:38:28,880 Speaker 1: a terrible poker player because I can't bluff. I can't 1587 01:38:29,080 --> 01:38:31,840 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just not good that way. And I'd 1588 01:38:31,840 --> 01:38:34,920 Speaker 1: get frustrated and then he get frustrated with me and 1589 01:38:35,200 --> 01:38:37,720 Speaker 1: he goes, he goes, I want you to know why 1590 01:38:37,760 --> 01:38:41,040 Speaker 1: I'm I'm trying to teach you this game, he goes. 1591 01:38:41,200 --> 01:38:45,960 Speaker 1: People think that, you know, poker's like, you know, it's 1592 01:38:46,000 --> 01:38:48,719 Speaker 1: a lot of fun, but it really is about stamina, 1593 01:38:49,080 --> 01:38:53,040 Speaker 1: and it's about like hanging in there until you get 1594 01:38:53,120 --> 01:38:56,720 Speaker 1: the cards. And most people don't have the patience to 1595 01:38:56,840 --> 01:39:00,400 Speaker 1: wait for the cards. He said. I know you have patients. 1596 01:39:00,479 --> 01:39:03,360 Speaker 1: I know you have perseverance, he said, but when you 1597 01:39:03,520 --> 01:39:06,519 Speaker 1: get the cards, you have to be able to go 1598 01:39:06,840 --> 01:39:11,080 Speaker 1: from zero to a hundred. And I'm not sure you 1599 01:39:11,200 --> 01:39:14,680 Speaker 1: can do that. I'm not sure that's in your personality 1600 01:39:14,960 --> 01:39:18,880 Speaker 1: to do that. And you know, it's like now, we 1601 01:39:19,400 --> 01:39:24,240 Speaker 1: we had Lebron and we had assets you in and 1602 01:39:24,360 --> 01:39:28,160 Speaker 1: get you know, a player like Anthony Davis and and 1603 01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:32,760 Speaker 1: that was really really difficult for me because I get attached, 1604 01:39:33,560 --> 01:39:37,479 Speaker 1: especially those young players, right. You know, but in order 1605 01:39:37,560 --> 01:39:39,479 Speaker 1: to get a great talent, you have to give up 1606 01:39:39,560 --> 01:39:42,360 Speaker 1: great talent. So I like to think that I have 1607 01:39:42,560 --> 01:39:45,920 Speaker 1: that that that gene that he was talking about what 1608 01:39:46,040 --> 01:39:49,959 Speaker 1: he was looking for. Talk to me about what Lebron 1609 01:39:51,400 --> 01:39:54,320 Speaker 1: the man has meant to your guys organization. Obviously, he 1610 01:39:54,520 --> 01:39:57,360 Speaker 1: like I said, he weathered the storm with magic, leaving 1611 01:39:58,280 --> 01:40:00,840 Speaker 1: a bad season, trades up and a lot of stuff 1612 01:40:00,920 --> 01:40:03,479 Speaker 1: is going on. You guys are able to get a d. 1613 01:40:03,640 --> 01:40:05,479 Speaker 1: But he kind of seemed like, from the outside looking in, 1614 01:40:05,520 --> 01:40:07,400 Speaker 1: it looks like he's kind of we're never going to 1615 01:40:07,479 --> 01:40:09,400 Speaker 1: get over Kobe's passing. But I think he kind of 1616 01:40:09,520 --> 01:40:12,439 Speaker 1: eased the passing um he was able to help bring 1617 01:40:12,520 --> 01:40:15,280 Speaker 1: a title back this past year. What is he just 1618 01:40:15,400 --> 01:40:18,320 Speaker 1: meant to the Laker brand and what does he meant 1619 01:40:18,360 --> 01:40:22,120 Speaker 1: to you as a person? When he signed with um, 1620 01:40:22,520 --> 01:40:26,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers, there were some people that, um, you know 1621 01:40:26,680 --> 01:40:30,600 Speaker 1: put up murals and some some people in life l 1622 01:40:30,640 --> 01:40:32,840 Speaker 1: A people don't play. That's the one thing. They're die 1623 01:40:32,960 --> 01:40:35,920 Speaker 1: hard Dodger Laker fans. But Kobe is God. So for 1624 01:40:36,160 --> 01:40:38,240 Speaker 1: for Lebron to come in right away and and and 1625 01:40:38,560 --> 01:40:41,679 Speaker 1: be muraled like you know, some some graats like Laker 1626 01:40:41,720 --> 01:40:43,720 Speaker 1: fans were having. He had to earn that right. If 1627 01:40:43,760 --> 01:40:45,680 Speaker 1: you're a Laker fan, you have to be happy that 1628 01:40:45,800 --> 01:40:49,519 Speaker 1: he's here, like he's coming to to us Laker fans. 1629 01:40:49,840 --> 01:40:53,080 Speaker 1: So I didn't understand that. But Um, you know, like 1630 01:40:53,240 --> 01:40:56,720 Speaker 1: you said, it's it's you know, people have you have 1631 01:40:56,840 --> 01:41:01,760 Speaker 1: to earn your your love here. End he did. I mean, 1632 01:41:01,880 --> 01:41:06,160 Speaker 1: he he did exactly what he said he would do. UM. 1633 01:41:06,880 --> 01:41:09,519 Speaker 1: And you know he wanted to lead this team to 1634 01:41:09,600 --> 01:41:14,920 Speaker 1: a championship. Um. He's fearless. UM. And I think in 1635 01:41:15,080 --> 01:41:18,760 Speaker 1: the times the social unrest of last summer, I was 1636 01:41:18,960 --> 01:41:25,360 Speaker 1: really um just so impressed with his composure and his 1637 01:41:25,520 --> 01:41:29,280 Speaker 1: purpose in the things that he said. And one of 1638 01:41:29,439 --> 01:41:34,400 Speaker 1: his big campaigns was to get Arena's open to be 1639 01:41:34,520 --> 01:41:39,120 Speaker 1: voting centers and not. I didn't really understand like how 1640 01:41:39,439 --> 01:41:41,760 Speaker 1: much of a difference that would make, but it did. 1641 01:41:42,160 --> 01:41:45,639 Speaker 1: And you know, he he's not one to back down 1642 01:41:46,000 --> 01:41:50,200 Speaker 1: from a challenge. Um, And I like to say he's 1643 01:41:50,240 --> 01:41:52,840 Speaker 1: like the closest thing to a superhero I've ever met 1644 01:41:53,560 --> 01:41:57,599 Speaker 1: in that he is so powerful and strong and smart, 1645 01:41:58,360 --> 01:42:02,959 Speaker 1: and but he does things for the good and everybody 1646 01:42:03,040 --> 01:42:05,439 Speaker 1: yet right, Yeah, he's kind of like the people's superstar. 1647 01:42:05,600 --> 01:42:08,040 Speaker 1: I mean, he Cob was a superstar, but he wasn't. 1648 01:42:08,200 --> 01:42:10,640 Speaker 1: It wasn't really the time to really kind of be 1649 01:42:10,840 --> 01:42:12,519 Speaker 1: out aspen out. But I don't know if that's even 1650 01:42:12,560 --> 01:42:15,599 Speaker 1: COB's personality, but that's something Lebron embraces and he talks 1651 01:42:15,640 --> 01:42:17,880 Speaker 1: and I remember it with the Donald Stirleing situation he 1652 01:42:18,040 --> 01:42:19,760 Speaker 1: was in Miami, if I'm not mistaken, at the time, 1653 01:42:19,800 --> 01:42:22,439 Speaker 1: and he was very outspoken that we can't stand for this, 1654 01:42:22,680 --> 01:42:23,880 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, And that was kind of 1655 01:42:23,880 --> 01:42:28,280 Speaker 1: the beginning of athletes speaking about stuff that outside of 1656 01:42:28,280 --> 01:42:30,200 Speaker 1: sports that really mattered, and he kind of took that 1657 01:42:30,320 --> 01:42:32,760 Speaker 1: braut on. But since then, I mean, obviously, like you said, 1658 01:42:32,800 --> 01:42:35,280 Speaker 1: he's he's been a superhero, opening schools and and and 1659 01:42:35,439 --> 01:42:38,080 Speaker 1: and coming out here and standing for the people, and 1660 01:42:38,479 --> 01:42:41,040 Speaker 1: and that's what I think. To me, he's an amazing 1661 01:42:41,080 --> 01:42:42,679 Speaker 1: and one of the grades will ever see. But he's 1662 01:42:42,760 --> 01:42:45,080 Speaker 1: just as powerful off the court. And I love the 1663 01:42:45,120 --> 01:42:46,760 Speaker 1: off the court. I mean, I love watching him, but 1664 01:42:46,920 --> 01:42:49,639 Speaker 1: the power he has off the court can change the world. 1665 01:42:49,680 --> 01:42:54,000 Speaker 1: To be honest with you, he's made me stronger. Cobe 1666 01:42:54,720 --> 01:42:58,640 Speaker 1: talked to Lebron the night before he passed, obviously congratulating 1667 01:42:58,680 --> 01:43:01,479 Speaker 1: him on a on a mile stone. Uh, just shows 1668 01:43:01,520 --> 01:43:03,680 Speaker 1: what kind of character he has. But what did that 1669 01:43:03,920 --> 01:43:06,840 Speaker 1: mean to you to know that they had a little 1670 01:43:06,880 --> 01:43:09,479 Speaker 1: bit of, you know, back and forth on behalf of 1671 01:43:09,600 --> 01:43:13,960 Speaker 1: your franchise before he was gone. Kobe, Um was such 1672 01:43:14,040 --> 01:43:18,680 Speaker 1: a you know he was he was a sort of 1673 01:43:18,960 --> 01:43:21,439 Speaker 1: source of strength for me. And you know, when I 1674 01:43:21,640 --> 01:43:24,920 Speaker 1: had to go through what I went through with my brother, Um, 1675 01:43:25,360 --> 01:43:30,240 Speaker 1: I met Kobe for lunch and I talked to him about, 1676 01:43:31,120 --> 01:43:34,320 Speaker 1: you know, what I was thinking of doing, and um, 1677 01:43:35,000 --> 01:43:39,240 Speaker 1: he said, you know, he goes if you're if you're 1678 01:43:39,280 --> 01:43:41,000 Speaker 1: if this is something you're really going to do, you 1679 01:43:41,120 --> 01:43:46,240 Speaker 1: have to go all the way and it was very 1680 01:43:46,320 --> 01:43:50,920 Speaker 1: Game of Thrones like which is and and the strategy. 1681 01:43:51,040 --> 01:43:54,920 Speaker 1: So you know, after it all happened, because it happened quickly, 1682 01:43:55,520 --> 01:43:59,640 Speaker 1: he just texted me the emoji of you know, the 1683 01:43:59,760 --> 01:44:04,560 Speaker 1: moth or of Dragons. That was it. That was his 1684 01:44:04,720 --> 01:44:09,160 Speaker 1: message to me, and um, forever, the mission, um for 1685 01:44:09,320 --> 01:44:14,000 Speaker 1: me will be about Kobe's legacy. And you know, he 1686 01:44:14,520 --> 01:44:16,720 Speaker 1: set the bar for what it means to be a 1687 01:44:16,800 --> 01:44:19,760 Speaker 1: Laker and we're gonna we're going to live up to that. 1688 01:44:20,479 --> 01:44:25,280 Speaker 1: And um, you know that we have so many ways 1689 01:44:25,360 --> 01:44:28,040 Speaker 1: that we're going to be celebrating him. He's going into 1690 01:44:28,040 --> 01:44:32,000 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame next month, and um, you know, 1691 01:44:32,760 --> 01:44:37,960 Speaker 1: I you know where his number and and gigs number, um, 1692 01:44:38,280 --> 01:44:40,320 Speaker 1: and you know he was coming to games with Gig 1693 01:44:40,800 --> 01:44:45,120 Speaker 1: was really so adorable, you know, the father father daughter. 1694 01:44:46,000 --> 01:44:49,000 Speaker 1: But I mean that's a similar situation with you. Yeah, exactly, 1695 01:44:49,280 --> 01:44:53,120 Speaker 1: And so he's going to be missed forever. It's just 1696 01:44:56,520 --> 01:45:00,959 Speaker 1: you know what I wish though, I wish more owners 1697 01:45:01,840 --> 01:45:06,040 Speaker 1: of teams could be as transparent as you are, you know, 1698 01:45:06,280 --> 01:45:08,360 Speaker 1: because it will make the relationships with the players so 1699 01:45:08,479 --> 01:45:10,920 Speaker 1: much better. But it's real because the relationship and we 1700 01:45:11,000 --> 01:45:13,479 Speaker 1: know we will tell you too when my thoughts in 1701 01:45:13,520 --> 01:45:15,599 Speaker 1: your career. I can't tell you two or three honors 1702 01:45:15,640 --> 01:45:18,160 Speaker 1: that I had a conversation with you, know what I mean? 1703 01:45:18,320 --> 01:45:20,600 Speaker 1: And so I know for Kobe and other players and 1704 01:45:20,640 --> 01:45:22,439 Speaker 1: you and the players around your organization that mean a 1705 01:45:22,479 --> 01:45:24,200 Speaker 1: lot to them and then make them want to work 1706 01:45:24,240 --> 01:45:27,240 Speaker 1: hard for you, you know, So I commend you, and 1707 01:45:27,360 --> 01:45:29,280 Speaker 1: especially being a woman, I commend you on the way 1708 01:45:29,320 --> 01:45:32,320 Speaker 1: you you you you relate to your players and the 1709 01:45:32,360 --> 01:45:34,640 Speaker 1: way you get into their lives and care so much 1710 01:45:34,720 --> 01:45:37,439 Speaker 1: that mean a lot on the outside looking in and 1711 01:45:37,640 --> 01:45:40,760 Speaker 1: and we and I would say, because I've watched, you know, 1712 01:45:41,160 --> 01:45:44,800 Speaker 1: the ownership turnover in the league, and I would say, 1713 01:45:44,920 --> 01:45:48,400 Speaker 1: there's now a generation of owners that are my age 1714 01:45:48,439 --> 01:45:52,920 Speaker 1: and younger who are doing yeah, doing things different and 1715 01:45:53,200 --> 01:45:57,559 Speaker 1: and are open and see family environment and like you said, 1716 01:45:57,600 --> 01:45:59,679 Speaker 1: it's not obviously it's a business, but it's a family, 1717 01:46:00,000 --> 01:46:01,439 Speaker 1: know what I mean. And like Jack just touched on, 1718 01:46:01,520 --> 01:46:04,000 Speaker 1: I mean, if I like, if I know you personally, 1719 01:46:04,040 --> 01:46:05,880 Speaker 1: like if I know Jennie really has my back, I'm 1720 01:46:05,880 --> 01:46:07,920 Speaker 1: gonna do whatever it takes to make Jeannie's life easier. 1721 01:46:07,960 --> 01:46:09,760 Speaker 1: And that means being a great person on the court 1722 01:46:09,800 --> 01:46:11,240 Speaker 1: and off the court. But like I said, if there's 1723 01:46:11,240 --> 01:46:12,840 Speaker 1: a disconnection there, it's just a right let me go 1724 01:46:12,920 --> 01:46:14,760 Speaker 1: do my job instead of like, let me go play 1725 01:46:14,800 --> 01:46:17,840 Speaker 1: for my family. But one thing that that that you 1726 01:46:18,000 --> 01:46:21,160 Speaker 1: may not even realize that other being a Laker is 1727 01:46:21,200 --> 01:46:24,600 Speaker 1: so much more than basketball, so much more than basketball. 1728 01:46:24,720 --> 01:46:27,920 Speaker 1: And you've seen some great players come and and and 1729 01:46:28,160 --> 01:46:30,280 Speaker 1: put that Laker for uniform on and they're not able 1730 01:46:30,360 --> 01:46:33,200 Speaker 1: to live up to the standard because I think there's 1731 01:46:33,320 --> 01:46:36,479 Speaker 1: so much. Unless you've been in this, you don't understand 1732 01:46:36,479 --> 01:46:39,599 Speaker 1: the pressure of constantly even when you guys weren't doing well, 1733 01:46:39,640 --> 01:46:42,320 Speaker 1: you guys are still the top story when you're doing Yeah, 1734 01:46:42,360 --> 01:46:44,080 Speaker 1: when you're doing well, you're the top story. When you're 1735 01:46:44,120 --> 01:46:46,360 Speaker 1: not doing all the top story. When something bad happens, 1736 01:46:46,400 --> 01:46:48,760 Speaker 1: it's almost celebrated because you guys are so good that 1737 01:46:48,840 --> 01:46:50,479 Speaker 1: they're like they like to kind of find a chink 1738 01:46:50,520 --> 01:46:53,960 Speaker 1: in the armor. I mean, how what what do you 1739 01:46:54,040 --> 01:46:56,559 Speaker 1: do to relax? Do you do? I need to teach 1740 01:46:56,560 --> 01:46:59,320 Speaker 1: you how to smoke weed? I don't feel already like yeah, 1741 01:46:59,439 --> 01:47:02,800 Speaker 1: like what if? What what is? What is? What is? 1742 01:47:03,080 --> 01:47:05,000 Speaker 1: Before we get the quick hitters, we got about five 1743 01:47:05,080 --> 01:47:06,680 Speaker 1: questions we're gonna end it. But what do you do 1744 01:47:06,920 --> 01:47:09,800 Speaker 1: to relax? Because, like I said, you've had a hell 1745 01:47:09,880 --> 01:47:13,240 Speaker 1: of a life by journey and professional sports ups and downs, 1746 01:47:13,760 --> 01:47:16,000 Speaker 1: had a lot of strong role models in your life. 1747 01:47:16,040 --> 01:47:18,439 Speaker 1: You've learned a lot, you've showed, you've taught people a lot. 1748 01:47:18,520 --> 01:47:20,960 Speaker 1: But what do you do to relax? I have a dog, 1749 01:47:21,240 --> 01:47:26,400 Speaker 1: so that helps. And I, you know, took a comedy 1750 01:47:26,960 --> 01:47:30,400 Speaker 1: course and how to do stand up comedy. And not 1751 01:47:30,600 --> 01:47:33,280 Speaker 1: that I'm funny, but you know I like doing different 1752 01:47:33,360 --> 01:47:37,360 Speaker 1: things like trying um and you know, yesterday I got 1753 01:47:37,439 --> 01:47:40,439 Speaker 1: to go to the movies. You know that that was 1754 01:47:40,520 --> 01:47:42,720 Speaker 1: taken away from us for a year, and so I 1755 01:47:42,840 --> 01:47:48,080 Speaker 1: got to see Godzilla, which is like like just you 1756 01:47:48,160 --> 01:47:50,639 Speaker 1: know that just you know, takes your mind somewhere else 1757 01:47:50,720 --> 01:47:53,639 Speaker 1: for a couple of hours. And I live a pretty 1758 01:47:53,960 --> 01:47:59,960 Speaker 1: um simple life and you know, enjoy friendships and compete 1759 01:48:00,000 --> 01:48:03,639 Speaker 1: eating and you know, it's it's hard like when when 1760 01:48:03,680 --> 01:48:07,120 Speaker 1: we talk about like you know, wanting owners to be 1761 01:48:07,280 --> 01:48:11,280 Speaker 1: more transparent and and you know it doesn't mean that 1762 01:48:11,439 --> 01:48:14,919 Speaker 1: we're soft, you know, right, I mean there is nobody 1763 01:48:15,160 --> 01:48:18,280 Speaker 1: I like to be better than you know, Michael Jordan's 1764 01:48:18,360 --> 01:48:22,320 Speaker 1: with Charlotte or with you know, the Boston Celtics or whoever. 1765 01:48:22,600 --> 01:48:25,400 Speaker 1: It's like, but you have to respect your opponent. And 1766 01:48:25,760 --> 01:48:30,040 Speaker 1: and you know, when I accepted the trophy, um, I 1767 01:48:30,560 --> 01:48:34,360 Speaker 1: talked about each team that we met along the way 1768 01:48:34,560 --> 01:48:38,240 Speaker 1: and thanked them for for bringing out the best in us. 1769 01:48:38,880 --> 01:48:42,160 Speaker 1: And um, you know, I think that's it. It's really 1770 01:48:42,240 --> 01:48:45,719 Speaker 1: important and sports has to keep that. That's the lesson 1771 01:48:45,800 --> 01:48:48,760 Speaker 1: that we want our children to know is that you know, 1772 01:48:49,160 --> 01:48:53,479 Speaker 1: you you appreciate the person that competes with you because 1773 01:48:53,560 --> 01:48:56,280 Speaker 1: that allows you to be the best that you can be. 1774 01:48:56,720 --> 01:48:59,120 Speaker 1: And there has to be that respect of your opponent. 1775 01:48:59,680 --> 01:49:04,240 Speaker 1: And I'm not I'm not for you know, dividing, um, 1776 01:49:05,560 --> 01:49:08,720 Speaker 1: you know, in hating, and you know, I don't want 1777 01:49:08,760 --> 01:49:13,240 Speaker 1: to see another team you know, engulfed in fire. You 1778 01:49:13,320 --> 01:49:16,000 Speaker 1: know it's it's but you know, I want them to 1779 01:49:16,080 --> 01:49:19,080 Speaker 1: bring their best game to us, you know, because then 1780 01:49:19,200 --> 01:49:21,400 Speaker 1: we're not just to the nets to bring it on 1781 01:49:26,280 --> 01:49:29,400 Speaker 1: from Brooklyn out here. Well it's like, you know, Golden 1782 01:49:29,479 --> 01:49:32,880 Speaker 1: State had you know, a great run and they have 1783 01:49:33,000 --> 01:49:36,600 Speaker 1: great players and great you know front office, and you 1784 01:49:36,680 --> 01:49:40,600 Speaker 1: know they set are higher and like, you know, I 1785 01:49:40,840 --> 01:49:43,559 Speaker 1: just I really appreciate when teams do that, and they 1786 01:49:43,800 --> 01:49:46,799 Speaker 1: and that that they know how to create a roster 1787 01:49:47,120 --> 01:49:50,080 Speaker 1: that compliments each other, and that that they're not just 1788 01:49:50,240 --> 01:49:52,519 Speaker 1: spending money to spend money like you're going to buy 1789 01:49:52,560 --> 01:49:55,680 Speaker 1: a championship, because you cannot buy a championship. But it 1790 01:49:55,760 --> 01:49:59,080 Speaker 1: doesn't happen, all right, Well, quick hitters, first thing to 1791 01:49:59,200 --> 01:50:02,240 Speaker 1: come to mind. Let us know, um, if you can 1792 01:50:02,280 --> 01:50:04,960 Speaker 1: go back one night in Laker history and relive it again, 1793 01:50:05,560 --> 01:50:11,439 Speaker 1: which moment would it be and why? Um? So, men, 1794 01:50:11,479 --> 01:50:17,479 Speaker 1: I'm surprised to remember half the stuff at Memories A one, Um, 1795 01:50:17,720 --> 01:50:21,719 Speaker 1: I guess the the you know, two thousand championship winning 1796 01:50:21,920 --> 01:50:26,680 Speaker 1: at Staples Center, and and that that um parade that 1797 01:50:26,840 --> 01:50:30,360 Speaker 1: we had because Staples Center was just built and there 1798 01:50:30,479 --> 01:50:33,639 Speaker 1: was nothing around it, so you know, we had hundreds 1799 01:50:33,720 --> 01:50:36,760 Speaker 1: of thousands of people as far as the eye can see. 1800 01:50:37,080 --> 01:50:40,799 Speaker 1: That still gives in jails. So five most important Lakers 1801 01:50:41,240 --> 01:50:50,120 Speaker 1: all important or five most important Lakers of all time? Okay, 1802 01:50:50,200 --> 01:50:52,519 Speaker 1: well then then you know you have to start with 1803 01:50:52,840 --> 01:51:01,160 Speaker 1: Kareem and you know Kobe um and Lebron and oh 1804 01:51:01,439 --> 01:51:06,479 Speaker 1: this is hard magic, yes, of course, Matty, My magic 1805 01:51:06,600 --> 01:51:09,560 Speaker 1: might be number one. No. A. Kareem I don't know 1806 01:51:09,840 --> 01:51:13,040 Speaker 1: like they like that. It's that's that's it's so hard. 1807 01:51:14,360 --> 01:51:23,920 Speaker 1: Yeah and important and Phil what does he count? There? 1808 01:51:24,000 --> 01:51:32,000 Speaker 1: You go? Um, top five Laker celebrity fans. Um, let's 1809 01:51:32,000 --> 01:51:36,679 Speaker 1: see Jack Nicholson, Diane Cannon. There's a reason he sits 1810 01:51:36,760 --> 01:51:39,439 Speaker 1: next to the visiting bench by the way right. It's 1811 01:51:39,520 --> 01:51:44,120 Speaker 1: like you nest never know what Jack's thinking. Diane Cannon. Um, 1812 01:51:45,960 --> 01:51:51,320 Speaker 1: you know I'm gonna throw out. Um, well, Denzel watched, Yeah, 1813 01:51:51,360 --> 01:51:53,720 Speaker 1: he said he sits right near me, so I get 1814 01:51:53,800 --> 01:51:57,639 Speaker 1: to see Denzel. Um, we need to see more of him. Um. 1815 01:51:58,880 --> 01:52:05,360 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, Um what about Andy Andy Garcia, He's fantastic. Um. 1816 01:52:06,080 --> 01:52:11,400 Speaker 1: You know. Then there's like Leonardo DiCaprio and um Arsenio 1817 01:52:11,560 --> 01:52:15,840 Speaker 1: Hall And I mean, yeah, we can go on all day, 1818 01:52:15,960 --> 01:52:22,840 Speaker 1: like different different eras to top five Lake Revillain opponents. 1819 01:52:25,280 --> 01:52:33,800 Speaker 1: Let's see Boston, Boston, Boston, Boston. I mean I think 1820 01:52:33,840 --> 01:52:38,719 Speaker 1: you have to put in Detroit, um and the seventies 1821 01:52:38,760 --> 01:52:44,640 Speaker 1: sixers and um, you know, I like there is that 1822 01:52:44,840 --> 01:52:47,760 Speaker 1: carry over with the Knicks a little bit, but you 1823 01:52:47,840 --> 01:52:50,200 Speaker 1: know we need there. You know, they're not going in 1824 01:52:50,280 --> 01:52:53,280 Speaker 1: the right direction, so maybe the nixt San Antonio stopped 1825 01:52:53,280 --> 01:52:58,600 Speaker 1: the Yeah, I'm sorry, san Antonio, I forgot about ge Is. 1826 01:52:58,720 --> 01:53:02,120 Speaker 1: It's it's too many. There's too many phoenix like yeah, 1827 01:53:02,760 --> 01:53:07,240 Speaker 1: five dinner guests dead or alive, you plus five people 1828 01:53:07,320 --> 01:53:14,720 Speaker 1: at a dinner table discussing whatever. Oh wow, like discussing whatever. Um, 1829 01:53:15,320 --> 01:53:17,840 Speaker 1: you know, who I really regret that I didn't get 1830 01:53:17,880 --> 01:53:23,000 Speaker 1: to know was Wilt Chamberlain. Um, and gosh, you know 1831 01:53:23,160 --> 01:53:28,759 Speaker 1: like John Belushi for a comedy and Frank Sinatra music 1832 01:53:29,560 --> 01:53:31,680 Speaker 1: The hell of a table? So far three you got 1833 01:53:31,760 --> 01:53:38,640 Speaker 1: two more? Um, let's see. Oh gosh, Um, I don't know. 1834 01:53:38,760 --> 01:53:41,200 Speaker 1: You guys should have given me these to really think about. 1835 01:53:41,240 --> 01:53:44,880 Speaker 1: I have so much experience, it's like it's not um 1836 01:53:46,439 --> 01:53:52,760 Speaker 1: you know, Um, I guess I don't know your dad 1837 01:53:52,840 --> 01:53:56,599 Speaker 1: and cove around that up. Well, yeah, I saw one 1838 01:53:56,680 --> 01:53:59,320 Speaker 1: night in Miami. Have you seen that movie? I would 1839 01:53:59,360 --> 01:54:02,400 Speaker 1: love to have a movie like that where you you 1840 01:54:02,560 --> 01:54:05,400 Speaker 1: have you know, people like my dad and Kobe and 1841 01:54:06,520 --> 01:54:15,439 Speaker 1: you know, just talking about Yeah, last question, who do 1842 01:54:15,560 --> 01:54:17,680 Speaker 1: you want to see on all the smoke? You have 1843 01:54:17,800 --> 01:54:20,439 Speaker 1: to help us with your answer? Magic Johnson? Like you said, 1844 01:54:20,479 --> 01:54:26,920 Speaker 1: you know you haven't had magic. Magic, Okay, you have 1845 01:54:27,040 --> 01:54:29,280 Speaker 1: to help us get magic Genie, I will, I will 1846 01:54:29,320 --> 01:54:34,200 Speaker 1: put in my good word if that means anything. He 1847 01:54:34,640 --> 01:54:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, he's very popular. He's very busy, so are you. 1848 01:54:39,800 --> 01:54:41,840 Speaker 1: Actually I want to do one last question. When it's 1849 01:54:41,880 --> 01:54:44,160 Speaker 1: all said and done, when they say, Genie Buss, what 1850 01:54:44,160 --> 01:54:48,360 Speaker 1: do you want them to remember? UM, I want them 1851 01:54:48,600 --> 01:55:01,240 Speaker 1: to imagine saying, you know, just protect in the Lakers legacy. 1852 01:55:01,880 --> 01:55:04,320 Speaker 1: You've done a beautiful job. Well, Genie, we want to 1853 01:55:04,360 --> 01:55:06,880 Speaker 1: thank you. Like that said, very busy, but we look 1854 01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:08,360 Speaker 1: up to you, We love you, we admire you, we 1855 01:55:08,440 --> 01:55:11,080 Speaker 1: appreciate all you've been through and all you continue to do. 1856 01:55:11,200 --> 01:55:13,200 Speaker 1: Especially like I said, I'm a lifelong Lakor fan. So 1857 01:55:13,280 --> 01:55:15,120 Speaker 1: getting a chance to put on that jersey and get 1858 01:55:15,160 --> 01:55:17,600 Speaker 1: to know you as a person, not as management but 1859 01:55:17,720 --> 01:55:20,480 Speaker 1: as a genie, UM, I definitely appreciate that. So man, 1860 01:55:20,520 --> 01:55:23,040 Speaker 1: thank you for your time and continue to the best 1861 01:55:23,080 --> 01:55:25,120 Speaker 1: of luck for you and your team and your family. 1862 01:55:26,360 --> 01:55:29,800 Speaker 1: I knew you was a sweetheart. Yeah, well that's a wrap. 1863 01:55:30,200 --> 01:55:33,000 Speaker 1: Thank you, Genie Bus for your time. You can catch 1864 01:55:33,080 --> 01:55:36,400 Speaker 1: this on Showtime Basketball, YouTube and the I Heart platform 1865 01:55:36,480 --> 01:55:38,400 Speaker 1: Black Effects. We'll see you all next week. I all 1866 01:55:38,440 --> 01:55:42,800 Speaker 1: love it. This is all a smoke a production of 1867 01:55:42,880 --> 01:55:45,720 Speaker 1: the Black Effect and our heart Radio and partnership with 1868 01:55:45,800 --> 01:55:46,280 Speaker 1: Showtime