Photo Credit: Glenn James/NBAE
The basketball news coming out of L.A. lately has been dominated by the Donald Sterling fiasco. But there’s another headline involving the top brass of an L.A. basketball team: The Lakers still don’t have a coach.
Tuesday it was announced that University of North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was added to the list of candidates. He joins the rumor mill that includes other college coaches such as his crosstown rival Mike Krzyewski of Duke, Billy Donovan of Florida, John Calipari of Kentucky, and Kevin Ollie of NCAA title-winning UConn. The list of former NBA coaches who may get a call from the 213 area code soon include Byron Scott, George Karl, Lionel Hollins, and Jeff and/or Stan Van Gundy. Recently fired Mark Jackson is likely expected to also be added to the mix.
The Laker’s job became open after Mike D’Antoni stepped down on April 30th after two seasons at the helm. Sports franchises, for the large part, are cyclical. The Lakers have been the exception, not the rule. Since Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979, the team won 10 NBA Championships and suffered just three losing seasons during his 34-year tenure until his passing in February 2013. The list of coaches to work under Buss included Phil Jackson and Pat Riley (two of the greatest ever) as well as Paul Westhead, who won a championship in Buss’ first year as owner, and Del Harris, who won Coach of the Year in 1994-95.
But the Staples Center has been quieter since the passing of Buss. Ownership of the team fell to Buss’ heirs—daughter Jeanie and son Jim acquiring the majority of the stake—and the team went just 27-55 this season, their worst in more than 50 years. It started with the hiring of D’Antoni instead of Jackson, now president of the New York Knicks. Then there was the failure to keep Dwight Howard despite putting up billboards around L.A. pleading with him to stay. Then there was the failure to close the deal on a trade for Chris Paul (who did end up in L.A., albeit as a Clipper).
Dr. Jerry Buss was smart and calculated, earning a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at age 24. He had enough foresight to have success in real estate. He had the creativity to produce a 1974 movie titled “Black Eye”, starring football legend Fred “The Hammer” Williamson. Buss was willing to take risks, competing against poker legend Doyle Brunson at the 1991 World Series of Poker and winning over $33,000. As a businessman and as a competitor, he was able to close the deal.
These are all the qualities of a successful franchise owner, and these are the qualities Brother and Sister Buss will be tested on in the search for their new coach. They may get a pass for the D’Antoni hiring because their father was still alive, although his involvement in the team had dwindled by then and the hiring is largely credited, or rather discredited, to Jim and sibling tension ensued over the decision.
Kobe Bryant will turn 36 before next season. Pau Gasol, 34. Steve Nash recently turned 40. Only Bryant, Nash and reserve Robert Sacre remain under contract for next season. Since 1960, the Lakers have suffered back-to-back losing seasons just twice. With 16 titles, second only to the Boston Celtics, there is a culture of winning in L.A. that is being put to the test. One losing season can be swept under the rug. What Buss and Co. need to do is not let this proud franchise spiral into a tailspin. Because if it does, the Lakers will once again be dominating the basketball news in L.A., and not in the way they want.
