WEBVTT 00:00:31.647 --> 00:00:33.200 Around 2000, 00:00:33.400 --> 00:00:35.204 we started having conversations 00:00:35.404 --> 00:00:40.414 about how my dad wanted to be remembered. 00:00:40.614 --> 00:00:43.671 Legacy was important to him. 00:00:45.884 --> 00:00:51.232 He wanted to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 00:00:51.432 --> 00:00:56.781 He wanted to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. 00:00:56.981 --> 00:00:59.035 But really, what was most important to him 00:00:59.235 --> 00:01:01.916 was his family and his team. 00:01:03.878 --> 00:01:05.468 He wanted the Lakers to be run 00:01:05.668 --> 00:01:07.136 generation after generation. 00:01:07.336 --> 00:01:08.638 The franchise is- 00:01:08.838 --> 00:01:09.940 is what we have. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:14.131 And we have to do whatever we can to keep it going. 00:01:14.331 --> 00:01:18.323 He would say, "I trust you guys to keep this going 00:01:18.523 --> 00:01:20.515 the way that I want it to go." 00:01:20.715 --> 00:01:22.508 But I think that my dad, 00:01:22.708 --> 00:01:25.054 at the end of his life, wanted peace. 00:01:25.254 --> 00:01:31.057 He didn't want disgruntled, you know, children complaining. 00:01:31.257 --> 00:01:32.853 The problem was, you know, he didn't want 00:01:33.053 --> 00:01:34.030 to talk about death. 00:01:34.230 --> 00:01:35.692 He want-he didn't want to talk about wills. 00:01:35.892 --> 00:01:38.038 He didn't want to talk about trust. 00:01:38.238 --> 00:01:42.831 He wanted to just talk about, generation after generation, 00:01:43.031 --> 00:01:45.587 carrying the Lakers as far as we can. 00:01:45.787 --> 00:01:46.847 He didn't share 00:01:47.047 --> 00:01:50.104 exactly what the succession plan was. 00:01:50.304 --> 00:01:52.642 I knew it's gonna come down to a conflict. 00:02:09.175 --> 00:02:10.682 There he is. His first shot as an owner. 00:02:10.882 --> 00:02:12.371 You think he likes it? 00:02:16.231 --> 00:02:18.109 At this moment, I can't believe it. 00:02:19.613 --> 00:02:20.624 What's the future? 00:02:20.824 --> 00:02:22.326 Want to replace your father at the top? 00:02:22.526 --> 00:02:24.213 Yeah. 00:02:26.376 --> 00:02:27.846 Between my daughters and my sons, 00:02:28.046 --> 00:02:30.885 there are certainly enough sports teams to go around. 00:02:34.935 --> 00:02:36.359 Are you and the rest of the family, 00:02:36.559 --> 00:02:37.983 are you guys all on the same page? 00:02:40.487 --> 00:02:41.740 The Lakers caught in the middle 00:02:41.940 --> 00:02:43.368 of a family power struggle. 00:02:48.253 --> 00:02:50.340 I think I've really left them with something. 00:02:59.776 --> 00:03:01.404 I was in LA, actually, just partying. 00:03:02.741 --> 00:03:04.503 And then I get a call from my agent. 00:03:04.703 --> 00:03:06.874 And he say, uh, "The Lakers wanna talk to you." 00:03:07.074 --> 00:03:09.462 And my first response was, "For what?" 00:03:11.717 --> 00:03:14.055 And then the next morning, I'm like, "Wow, this is crazy, 00:03:14.255 --> 00:03:15.525 a hell of an opportunity." 00:03:15.725 --> 00:03:17.687 I never thought I'd have an opportunity to win again, 00:03:17.887 --> 00:03:19.482 just because, when you don't treat 00:03:19.682 --> 00:03:21.194 the basketball gods the right way, 00:03:21.394 --> 00:03:22.906 they don't treat you the right way. 00:03:24.450 --> 00:03:26.797 I enjoy coaching Metta. 00:03:26.997 --> 00:03:29.878 The young players can play with force. 00:03:30.078 --> 00:03:31.944 They can play with energy. 00:03:32.144 --> 00:03:33.811 And I stayed with him. 00:03:34.011 --> 00:03:36.687 I could have given him the-the last piece 00:03:36.887 --> 00:03:39.564 of how to harness that force and energy 00:03:39.764 --> 00:03:41.911 and not let it spin out of control 00:03:42.111 --> 00:03:44.490 with the Malice at the Palace and everything 00:03:44.690 --> 00:03:46.879 spun out of control for him. 00:03:47.079 --> 00:03:48.799 It was one of the most violent clashes 00:03:48.999 --> 00:03:51.755 between players and fans in U. S. sports history. 00:03:51.955 --> 00:03:53.466 Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers 00:03:53.666 --> 00:03:54.728 racing into the stands 00:03:54.928 --> 00:03:56.765 after a spectator hit him with a drink. 00:03:56.965 --> 00:03:58.736 That set off, basically, a riot. 00:03:58.936 --> 00:04:01.065 The NBA has handed down record suspensions. 00:04:01.265 --> 00:04:02.953 And now, authorities in Michigan 00:04:03.153 --> 00:04:06.200 are also considering criminal charges. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:07.849 Five years past the brawl, 00:04:08.049 --> 00:04:09.498 here I am with the opportunity 00:04:09.698 --> 00:04:10.718 to play for the Lakers. 00:04:10.918 --> 00:04:13.549 So I said, "Okay, I'ma cherish this moment." 00:04:13.749 --> 00:04:15.478 When Ron came to the team, 00:04:15.678 --> 00:04:17.519 I think at that point in Ron's career, 00:04:17.719 --> 00:04:19.361 I think he just wanted to be dependable. 00:04:19.561 --> 00:04:24.070 And that's all we needed from him, was just to fit in. 00:04:24.270 --> 00:04:26.458 The NBA Finals begin tomorrow night, 00:04:26.658 --> 00:04:29.627 when the Boston Celtics go to see the Los Angeles Lakers 00:04:29.827 --> 00:04:32.796 in a rematch from two years ago that was won by the Celtics. 00:04:32.996 --> 00:04:34.516 Tell me how you see the finals. 00:04:34.716 --> 00:04:36.395 I think it's a really interesting matchup. 00:04:36.595 --> 00:04:38.682 A couple of years ago, when they faced each other, 00:04:38.882 --> 00:04:40.477 they were both looking for championships. 00:04:40.677 --> 00:04:41.822 Now, they both have them. 00:04:42.022 --> 00:04:44.218 Boston beat the Lakers in that series, 00:04:44.418 --> 00:04:46.415 humiliated them in the final game. 00:04:46.615 --> 00:04:49.663 And the Lakers then came back last year and beat Orlando. 00:04:49.863 --> 00:04:51.750 They faced each other 11 times in the finals. 00:04:51.950 --> 00:04:53.512 So there's a great history here. 00:04:53.712 --> 00:04:56.342 And Boston's won nine of those times. 00:04:57.010 --> 00:04:59.983 Welcome to downtown Los Angeles, 00:05:00.183 --> 00:05:03.691 where it's time for the NBA's biggest stage, 00:05:03.891 --> 00:05:05.745 the 2010 NBA Finals, 00:05:05.945 --> 00:05:09.368 featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. 00:05:09.568 --> 00:05:12.124 Lakers- You know, us in Boston, 00:05:12.324 --> 00:05:13.668 we got a love-love, 00:05:13.868 --> 00:05:15.013 hate-hate relationship. 00:05:15.213 --> 00:05:18.103 We love our teams, and we hate their teams. 00:05:18.303 --> 00:05:21.100 Definitely was happy for KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:24.148 and the rest of the guys, but * them. 00:05:24.348 --> 00:05:25.943 Ladies and gentlemen, 00:05:26.143 --> 00:05:27.539 game one starts now. 00:05:27.739 --> 00:05:29.291 2008 against the Celtics- 00:05:29.491 --> 00:05:31.254 all of Laker Nation was hurt because- 00:05:31.454 --> 00:05:32.999 especially because it was against the Celtics. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.135 Right? Against the Celtics. 00:05:34.335 --> 00:05:35.588 It was painful. Dude, you can't lo- 00:05:36.882 --> 00:05:38.059 I mean, I grew up such a Lakers fan. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:39.646 And so like, the Lakers and Celtics rivalry... 00:05:39.846 --> 00:05:40.890 You just hate them. Meant everything- 00:05:41.090 --> 00:05:42.026 But you hate them. 00:05:42.226 --> 00:05:43.319 We can't- there's just no way 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.398 I can be on a team, on a Lakers team, 00:05:45.598 --> 00:05:48.196 that loses to the Celtics twice. 00:05:48.396 --> 00:05:49.240 No. 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:52.329 As Fisher puts up his first jumper. 00:05:52.529 --> 00:05:53.466 Artest down the other way. 00:05:53.666 --> 00:05:55.762 Artest grapples... 00:05:55.962 --> 00:05:58.141 Gasol let go. 00:05:58.341 --> 00:05:59.890 The five starters have scored- 00:06:00.090 --> 00:06:01.996 I've seen us as a team 00:06:02.196 --> 00:06:03.903 grow so much from 2008. 00:06:04.103 --> 00:06:06.825 Powell, Lamar, you know, all our guys- 00:06:07.025 --> 00:06:10.073 like, how much we have grown since the last time 00:06:10.273 --> 00:06:11.668 we faced this team. 00:06:11.868 --> 00:06:15.133 The right mixture of guys is so important. 00:06:15.333 --> 00:06:19.300 It takes very specific parts and pieces and chemistry 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:21.847 in order to really bring it all together. 00:06:22.047 --> 00:06:23.567 The Lakers take game one. 00:06:23.767 --> 00:06:26.615 NBA Finals are tied at one game apiece. 00:06:26.815 --> 00:06:28.661 And a big road victory for Los Angeles. 00:06:28.861 --> 00:06:32.836 The NBA Finals are tied at two games apiece. 00:06:33.036 --> 00:06:35.165 The Celtics win and are headed to Los Angeles 00:06:35.365 --> 00:06:36.300 with a 3-2 lead. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:37.754 And there'll be a game seven 00:06:37.954 --> 00:06:40.425 of the 2010 NBA Finals. 00:06:40.625 --> 00:06:41.895 - Game seven- 00:06:42.095 --> 00:06:43.978 I wanted to leave because we was losing. 00:06:44.178 --> 00:06:46.168 Rondo, the offensive rebound. 00:06:46.368 --> 00:06:48.139 Goes back up and packs it in. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:49.911 And it's a 13-point lead. 00:06:50.111 --> 00:06:52.082 We had a lead going into the fourth quarter. 00:06:52.282 --> 00:06:54.770 We understood the seriousness of the game, what- 00:06:54.970 --> 00:06:57.555 what was on the line, and the, uh-the rivalry. 00:06:57.755 --> 00:07:00.340 It was all or nothing. Here's Swanson. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:02.687 Artest right up on top of him. 00:07:02.887 --> 00:07:04.306 In the early parts of my career, 00:07:04.506 --> 00:07:05.484 I had such a big ego, 00:07:05.684 --> 00:07:07.062 and I wanted to be the best at all times. 00:07:07.262 --> 00:07:08.407 I was trying to be. 00:07:08.607 --> 00:07:10.448 So to be a role player and to embrace it 00:07:10.648 --> 00:07:12.289 and really try to be the best at it- 00:07:12.489 --> 00:07:14.493 that was one of the proudest moments of my career. 00:07:14.693 --> 00:07:15.891 Deflected by Farmar! 00:07:16.091 --> 00:07:17.488 Artest picks it up. 00:07:17.688 --> 00:07:18.886 Artest to the basket. 00:07:19.086 --> 00:07:20.130 Pop out another one. 00:07:20.330 --> 00:07:21.683 Inside Artest. 00:07:21.883 --> 00:07:23.687 Allen air foul. 00:07:23.887 --> 00:07:28.312 That's the drive, gets to the rim, block from behind. 00:07:28.512 --> 00:07:29.898 Bryant looking. 00:07:30.098 --> 00:07:31.485 Artest, that's a 3. 00:07:32.780 --> 00:07:36.395 Lakers by 6 with a minute to play. 00:07:36.595 --> 00:07:40.077 When Ron Artest hit that 3-pointer, 00:07:40.277 --> 00:07:43.560 the joy, like, surging through me, 00:07:43.760 --> 00:07:46.975 the bolt of light from God that came from the heavens 00:07:47.175 --> 00:07:48.612 and, like, coursed through my body 00:07:48.812 --> 00:07:51.358 and made me feel like I could do anything on Earth 00:07:51.558 --> 00:07:52.694 for the rest of my life- 00:07:52.894 --> 00:07:53.831 that was pretty good. 00:07:54.031 --> 00:07:56.002 Oh, pulls ahead! 00:07:56.202 --> 00:08:00.001 The Lakers three-peat, back-to-back titles. 00:08:00.201 --> 00:08:01.763 We ended up winning. 00:08:01.963 --> 00:08:04.009 Then I couldn't leave because I was stuck 00:08:04.209 --> 00:08:05.396 with all the mother* fans. 00:08:05.596 --> 00:08:08.360 It was like the parade was right now. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:10.689 Kobe trusted us. And he made us feel so good. 00:08:10.889 --> 00:08:12.284 And he passed me the ball. 00:08:12.484 --> 00:08:14.597 He never passes me the ball. 00:08:14.797 --> 00:08:17.047 And he passed me the ball. 00:08:17.247 --> 00:08:19.298 Kobe passed me the ball. 00:08:19.498 --> 00:08:20.760 Kobe got along with Metta, 00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:23.005 and Kobe thought that was really funny. 00:08:23.205 --> 00:08:25.614 Um, that was a cute-a cute jab 00:08:25.814 --> 00:08:28.224 because, when Kobe was younger, 00:08:28.424 --> 00:08:29.611 he did have some teammates 00:08:29.811 --> 00:08:31.021 that couldn't shoot the ball in the ocean 00:08:31.221 --> 00:08:32.700 if they were standing on a yacht. 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:35.284 But once he realized that he had teammates 00:08:35.484 --> 00:08:37.868 that he could trust, I feel like he felt 00:08:38.068 --> 00:08:39.789 a little bit more comfortable 00:08:39.989 --> 00:08:41.710 and became a better teacher 00:08:41.910 --> 00:08:43.221 and a better leader. 00:08:43.421 --> 00:08:45.659 He wanted the best out of all of his teammates. 00:08:45.859 --> 00:08:48.097 Can you speak in terms of what this means 00:08:48.297 --> 00:08:50.151 to you individually? 00:08:50.351 --> 00:08:52.355 - Just got one more than Shaq. 00:08:57.532 --> 00:08:59.077 So you can take that to the bank. 00:09:02.042 --> 00:09:05.716 My dad was thrilled to beat the Celtics 00:09:05.916 --> 00:09:08.689 and to win another championship. 00:09:08.889 --> 00:09:12.647 But it would be the last championship 00:09:12.847 --> 00:09:14.149 for Dr. Buss. 00:09:17.948 --> 00:09:19.455 I grew up a California kid, 00:09:19.655 --> 00:09:20.963 you know, Showtime Laker fan 00:09:21.163 --> 00:09:22.633 from the earliest days I can remember. 00:09:22.833 --> 00:09:25.380 And it was always a dream of mine to wear the same jersey 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:27.685 as Matty Johnson. 00:09:27.885 --> 00:09:30.023 2010, my contract's up in Orlando, 00:09:30.223 --> 00:09:32.711 and I get a call from a number I don't know. 00:09:32.911 --> 00:09:35.200 And for some reason, I answered that call. 00:09:35.400 --> 00:09:37.387 And he said, "What up?" I was like, "Who is this?" 00:09:37.587 --> 00:09:39.086 He's like, "It's Kobe." I'm like, "Yeah, right." 00:09:39.286 --> 00:09:40.786 I was like, "Who is it?" And he starts laughing. 00:09:40.986 --> 00:09:42.255 He's like, "Nah, it's really me." 00:09:42.455 --> 00:09:44.501 And he's like, "Have you ever thought about being a Laker?" 00:09:44.701 --> 00:09:47.424 I'm like, "*, I've dreamt about being a Laker." 00:09:47.624 --> 00:09:48.894 He's like, "All right." 00:09:49.094 --> 00:09:50.723 And literally, like, four or five days later, 00:09:50.923 --> 00:09:52.401 I was a Laker. 00:09:52.601 --> 00:09:55.440 As a team, they're in search for a three-peat. 00:09:55.640 --> 00:09:57.327 Kobe wanted that sixth ring. 00:09:57.527 --> 00:09:58.697 He always told me, he's like, "I wanna be able 00:09:58.897 --> 00:10:00.041 to sit at the same table as MJ," 00:10:00.241 --> 00:10:02.287 meaning he needed one more piece of hardware 00:10:02.487 --> 00:10:04.258 to be able to do that. 00:10:04.458 --> 00:10:06.800 Well, the 2011 NBA playoffs, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.142 here in Downtown Los Angeles, 00:10:09.342 --> 00:10:12.474 home of the two-time defending champion Lakers, 00:10:12.674 --> 00:10:15.154 a sellout crowd at the Staples Center. 00:10:15.354 --> 00:10:17.943 As the Lakers begin their quest for a three-peat. 00:10:18.143 --> 00:10:19.204 And during the regular season, 00:10:19.404 --> 00:10:21.618 it was the usual little bit of drama for them, 00:10:21.818 --> 00:10:23.329 some ups and downs, but they are still, 00:10:23.529 --> 00:10:24.841 in many eyes, the team to beat. 00:10:25.041 --> 00:10:26.861 Every season, even when they were shitty, 00:10:27.061 --> 00:10:28.811 the expectations were a championship. 00:10:29.011 --> 00:10:30.561 You know? So it was-it was no different. 00:10:30.761 --> 00:10:34.042 And again, like I said, they were coming off two in a row. 00:10:34.242 --> 00:10:37.524 We just assumed, like, "Okay, well, playoffs are here. 00:10:37.724 --> 00:10:39.946 "Let's get through this so we can, you know, try 00:10:40.146 --> 00:10:42.116 to win another championship." 00:10:42.316 --> 00:10:43.210 That year, 00:10:43.410 --> 00:10:45.131 in the first round of the playoffs, 00:10:45.331 --> 00:10:49.381 Mitch Kupchak flew with the team to New Orleans. 00:10:49.581 --> 00:10:50.976 This is highly unusual. 00:10:51.176 --> 00:10:53.347 He's never done this before. 00:10:56.646 --> 00:10:59.827 Then, a few days later, Phil called me, 00:11:00.027 --> 00:11:03.869 screaming, "What is happening? Why are they doing this?" 00:11:04.069 --> 00:11:05.831 And I go, "What are you talking about?" 00:11:09.504 --> 00:11:11.266 "They just informed the staff 00:11:11.466 --> 00:11:14.581 "that they're no longer employed after June 30. 00:11:14.781 --> 00:11:17.897 We're trying to win a playoff series here." 00:11:20.026 --> 00:11:22.080 Coach comes in to a team, 00:11:22.280 --> 00:11:26.163 he basically surrounds himself with his staff. 00:11:26.363 --> 00:11:29.712 And that includes the workout guys, 00:11:29.912 --> 00:11:31.056 the assistant trainers, 00:11:31.256 --> 00:11:35.733 the assistant coaches, the medical staff. 00:11:35.933 --> 00:11:40.316 Basically, you don't renew the support staff of the coach 00:11:40.516 --> 00:11:43.530 when that coach is not coming back. 00:11:43.730 --> 00:11:45.836 And Phil wasn't coming back. 00:11:46.036 --> 00:11:48.583 That was probably my hardest year coaching. 00:11:48.783 --> 00:11:50.303 And I was ready to retire. 00:11:50.503 --> 00:11:53.927 I'm dealing with a situation of a cancer operation 00:11:54.127 --> 00:11:55.522 at the end of the season. 00:11:55.722 --> 00:11:57.396 When he announced he had cancer, 00:11:57.596 --> 00:11:59.106 we all knew that he was finished 00:11:59.306 --> 00:12:00.616 after that particular season. 00:12:00.816 --> 00:12:03.153 But normally, if there's gonna be changes made, 00:12:03.353 --> 00:12:04.874 it's gonna be made in the off-season, 00:12:05.074 --> 00:12:09.625 you know, not during a run where you're trying to capture 00:12:09.825 --> 00:12:11.053 a third championship. 00:12:11.253 --> 00:12:13.424 You really don't wanna mess up the chemistry. 00:12:13.624 --> 00:12:15.469 You don't wanna mess up the focus. 00:12:15.669 --> 00:12:17.515 You don't want to mess anything up. 00:12:17.715 --> 00:12:19.069 We were rolling. 00:12:19.269 --> 00:12:20.989 Why would you want to disturb that? 00:12:21.189 --> 00:12:23.778 Why would you want to disturb that groove? 00:12:23.978 --> 00:12:25.624 It was a fumble at the end, 00:12:25.824 --> 00:12:28.955 and it led to an uneasy feeling for the team. 00:12:30.082 --> 00:12:31.919 We beat New Orleans in the first round. 00:12:32.119 --> 00:12:34.015 But it was tough. 00:12:34.215 --> 00:12:36.721 Like, the-the amount of energy and connectedness 00:12:36.921 --> 00:12:40.645 that it takes to win a championship- 00:12:40.845 --> 00:12:41.990 it was just gone. 00:12:42.190 --> 00:12:45.075 Today, in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs 00:12:45.275 --> 00:12:48.160 have a chance to end LA's hopes of a three-peat. 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:50.924 You had all these dynamics going on, 00:12:51.124 --> 00:12:54.214 and the team just folded like a deck of cards. 00:12:56.176 --> 00:12:58.272 25-point lead for the Mavericks. 00:12:58.472 --> 00:12:59.558 Man, the Lakers aren't coming back 00:12:59.758 --> 00:13:00.819 to win this game. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.740 It was like being in a fight 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.777 where you just get hit with one good one. 00:13:04.977 --> 00:13:06.163 And you're kind of like- 00:13:06.363 --> 00:13:08.868 you don't know what's going on, and you're kind of shook. 00:13:09.068 --> 00:13:10.079 And you start to wonder what's going 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:11.382 through Phil Jackson's mind. 00:13:11.582 --> 00:13:12.793 And you got to wonder if there's something 00:13:12.993 --> 00:13:14.755 going on in that locker room. 00:13:14.955 --> 00:13:16.141 Very sad way 00:13:16.341 --> 00:13:19.999 for the Phil Jackson coaching rأ©sumأ© to end. 00:13:20.199 --> 00:13:23.857 To go out that way as defending champions 00:13:24.057 --> 00:13:25.318 was bitter. 00:13:25.518 --> 00:13:26.579 It was hard. 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:27.748 It's not befitting 00:13:27.948 --> 00:13:29.209 an organization like this. 00:13:29.409 --> 00:13:32.090 There will be a new champion in the NBA. 00:13:32.290 --> 00:13:35.087 And one of the great coaching careers of all time 00:13:35.287 --> 00:13:36.683 has come to an end. 00:13:36.883 --> 00:13:39.187 I remember going up to Phil after the game, 00:13:39.387 --> 00:13:42.310 and he congratulated me, and I told him, you know, 00:13:42.510 --> 00:13:43.478 "Don't retire. We need you." 00:13:43.678 --> 00:13:44.322 He goes, "No, I'm done. 00:13:44.522 --> 00:13:45.984 This-this was my last game." 00:13:47.236 --> 00:13:50.413 Then the summer, I journey down to San Diego 00:13:50.613 --> 00:13:53.791 to see my assistant coach, Frank Hamblen. 00:13:53.991 --> 00:13:55.419 We sat and talked about the season, 00:13:55.619 --> 00:13:56.973 about the team, 00:13:57.173 --> 00:14:01.816 about resolving, you know, what went down. 00:14:02.016 --> 00:14:07.485 The two of us over a couple beers at a racetrack. 00:14:07.685 --> 00:14:09.823 You know, we- we were kind of like, 00:14:10.023 --> 00:14:11.723 "Okay, let's get on with our lives." 00:14:11.923 --> 00:14:13.423 What we didn't know as players, 00:14:13.623 --> 00:14:15.961 at least I didn't know, was, like, that was really 00:14:16.161 --> 00:14:17.421 the beginning of the end. 00:14:25.062 --> 00:14:26.532 After that season, 00:14:26.732 --> 00:14:28.787 I interviewed for the Laker job. 00:14:28.987 --> 00:14:32.577 I'd been with them 12 years, both as a player 00:14:32.777 --> 00:14:34.455 and as a coach. 00:14:34.655 --> 00:14:36.134 I put in the work. 00:14:36.334 --> 00:14:38.013 I felt like I paid my dues. 00:14:38.213 --> 00:14:41.011 I was the most qualified for that time, 00:14:41.211 --> 00:14:43.691 in that situation, with that team. 00:14:43.891 --> 00:14:48.158 Kobe publicly came out and endorsed me. 00:14:48.358 --> 00:14:51.702 Phil Jackson publicly came out and endorsed me. 00:14:51.902 --> 00:14:55.247 Brian Shaw was kind of the heir apparent, 00:14:55.447 --> 00:14:56.132 could have had continuity 00:14:56.332 --> 00:14:59.264 for Brian to take that- that job. 00:14:59.464 --> 00:15:02.913 I did my interview, which was at Dr. Buss' house. 00:15:03.113 --> 00:15:06.562 Dr. Buss told me- he said, "In order for Jimmy 00:15:06.762 --> 00:15:10.069 "to grow in his role, I have to step back 00:15:10.269 --> 00:15:13.576 "and allow him to do what he feels is best 00:15:13.776 --> 00:15:16.256 for the team going forward." 00:15:16.456 --> 00:15:20.464 The rest of the meeting was mainly Jimmy 00:15:20.664 --> 00:15:22.352 doing a lot of the talking. 00:15:22.552 --> 00:15:25.061 I've-I've always liked Brian Shaw. 00:15:25.261 --> 00:15:27.771 You know? It was a natural interview. 00:15:27.971 --> 00:15:30.568 He was a Laker for a long time. 00:15:30.768 --> 00:15:32.204 He was very smart. 00:15:32.404 --> 00:15:35.686 But we needed to have the right coach. 00:15:35.886 --> 00:15:38.972 He gave me his outlook on the team, 00:15:39.172 --> 00:15:42.058 and that Andrew Bynum is the guy 00:15:42.258 --> 00:15:45.180 that's gonna carry this team to the next era 00:15:45.380 --> 00:15:46.976 of Laker dominance. 00:15:50.357 --> 00:15:54.541 And he says everybody on the team, 00:15:54.741 --> 00:15:57.664 including Kobe, could go if it came down to it, 00:15:57.864 --> 00:15:59.342 but that it was gonna be Andrew 00:15:59.542 --> 00:16:01.714 who was gonna carry everything forward. 00:16:01.914 --> 00:16:04.310 Ha! Oh, that's not true. 00:16:04.510 --> 00:16:07.391 We were building a team, or trying to build a team, 00:16:07.591 --> 00:16:09.989 around certain players. 00:16:10.189 --> 00:16:14.405 But I would never say, "Even Kobe could go." 00:16:14.605 --> 00:16:17.003 Yeah, no. No- sorry. 00:16:17.203 --> 00:16:18.756 He was interviewing me, 00:16:18.956 --> 00:16:21.629 but I also felt like I was interviewing him 00:16:21.829 --> 00:16:23.433 to see what it would be like 00:16:23.633 --> 00:16:25.870 under him in this situation going forward, 00:16:26.070 --> 00:16:28.308 that it was going to be very, very different 00:16:28.508 --> 00:16:30.989 than what I had known 00:16:31.189 --> 00:16:33.401 taking care of Laker business to be. 00:16:35.657 --> 00:16:38.312 They said they would let me know 00:16:38.512 --> 00:16:41.167 what their decision was gonna be. 00:16:43.421 --> 00:16:45.393 Uh, what I'd like to do at this time 00:16:45.593 --> 00:16:50.143 is announce, uh, and introduce the new coach 00:16:50.343 --> 00:16:52.106 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Brown. 00:16:59.370 --> 00:17:01.926 They hadn't talked to me, 00:17:02.126 --> 00:17:08.648 not a phone call from Jimmy or Mitch. 00:17:08.848 --> 00:17:12.396 It had nothing to do with his talent as a coach. 00:17:12.596 --> 00:17:15.757 But we needed more of a-a big name. 00:17:15.957 --> 00:17:19.118 Mike Brown found a lot of success 00:17:19.318 --> 00:17:20.683 coaching LeBron James. 00:17:20.883 --> 00:17:22.301 He got him to the finals. 00:17:22.501 --> 00:17:23.719 He was a fantastic coach. 00:17:23.919 --> 00:17:27.176 Jimmy wanted to create his own legacy. 00:17:30.642 --> 00:17:32.946 It felt unsteady. 00:17:33.146 --> 00:17:37.071 But if this is the direction that my dad 00:17:37.271 --> 00:17:39.617 wants Jimmy to go in, so be it. 00:17:39.817 --> 00:17:42.164 That's the way it has to be. 00:17:43.375 --> 00:17:45.847 My dad's health was fading, 00:17:46.047 --> 00:17:49.053 and-and I wanted to win another championship for him. 00:17:51.265 --> 00:17:53.269 Kobe, how do you feel about this team 00:17:53.469 --> 00:17:55.282 as you start another season? 00:17:55.482 --> 00:17:57.699 I think that the temperature of the team 00:17:57.899 --> 00:18:00.117 is a very calm one. It's a-we're very- 00:18:00.317 --> 00:18:01.712 we understand what we have to do. 00:18:01.912 --> 00:18:03.962 We understand the roles are clearly defined. 00:18:04.162 --> 00:18:06.212 And now it's time to go out there on the floor 00:18:06.412 --> 00:18:09.101 and execute. 00:18:09.301 --> 00:18:10.605 Kobe, you mentioned a few days ago, 00:18:10.805 --> 00:18:12.767 you wanted to make sure that you gave Mike 00:18:12.967 --> 00:18:14.291 and the rest of the coaching staff 00:18:14.491 --> 00:18:15.615 kind of that freedom, the players- 00:18:15.815 --> 00:18:17.071 That's not me giving them their freedom. 00:18:17.271 --> 00:18:18.551 They're the coaches. Right. 00:18:18.751 --> 00:18:19.831 You know what I'm saying? 00:18:20.031 --> 00:18:21.492 And we're here to be coached, and I'm here to be coached 00:18:21.692 --> 00:18:22.703 just like everybody else. 00:18:22.903 --> 00:18:23.714 You know what I mean? 00:18:23.914 --> 00:18:25.835 And it's important for everybody to understand that. 00:18:26.035 --> 00:18:27.054 You know, I make a mistake, 00:18:27.254 --> 00:18:28.506 the coach's job is to correct that. 00:18:28.706 --> 00:18:30.301 You can't be sensitive. 00:18:30.501 --> 00:18:31.897 You can't be a baby. 00:18:32.097 --> 00:18:34.043 You know, you're here to win, man. 00:18:34.243 --> 00:18:36.189 That year, in the playoffs, 00:18:36.389 --> 00:18:38.109 we played a young OKC. 00:18:38.309 --> 00:18:39.830 Harden for 3. 00:18:40.030 --> 00:18:40.999 And they got us. 00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:42.711 Westbrook for Derek! 00:18:42.911 --> 00:18:46.459 And it hurt because I wanted to be able to help Kobe 00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:47.846 get his sixth championship. 00:18:48.046 --> 00:18:51.553 But I definitely knew the person steering the ship, 00:18:51.753 --> 00:18:53.641 um, wasn't gonna get us there. 00:18:59.068 --> 00:19:01.790 I wanna thank everybody for coming on short notice. 00:19:01.990 --> 00:19:05.288 Today, we relieved Mike Brown of his head coaching duties. 00:19:05.488 --> 00:19:07.104 It's really simple. 00:19:07.304 --> 00:19:08.931 It's wins and losses. 00:19:09.131 --> 00:19:10.558 And Mike knows that. 00:19:10.758 --> 00:19:12.929 Mike is not a bad guy, but he didn't have 00:19:13.129 --> 00:19:14.315 the respect of the players. 00:19:14.515 --> 00:19:15.601 You know, although Mike had success 00:19:15.801 --> 00:19:16.654 in Cleveland with Bron, 00:19:16.854 --> 00:19:18.607 the Lakers are a whole 'nother monster, 00:19:18.807 --> 00:19:19.785 a whole 'nother level. 00:19:19.985 --> 00:19:22.577 And I think Mike was in over his head. 00:19:22.777 --> 00:19:25.170 Five games into this season, 00:19:25.370 --> 00:19:28.711 Mike Brown was relieved of his coaching duties, 00:19:28.911 --> 00:19:30.881 head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 00:19:31.081 --> 00:19:33.052 What was your initial reaction to that? 00:19:33.252 --> 00:19:35.942 - "Oh, shit." 00:19:36.142 --> 00:19:37.732 The Lakers decided to fire Mike Brown 00:19:37.932 --> 00:19:39.523 after watching the way they got off 00:19:39.723 --> 00:19:40.660 to a 1 in 4 season. 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:42.539 It was-it was a real quick hook. 00:19:42.739 --> 00:19:44.450 The way the team is playing, it just didn't look 00:19:44.650 --> 00:19:45.994 like they were making progress, 00:19:46.194 --> 00:19:47.339 and something clearly wasn't right. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:51.422 Mike Brown was a very defensive-minded coach, 00:19:51.622 --> 00:19:54.888 didn't seem to gel with Kobe. 00:20:02.402 --> 00:20:04.991 The crowd is yelling, "We want Phil," 00:20:05.191 --> 00:20:07.045 as in "We want Phil Jackson." 00:20:07.245 --> 00:20:11.087 Mr. Jackson, if you're watching, they want you. 00:20:11.287 --> 00:20:13.099 Wouldn't that be something? 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.895 What does this say about Jim Buss? 00:20:15.095 --> 00:20:17.224 This was his first fingerprint on the organization. 00:20:17.424 --> 00:20:18.527 What's the solution? 00:20:18.727 --> 00:20:20.484 I think you have to beg Phil, first of all. 00:20:20.684 --> 00:20:22.242 Do you? Do you go back to Phil? 00:20:22.442 --> 00:20:24.221 You bring a guy in like that 00:20:24.421 --> 00:20:26.000 to kind of calm everything down. 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:28.814 My dad says, "What do you think?" 00:20:29.014 --> 00:20:31.428 I said, "Pfft, let's get him back." 00:20:31.628 --> 00:20:35.678 Jimmy comes to me and says, "Do you think Phil 00:20:35.878 --> 00:20:37.357 would reconsider coming back?" 00:20:37.557 --> 00:20:41.898 And I said, you know, "If you really are serious about that, 00:20:42.098 --> 00:20:45.280 "then-then you have to ask him yourself. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.159 I don't wanna be in the middle." 00:20:49.706 --> 00:20:52.502 With an all-star roster and the clock ticking, 00:20:52.702 --> 00:20:54.474 the Lakers need a high-profile coach 00:20:54.674 --> 00:20:56.343 who will have the respect of the locker room, 00:20:56.543 --> 00:20:57.981 and they need him now. 00:20:58.181 --> 00:21:00.460 What would have to happen here for the sides 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:03.036 not to come to an agreement at this point? 00:21:03.236 --> 00:21:05.413 Well, Jim Buss losing his mind and deciding 00:21:05.613 --> 00:21:07.992 he doesn't want to be a part of this, uh, situation. 00:21:08.192 --> 00:21:10.038 That would-that would obviously qualify. 00:21:11.958 --> 00:21:14.054 I met both Mitch and Jimmy Buss, 00:21:14.254 --> 00:21:18.221 talked about the personnel that was on the team. 00:21:18.421 --> 00:21:22.112 I thought that the team was capable. 00:21:22.312 --> 00:21:24.675 We were so excited about having him back. 00:21:24.875 --> 00:21:27.039 It was just me, Jimmy, and Phil. 00:21:27.239 --> 00:21:29.560 And Phil said, "I'll consider helping you out, 00:21:29.760 --> 00:21:32.082 getting you through the rest of the season." 00:21:33.501 --> 00:21:36.616 Phil asked for 48 hours so that he could talk 00:21:36.816 --> 00:21:39.931 to his doctors, he could talk to his family, 00:21:40.131 --> 00:21:42.987 and that he would give them a decision. 00:21:43.187 --> 00:21:46.152 Phil was gonna give them an answer Monday morning. 00:21:46.352 --> 00:21:50.201 And at midnight on that Sunday night, 00:21:50.401 --> 00:21:52.915 the phone rings and wakes us up. 00:21:53.115 --> 00:21:56.013 And all I hear him say is, 00:21:56.213 --> 00:21:59.554 "All right. Okay. All right. Thank you. 00:21:59.754 --> 00:22:01.190 "Well, they just called to tell me 00:22:01.390 --> 00:22:05.190 that they've given the job to Mike D'Antoni." 00:22:05.390 --> 00:22:07.235 I said, "Okay, so be it." 00:22:07.435 --> 00:22:08.287 That's all right. 00:22:08.487 --> 00:22:10.391 That's the way it's going to be, 00:22:10.591 --> 00:22:12.495 I-I have no hard feelings or no- 00:22:12.695 --> 00:22:15.344 no grief at all about that. 00:22:15.544 --> 00:22:19.092 In the meeting, Phil told us he didn't want to coach, 00:22:19.292 --> 00:22:21.932 but if we needed help to get through the year, 00:22:22.132 --> 00:22:23.276 he would do it. 00:22:23.476 --> 00:22:26.023 We weren't looking for a coach to get through the season. 00:22:26.223 --> 00:22:27.785 I mean, that- that doesn't help us. 00:22:27.985 --> 00:22:30.616 And he said, "I will only do home games." 00:22:30.816 --> 00:22:32.265 Well, we can't have that. 00:22:32.465 --> 00:22:33.714 That's not going to work. 00:22:33.914 --> 00:22:36.966 That's-that's not true. That is not true. 00:22:37.166 --> 00:22:40.018 That was not what Phil was offering to do. 00:22:40.218 --> 00:22:43.416 You just fired a coach in the middle of a season. 00:22:43.616 --> 00:22:46.815 You got to have somebody right now who's ready to go. 00:22:47.015 --> 00:22:50.698 And here's the perfect guy who would fill in 00:22:50.898 --> 00:22:52.710 for this partial season, 00:22:52.910 --> 00:22:54.981 who already has a relationship 00:22:55.181 --> 00:22:57.052 with the majority of the players, 00:22:57.252 --> 00:23:00.262 and then you could say, "Okay, in the off-season, 00:23:00.462 --> 00:23:03.472 we'll do our big search to find our dream candidate." 00:23:05.184 --> 00:23:09.489 I felt betrayed because Jimmy had *ed me back in. 00:23:09.689 --> 00:23:13.994 And it was kind of like, "Okay, well, is this real, 00:23:14.194 --> 00:23:16.383 or is this, you know, just a stunt?" 00:23:16.583 --> 00:23:19.881 But it's kind of like, why? Why would you do that? 00:23:20.081 --> 00:23:22.657 Why would you put your sister through that? 00:23:22.857 --> 00:23:25.433 Why would you do that to your organization, 00:23:25.633 --> 00:23:27.237 to your team? 00:23:27.437 --> 00:23:29.951 I still don't understand it. 00:23:30.151 --> 00:23:32.618 It was tough to work in that situation. 00:23:32.818 --> 00:23:35.086 But what she is saying was a betrayal- 00:23:35.286 --> 00:23:39.712 well, it wasn't-it wasn't done on purpose, that's for sure. 00:23:39.912 --> 00:23:42.267 I felt it was disrespectful to Phil, 00:23:42.467 --> 00:23:47.314 but I felt like it was just a knife in my heart. 00:23:47.514 --> 00:23:52.362 And I didn't understand why, why that had to happen. 00:23:52.562 --> 00:23:53.707 We continued on, 00:23:53.907 --> 00:23:56.713 but, you know, the process was exacerbated 00:23:56.913 --> 00:24:00.336 because, at the time, her father was in the hospital, 00:24:00.536 --> 00:24:02.173 going through a very difficult time. 00:24:52.138 --> 00:24:54.234 When he knew the end was coming, 00:24:54.434 --> 00:24:59.360 we decided that, um, he's got to know all the lives 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:03.097 he touched and he changed. 00:25:03.297 --> 00:25:06.634 So we decided to bring in 00:25:06.834 --> 00:25:10.967 everybody that, you know, meant something to him 00:25:11.167 --> 00:25:13.063 to come visit him. 00:25:13.263 --> 00:25:18.064 What's the last thing you said to him at the hospital? 00:25:18.264 --> 00:25:19.275 I love him. 00:25:19.475 --> 00:25:20.287 "I love you. 00:25:20.487 --> 00:25:22.624 I'll never forget you." 00:25:22.824 --> 00:25:28.043 And, um, yeah, it was- it was difficult. 00:25:28.753 --> 00:25:32.728 And, um... 00:25:32.928 --> 00:25:38.071 it's difficult to see him lying in that bed 00:25:38.271 --> 00:25:42.447 and knowing that we won't have a conversation ever again, 00:25:42.647 --> 00:25:44.960 that I could hug him. 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:47.122 You know, so I kissed him on his forehead, 00:25:47.322 --> 00:25:50.838 and, uh-and that was it. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.823 I went in his room, 00:26:00.023 --> 00:26:02.236 and, uh, we sat, we talked. 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.288 But I thanked him. 00:26:11.296 --> 00:26:13.341 Not much else you could do. 00:26:13.541 --> 00:26:14.645 I thanked him. 00:26:14.845 --> 00:26:16.557 And he wished me well. 00:26:19.896 --> 00:26:23.553 That was a bad day, yeah. 00:26:23.753 --> 00:26:27.411 He was really good man to me. 00:26:32.212 --> 00:26:33.841 He's a very good man. 00:26:44.863 --> 00:26:46.500 I just- 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:51.167 I'd have to say that he- he knew that the good times 00:26:51.367 --> 00:26:53.598 were gonna keep going. 00:26:53.798 --> 00:26:56.645 It was him that was gonna leave. 00:26:56.845 --> 00:26:59.810 And that, I think, was really hard for him, 00:27:00.010 --> 00:27:03.066 feeling like he was leaving us behind. 00:27:09.412 --> 00:27:13.299 Yeah. 00:27:17.386 --> 00:27:20.944 I was scared for the direction of the team. 00:27:21.144 --> 00:27:25.110 We had a family meeting, like, a week after my dad died. 00:27:25.310 --> 00:27:29.995 And, uh, you know, none of us really, 00:27:30.195 --> 00:27:32.124 I guess, knew how things worked. 00:27:32.750 --> 00:27:35.130 When it was just my dad, right, he's gonna be 00:27:35.330 --> 00:27:37.092 the final shot caller. 00:27:37.292 --> 00:27:38.312 I was unaware. 00:27:38.512 --> 00:27:40.140 It's like, who's gonna be that person? 00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:41.568 Like, is it Jim? 00:27:41.768 --> 00:27:43.823 Was it Jeanie, somebody else? 00:27:44.023 --> 00:27:47.530 And then Joe McCormack, who works for the Lakers, 00:27:47.730 --> 00:27:50.327 shared with us that Jeanie had that power 00:27:50.527 --> 00:27:51.955 of authority, basically. 00:27:52.155 --> 00:27:54.084 Jeanie was the boss. 00:27:54.284 --> 00:27:56.014 And Jim was surprised. 00:27:56.214 --> 00:27:59.771 Basically, what my dad told me was that 00:27:59.971 --> 00:28:02.519 Jeanie, you run the business, Jim, you run the sports, 00:28:02.719 --> 00:28:04.071 the-the basketball side. 00:28:04.271 --> 00:28:07.152 And that was pretty much what was believed 00:28:07.352 --> 00:28:08.664 all the way through. 00:28:08.864 --> 00:28:10.918 My dad had made it clear to me 00:28:11.118 --> 00:28:14.254 that I was going to be the governor. 00:28:14.454 --> 00:28:17.590 But I think he kept it to himself 00:28:17.790 --> 00:28:19.269 in terms of the family 00:28:19.469 --> 00:28:23.502 because he may have been talked out of it 00:28:23.702 --> 00:28:27.393 or that, you know, there would be objection, 00:28:27.593 --> 00:28:31.284 and he didn't want to have to deal with that. 00:28:34.541 --> 00:28:36.052 It was-it was a crossroads. 00:28:36.252 --> 00:28:38.641 You know, all good things come to an end. 00:28:38.841 --> 00:28:42.724 And that's what was happening, on and off the court. 00:28:46.439 --> 00:28:49.487 After my dad passed, it was therapeutic to have 00:28:49.687 --> 00:28:51.917 to deal with a rebuilding team, 00:28:52.117 --> 00:28:54.623 the situations that the Lakers were in. 00:28:56.835 --> 00:28:58.054 Dwight Howard had left. 00:28:58.254 --> 00:29:02.387 Pau Gasol was in his mid-30s. 00:29:02.587 --> 00:29:04.662 Odom was traded. 00:29:04.862 --> 00:29:06.738 I was hurt. 00:29:06.938 --> 00:29:09.071 I just-I took it really personal, 00:29:09.271 --> 00:29:11.205 like, really, really personal. 00:29:11.405 --> 00:29:12.909 I thought I was gonna be a Laker for life. 00:29:13.109 --> 00:29:14.704 But that was hard for a lot of us. 00:29:15.665 --> 00:29:17.134 It crushed Lamar. 00:29:17.334 --> 00:29:19.681 You know, it crushed me. 00:29:19.881 --> 00:29:22.035 I think we could have had another run at it, 00:29:22.235 --> 00:29:24.190 but at some point, people higher than us 00:29:24.390 --> 00:29:26.687 have to make the decision of "When do you transition 00:29:26.887 --> 00:29:30.453 to the next group to try to keep winning?" 00:29:30.653 --> 00:29:32.039 What's the season been like for you? 00:29:32.239 --> 00:29:33.626 I'm just trying to figure out a way 00:29:33.826 --> 00:29:36.957 to win ball games, just try to find whatever- 00:29:37.157 --> 00:29:38.302 whatever it is. 00:29:38.502 --> 00:29:40.923 Bryant, again, going to work, falls down. 00:29:41.123 --> 00:29:43.302 And that's the Achilles. 00:29:46.643 --> 00:29:48.531 Bryant tonight, with 32 points, 00:29:48.731 --> 00:29:52.404 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and he is hurting. 00:29:52.604 --> 00:29:54.292 But the Lakers down by 2, 00:29:54.492 --> 00:29:56.458 and they want him and need him at the free throw line. 00:29:56.658 --> 00:29:58.625 So I made a move that I make a million times, 00:29:58.825 --> 00:30:03.352 and... it just popped. 00:30:03.552 --> 00:30:05.346 When Kobe tore his Achilles, 00:30:05.546 --> 00:30:06.942 I was heartbroken. 00:30:07.142 --> 00:30:09.354 It's the first time that I saw him cry. 00:30:09.554 --> 00:30:11.033 And it was-it was hard. 00:30:11.233 --> 00:30:12.904 I remember walking in the locker room 00:30:13.104 --> 00:30:14.949 with Natalia and Gianna. 00:30:15.149 --> 00:30:16.911 And he just broke down 00:30:17.111 --> 00:30:18.874 as soon as I hugged him. 00:30:21.128 --> 00:30:22.932 Breaking news here on SportsCenter. 00:30:23.132 --> 00:30:25.345 Kobe Bryant is expected to miss six weeks. 00:30:25.545 --> 00:30:27.525 He has a fracture in his left knee. 00:30:27.725 --> 00:30:30.323 Kobe was not Kobe anymore on the court. 00:30:30.523 --> 00:30:32.400 You know, he tried, but he just wasn't the same guy, 00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:35.010 especially after all those injuries. 00:30:35.210 --> 00:30:37.420 Pulls up to win it! 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:39.048 Mike D'Antoni no longer their coach, 00:30:39.248 --> 00:30:41.345 resigned with another year left on his deal. 00:30:41.545 --> 00:30:43.465 The Lakers are coming off their worst season 00:30:43.665 --> 00:30:44.684 in more than 50 years. 00:30:44.884 --> 00:30:46.136 The last couple of years have been rough, 00:30:46.336 --> 00:30:47.315 documented. 00:30:47.515 --> 00:30:49.811 Uh, we had Mike D'Antoni a couple of losing seasons, 00:30:50.011 --> 00:30:51.836 Kobe injured. The list goes on and on. 00:30:52.036 --> 00:30:53.996 And right now, the state of the Lakers 00:30:54.196 --> 00:30:55.995 seems like it's a state of emergency. 00:30:56.195 --> 00:30:57.994 Looking back at some of the decisions 00:30:58.194 --> 00:30:59.756 that Jimmy made, you think, 00:30:59.956 --> 00:31:01.426 "Okay, was he making those decisions 00:31:01.626 --> 00:31:06.385 "to undermine the organization and my authority 00:31:06.585 --> 00:31:07.814 "to run a team, 00:31:08.014 --> 00:31:10.143 or was he just making poor decisions?" 00:31:10.343 --> 00:31:12.490 Welcome to the era of Jim Buss. 00:31:12.690 --> 00:31:15.871 If Dr. Buss were alive today 00:31:16.071 --> 00:31:18.434 and still running the Lakers organization, 00:31:18.634 --> 00:31:20.798 you can't convince me that at least one, 00:31:20.998 --> 00:31:24.338 if not two, superstars would be coming to Los Angeles. 00:31:24.538 --> 00:31:25.758 Yeah, every decision Jim Buss made 00:31:25.958 --> 00:31:27.102 was always being questioned. 00:31:27.302 --> 00:31:29.599 People didn't really understand and respect 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:32.947 his basketball knowledge. 00:31:33.147 --> 00:31:36.028 They just took him as, you know, the son. 00:31:36.228 --> 00:31:37.498 - Sometimes we fail. 00:31:37.698 --> 00:31:40.663 And you want to know something? You get back up. 00:31:40.863 --> 00:31:41.965 You know, one would say, 00:31:42.165 --> 00:31:43.794 you know, that Jim didn't do a good job, 00:31:43.994 --> 00:31:46.098 but he tried. 00:31:46.298 --> 00:31:47.310 Someone really needed 00:31:47.510 --> 00:31:50.181 to take control of the situation. 00:31:50.381 --> 00:31:51.401 The expectations are 00:31:51.601 --> 00:31:52.878 the banners in the Staples Center. 00:31:53.078 --> 00:31:54.156 You look up at those, and there's 00:31:54.356 --> 00:31:56.068 nothing more than you want to be a part 00:31:56.268 --> 00:31:57.622 of putting another one up. 00:31:57.822 --> 00:31:59.208 As prestigious as that team was, 00:31:59.408 --> 00:32:01.370 the big free agents were looking more at the Clippers. 00:32:01.570 --> 00:32:02.590 They were looking more at Miami. 00:32:02.790 --> 00:32:04.460 They were looking more at the teams that were winning 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:07.007 than a historical franchise like the Lakers. 00:32:07.207 --> 00:32:08.100 They're like, "You go there, 00:32:08.300 --> 00:32:10.371 and it's just gonna be you and Kobe." 00:32:10.571 --> 00:32:12.443 Well, the former Laker says 00:32:12.643 --> 00:32:14.989 he's coming back to coach his old team. 00:32:15.189 --> 00:32:17.118 When I became coach, we were in a situation 00:32:17.318 --> 00:32:20.826 of having a mega superstar that's on his last leg, 00:32:21.026 --> 00:32:24.249 basically, and a bunch of young guys. 00:32:24.449 --> 00:32:27.673 This is gonna take a while for this team 00:32:27.873 --> 00:32:29.719 to get back to that level. 00:32:32.307 --> 00:32:33.318 It's hard, man. 00:32:33.518 --> 00:32:35.693 It's hard to be in that environment 00:32:35.893 --> 00:32:38.069 when, you know, we're literally, like, 00:32:38.269 --> 00:32:42.336 at the bottom of the league. 00:32:42.536 --> 00:32:46.920 I think Jim underestimated how difficult 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:49.057 it is to win in the NBA. 00:32:49.257 --> 00:32:52.515 It involves more than just being able to pick a player 00:32:52.715 --> 00:32:55.111 or sign a contract. 00:32:55.311 --> 00:32:58.275 He might have underestimated what it took to actually get 00:32:58.475 --> 00:33:01.115 that team together and produce the type 00:33:01.315 --> 00:33:02.576 of team that will win. 00:33:08.713 --> 00:33:11.394 We used to have family meetings every summer. 00:33:11.594 --> 00:33:14.809 And Jim and Mitch would usually attend and give us an update 00:33:15.009 --> 00:33:16.529 on the state of the team. 00:33:16.729 --> 00:33:18.065 I believe it was the first year 00:33:18.265 --> 00:33:19.577 we missed the playoffs. 00:33:19.777 --> 00:33:21.739 Dad only missed the playoffs, what, twice. 00:33:21.939 --> 00:33:24.295 Like, okay, what's going on? 00:33:24.495 --> 00:33:26.252 You know, we're still grieving, 00:33:26.452 --> 00:33:28.010 you know, the loss of my dad. 00:33:28.210 --> 00:33:30.761 And it's like, okay, what's gonna happen next? 00:33:30.961 --> 00:33:33.513 Could the Buss family ever win a championship 00:33:33.713 --> 00:33:35.442 without Dr. Buss? 00:33:35.642 --> 00:33:37.771 I'm kind of, like, curious to see what 00:33:37.971 --> 00:33:39.575 Jim's philosophy would be. 00:33:39.775 --> 00:33:43.157 I mean, he's under pressure from the family. 00:33:43.357 --> 00:33:45.254 Everybody's second guessing. 00:33:45.454 --> 00:33:48.877 I know that my dad put Jimmy there for a reason. 00:33:49.077 --> 00:33:50.639 And just because my dad was gone 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:53.260 doesn't mean that the reason went away. 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:56.150 But it was up to Jim to prove it. 00:33:56.350 --> 00:33:58.655 When will we be back in the playoffs? 00:33:58.855 --> 00:34:02.784 I need to know so that we know how to price our tickets. 00:34:02.984 --> 00:34:06.913 And he said, "We'll be back in the playoffs in a year." 00:34:07.113 --> 00:34:08.633 I remember sitting next to my sister. 00:34:08.833 --> 00:34:12.131 And I remember my sister kind of confirming, 00:34:12.331 --> 00:34:15.063 like, what had just been said. 00:34:15.263 --> 00:34:16.733 You know, Jim, why did you say that? 00:34:16.933 --> 00:34:18.853 And what's the upside? There's no upside. 00:34:19.053 --> 00:34:20.940 It's only downside, right? 00:34:21.140 --> 00:34:22.828 - And then Jesse said, 00:34:23.028 --> 00:34:25.199 "I don't-I don't think it's gonna be a year." 00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:26.461 - And I laughed. 00:34:26.661 --> 00:34:28.715 Like, I'm sorry. Like, I-I laughed. 00:34:28.915 --> 00:34:30.401 Like, I kind of scoffed, and I was like, 00:34:30.601 --> 00:34:31.888 "There's no way that's gonna happen." 00:34:32.088 --> 00:34:34.764 Maybe if you could, like, take who we had on the roster 00:34:34.964 --> 00:34:37.641 and make them healthy again and five years younger, sure. 00:34:37.841 --> 00:34:39.779 But that wasn't going to happen. 00:34:39.979 --> 00:34:41.566 They didn't have any intimate knowledge 00:34:41.766 --> 00:34:43.411 of how the-how it works. 00:34:43.611 --> 00:34:45.749 And now to say, "Well, you know, 00:34:45.949 --> 00:34:47.828 why don't you do this? Why don't you do that?"... 00:34:48.028 --> 00:34:48.964 It was like, first of all, 00:34:49.164 --> 00:34:52.137 it would take me a week to answer that. 00:34:52.337 --> 00:34:55.660 I think the only person that didn't scoff at that was me. 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:59.184 How exactly are you gonna get this team back in one year? 00:34:59.384 --> 00:35:00.069 It was funny to me. 00:35:00.269 --> 00:35:01.238 And what did he say? 00:35:01.438 --> 00:35:03.159 "Okay, three years, three years." 00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:06.453 And I said, "If we're not back in the playoffs, 00:35:06.653 --> 00:35:09.747 then you know I might have to make a change." 00:35:09.947 --> 00:35:12.218 And he said, "Oh, absolutely. 00:35:12.418 --> 00:35:14.674 "If we're not back in the playoffs in three years, 00:35:14.874 --> 00:35:15.934 "I'm gonna walk away. 00:35:16.134 --> 00:35:19.186 Like, I-you know, I'll fire myself." 00:35:19.386 --> 00:35:22.238 So we shook hands in, you know- 00:35:22.438 --> 00:35:25.654 with the witnesses of my-my siblings. 00:35:28.702 --> 00:35:30.797 Are you and the rest of the family- 00:35:30.997 --> 00:35:33.545 are you and Jimmy-are you guys all on the same page? 00:35:33.745 --> 00:35:35.716 You know, I would say that, by and large, 00:35:35.916 --> 00:35:37.728 we are all on the same page. 00:35:37.928 --> 00:35:39.305 You know, I was looking for Jeanie 00:35:39.505 --> 00:35:40.734 to help smooth the water. 00:35:40.934 --> 00:35:42.855 She could have very easily done that. 00:35:43.055 --> 00:35:45.243 Publicly would say, 00:35:45.443 --> 00:35:48.282 every once in a while, you know, a support, 00:35:48.482 --> 00:35:50.295 but she also had- you know, 00:35:50.495 --> 00:35:54.043 she would phrase it in a way that there was not support. 00:35:54.243 --> 00:35:55.137 Let's put it that way. 00:35:55.337 --> 00:35:56.933 Mitch Kupchak, our general manager, 00:35:57.133 --> 00:36:00.097 and my brother Jimmy have a vision and a plan. 00:36:00.297 --> 00:36:03.646 I've empowered them. They have a vision. 00:36:03.846 --> 00:36:05.838 Jim and Mitch have a vision. 00:36:06.038 --> 00:36:08.030 They see the game the same way. 00:36:08.230 --> 00:36:09.333 - What is that vision? 00:36:09.533 --> 00:36:11.379 I-you know, you'd have to have them on your show. 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:16.421 Yeah, it-it was awkward for me because this is my brother. 00:36:16.621 --> 00:36:19.093 And he's part of my family. 00:36:19.293 --> 00:36:20.564 But I was just focused 00:36:20.764 --> 00:36:23.143 on, you know, the day-to-day operation 00:36:23.343 --> 00:36:24.905 of a basketball team. 00:36:25.105 --> 00:36:28.947 Nobody understands what kind of pressure was put on me, 00:36:29.147 --> 00:36:32.892 but I'm not gonna sit and let this get me down. 00:36:33.092 --> 00:36:36.347 Our focus was on building our young players. 00:36:36.547 --> 00:36:39.285 But it's not easy to plan for the future 00:36:39.485 --> 00:36:42.023 when you don't know who's gonna be with you. 00:36:42.223 --> 00:36:45.943 And finally, I just had to just accept the fact 00:36:46.143 --> 00:36:48.842 that I dis-I don't want to do this anymore. 00:36:49.042 --> 00:36:51.742 You know, it's- and I'm okay with that. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:55.724 The street's completely blocked off. 00:36:55.924 --> 00:36:57.602 People are just swarming all over the place. 00:36:57.802 --> 00:37:00.474 The Lakers are a team that's won 16 games this year. 00:37:00.674 --> 00:37:02.070 I don't think anybody knows that. 00:37:02.270 --> 00:37:04.190 They just know that it's Kobe's farewell, 00:37:04.390 --> 00:37:06.161 and they want to be here. 00:37:06.361 --> 00:37:09.869 There was this kind of supernatural buzz 00:37:10.069 --> 00:37:12.257 in the air for his last game. 00:37:12.457 --> 00:37:16.098 He inspired so many people. 00:37:16.298 --> 00:37:19.721 And when you have a star player retiring, 00:37:19.921 --> 00:37:23.270 you have the opportunity to say, 00:37:23.470 --> 00:37:25.491 "We love you. Thank you." 00:37:25.691 --> 00:37:27.278 Kobe, they're doing a big celebration 00:37:27.478 --> 00:37:28.164 for you the last game. 00:37:28.364 --> 00:37:29.516 A lot of us are gonna be there. 00:37:29.716 --> 00:37:30.869 Can you promise me one thing? 00:37:31.069 --> 00:37:31.880 What's up? 00:37:32.080 --> 00:37:33.462 I need 50 that night. 00:37:33.662 --> 00:37:35.044 Can you give us 50? 00:37:35.244 --> 00:37:36.463 - Uh, no. 00:37:38.717 --> 00:37:40.731 Towards the latter part of his career, 00:37:40.931 --> 00:37:45.064 after every year, he was like, "I'm-I'm gonna retire." 00:37:45.264 --> 00:37:46.743 And I'm like, "Okay." 00:37:46.943 --> 00:37:48.529 And so he's like, "I'm gonna retire this year." 00:37:48.729 --> 00:37:49.916 I was like, "Cool." 00:37:50.116 --> 00:37:51.293 And then he finally did. 00:37:51.493 --> 00:37:55.251 And, um, to be honest, it was just so sad 00:37:55.451 --> 00:37:57.138 to see that part of his life go 00:37:57.338 --> 00:38:00.302 because I knew how important it was to him. 00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:14.164 This is the last game for me to come out and perform 00:38:14.364 --> 00:38:15.466 in front of my fans, 00:38:15.666 --> 00:38:17.670 in front of my home crowd, 00:38:17.870 --> 00:38:19.391 in front of my family. 00:38:19.591 --> 00:38:20.894 Now, the storybook finish 00:38:21.094 --> 00:38:23.432 would be Kobe shooting to win the game at the end. 00:38:23.632 --> 00:38:24.434 We'll see. 00:38:26.521 --> 00:38:27.866 Well, let's go out here 00:38:28.066 --> 00:38:29.904 and put on a show one more time. 00:38:33.912 --> 00:38:36.959 I think the expectations were so high. 00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:38.795 Imagine that amount of pressure. 00:38:47.271 --> 00:38:50.862 The beginning- it just looked bad. 00:38:52.615 --> 00:38:56.081 Fans trying to urge that first Bryant basket in, 00:38:56.281 --> 00:38:58.510 hoping he gets going. 00:38:58.710 --> 00:39:02.075 And when I saw him go 0 for 5, I said, "Oh, damn. 00:39:02.275 --> 00:39:05.641 I don't want Kobe to go out this way," you know. 00:39:10.442 --> 00:39:11.662 But when he got that block, 00:39:11.862 --> 00:39:13.490 we just kind of all looked at each other. 00:39:13.690 --> 00:39:15.828 And it was like, you know him. 00:39:16.830 --> 00:39:18.650 And literally, he just caught fire after that. 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:25.974 Three consecutive hoops by number 24. 00:39:29.230 --> 00:39:30.904 Another shot, another shot, another shot, 00:39:31.104 --> 00:39:32.778 another shot. Oh, wow, this is crazy. 00:39:32.978 --> 00:39:33.790 This is crazy. 00:39:33.990 --> 00:39:35.752 Kobe. He throws. 00:39:35.952 --> 00:39:38.002 Good again. 00:39:38.202 --> 00:39:40.052 26 for Bryant. 00:39:42.540 --> 00:39:44.854 He has 35 points. 00:39:48.810 --> 00:39:50.731 Huertas looks for help, and he finds Bryant. 00:39:50.931 --> 00:39:51.909 3 ball. 00:39:52.109 --> 00:39:54.030 Yes, sir. There's 40. 00:39:56.534 --> 00:39:58.455 40 for Bryant. 00:40:04.133 --> 00:40:06.972 It was unbelievable. 00:40:08.266 --> 00:40:10.187 But he's worn out. 00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:14.705 I know he's exhausted. 00:40:14.905 --> 00:40:17.711 So I go over, and I just looked at him. 00:40:17.911 --> 00:40:20.082 I said, "You got seven more minutes in that body of yours?" 00:40:21.334 --> 00:40:24.516 He said, "Absolutely." 00:40:24.716 --> 00:40:26.219 "All right, everybody just get the hell out the way 00:40:26.419 --> 00:40:27.263 and get Kobe the ball." 00:40:28.765 --> 00:40:31.942 Great coaching strategy. 00:40:32.142 --> 00:40:35.120 He is so tired. 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:37.575 With half a minute to play, Bryant for the lead! 00:40:40.330 --> 00:40:41.926 Yes! 00:40:42.126 --> 00:40:45.215 Kobe Bryant gives the Lakers the lead. 00:40:45.415 --> 00:40:46.434 Are you kidding me? 00:40:46.634 --> 00:40:49.640 The amazing Kobe Bryant. 00:40:51.060 --> 00:40:54.492 ...Kobe. Fouled. 00:40:54.692 --> 00:40:57.031 And if Bryant makes both free throws, 00:40:57.231 --> 00:40:59.494 he will hit 60. 00:41:12.061 --> 00:41:14.690 Nothing brought me the sense of peace 00:41:14.890 --> 00:41:16.871 and of escape, you know, 00:41:17.071 --> 00:41:20.336 that the game of basketball did. 00:41:20.536 --> 00:41:22.423 As a kid, I was growing up and saying, 00:41:22.623 --> 00:41:26.840 "I want to be the greatest that ever played." 00:41:27.040 --> 00:41:28.644 Found a lot of comfort once I realized 00:41:28.844 --> 00:41:35.399 that my goal really is to be the best player I can be. 00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:37.465 Put one foot in front of the other, 00:41:37.665 --> 00:41:39.250 you control what you can control, 00:41:39.450 --> 00:41:41.035 and then you see what the outcome is. 00:41:45.794 --> 00:41:48.049 When I came in, I met an 18-year-old kid. 00:41:49.928 --> 00:41:52.057 He always dreamed about taking that last shot. 00:41:55.772 --> 00:41:59.998 A 60-point game for Kobe Bryant. 00:42:00.198 --> 00:42:01.492 And you can't mess with destiny. 00:42:01.692 --> 00:42:02.932 You can't question destiny. 00:42:03.132 --> 00:42:04.173 What a performance. 00:42:04.373 --> 00:42:07.638 What an exit for number 24. 00:42:07.838 --> 00:42:10.135 You couldn't have written this. 00:42:11.471 --> 00:42:16.230 It was a remarkable end to a career. 00:42:19.070 --> 00:42:22.435 I was there for his very first game. 00:42:22.635 --> 00:42:25.800 I'm here for his very last game. 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:28.551 Almost 20 years later, and now I'm sitting here 00:42:28.751 --> 00:42:31.102 and giving him a hug as he walks off the floor. 00:42:31.302 --> 00:42:35.310 You know, the way he went out was-was a Hollywood script. 00:42:35.510 --> 00:42:36.989 Boy, tears are flowing 00:42:37.189 --> 00:42:40.153 all over Southern California and all over the world 00:42:40.353 --> 00:42:44.913 who have loved this man for so long. 00:42:48.294 --> 00:42:49.807 I grew up a die-hard- 00:42:50.007 --> 00:42:52.019 I mean a die-hard Laker fan. 00:42:52.219 --> 00:42:55.626 So to be drafted and then traded to this organization 00:42:55.826 --> 00:42:59.233 and to spend 20 years here- I mean, you can't write 00:42:59.433 --> 00:43:00.610 something better than this. 00:43:04.785 --> 00:43:07.124 The thing that had me cracking up all night long 00:43:07.324 --> 00:43:09.837 was the fact that I go through 20 years 00:43:10.037 --> 00:43:12.351 of everybody screaming to pass the ball. 00:43:12.551 --> 00:43:14.221 And then the last night, they're like, "Don't pass it." 00:43:18.313 --> 00:43:21.945 And from the bottom of my heart, I- 00:43:22.145 --> 00:43:23.290 God, I love you guys. 00:43:23.490 --> 00:43:25.670 And, uh- 00:43:25.870 --> 00:43:27.372 I love you guys. 00:43:30.253 --> 00:43:32.016 It was, like, beyond anything 00:43:32.216 --> 00:43:35.101 that you could ever hope for in terms 00:43:35.301 --> 00:43:38.186 of being able to celebrate a career. 00:43:41.944 --> 00:43:45.117 It was a gift that he gave us. 00:43:55.804 --> 00:43:57.107 That winter, 00:43:57.307 --> 00:43:59.754 my relationship with Phil ended. 00:43:59.954 --> 00:44:02.476 Our lives just were growing apart. 00:44:02.676 --> 00:44:04.998 It was a difficult decision to make 00:44:05.198 --> 00:44:10.000 and, you know, something that we both agonized over 00:44:10.200 --> 00:44:12.304 and went back and forth. 00:44:12.504 --> 00:44:16.304 But it was the right decision for us to make. 00:44:16.504 --> 00:44:18.892 And then Kobe retired, 00:44:19.092 --> 00:44:21.280 and we lost our identity. 00:44:21.480 --> 00:44:24.320 This isn't what Laker basketball 00:44:24.520 --> 00:44:26.032 is supposed to feel like. 00:44:42.764 --> 00:44:44.672 My dad always wanted the Lakers to be great. 00:44:46.801 --> 00:44:50.182 There was a sense that there was no real plan 00:44:50.382 --> 00:44:51.653 from Jim and Mitch to get better. 00:44:51.853 --> 00:44:53.397 If anything, they seemed to be getting worse. 00:44:54.929 --> 00:44:56.891 There was just this sense that there was change coming. 00:45:06.906 --> 00:45:09.591 January 2017, I had dinner with Magic. 00:45:09.791 --> 00:45:15.469 And I asked him, "What do you think about this team? 00:45:15.669 --> 00:45:17.014 How do you think things are going?" 00:45:18.559 --> 00:45:23.402 I'm tired of watching the Lakers lose. 00:45:23.602 --> 00:45:25.248 Something needs to be done. 00:45:31.001 --> 00:45:32.053 You are back, Magic, 00:45:32.253 --> 00:45:33.597 with the Lakers organization 00:45:33.797 --> 00:45:35.853 as an official advisor to Jeanie Buss. 00:45:36.053 --> 00:45:40.186 What I want to do is try to just, little by little, 00:45:40.386 --> 00:45:42.565 build the Lakers back up, you know, 00:45:42.765 --> 00:45:43.817 to where they should be. 00:45:46.490 --> 00:45:48.535 Jeanie knew that I wanted to help her 00:45:48.735 --> 00:45:50.423 in any way that I could. 00:45:50.623 --> 00:45:52.343 So we made an agreement 00:45:52.543 --> 00:45:55.407 that Magic Johnson would come back 00:45:55.607 --> 00:45:58.272 and consult to me in my position 00:45:58.472 --> 00:46:04.734 and also be available to Jim and to Mitch. 00:46:06.864 --> 00:46:08.752 With Magic, we're going back 00:46:08.952 --> 00:46:11.874 to the way Dr. Buss ran the team, 00:46:12.074 --> 00:46:14.638 back to hope and success. 00:46:14.838 --> 00:46:19.556 At the top, Jim hasn't established the credibility 00:46:19.756 --> 00:46:21.768 that he needs out in the marketplace 00:46:21.968 --> 00:46:22.863 among players and agents. 00:46:23.063 --> 00:46:24.674 So he's got to get better at that. 00:46:24.874 --> 00:46:26.286 And Mitch and I were just like, 00:46:26.486 --> 00:46:27.998 "What in the world is he going to do? 00:46:28.198 --> 00:46:31.187 He hasn't been in basketball for many, many years." 00:46:31.387 --> 00:46:34.377 I would always go to him, you know, for advice 00:46:34.577 --> 00:46:36.390 on players or talk basketball. 00:46:36.590 --> 00:46:39.554 But Magic coming on board was kind of weird. 00:46:39.754 --> 00:46:41.233 I never understood that. 00:46:41.433 --> 00:46:43.520 Mitch and I used to talk all the time anyway 00:46:43.720 --> 00:46:44.740 because we were friends. 00:46:44.940 --> 00:46:46.776 And so he would ask me questions, 00:46:46.976 --> 00:46:48.957 and I'd give him an answer. 00:46:49.157 --> 00:46:50.961 He had never been in that position. 00:46:51.161 --> 00:46:53.540 You know, we'll work with him and see how it goes. 00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:55.177 I'm gonna call Jim later on today. 00:46:55.377 --> 00:46:57.798 And, uh, then we'll set up a meeting, hopefully. 00:46:57.998 --> 00:47:01.264 Um, uh, you know, Jim is calling the shots. 00:47:01.464 --> 00:47:03.831 And I want him to understand 00:47:04.031 --> 00:47:06.199 I'm just here to lend advice. 00:47:06.399 --> 00:47:10.241 He said, "Let's meet on Tuesday at 4:00." 00:47:10.441 --> 00:47:11.585 And I said, "Sure." 00:47:11.785 --> 00:47:14.123 Mitch and I are sitting there, just sitting, sitting, 00:47:14.323 --> 00:47:16.419 sitting, sitting, sitting. 00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:17.430 We were calling. 00:47:17.630 --> 00:47:18.632 You know, where's Magic? 00:47:18.832 --> 00:47:19.842 What's happening? 00:47:21.847 --> 00:47:23.484 And he never showed up. 00:47:23.684 --> 00:47:25.671 Uh, that's ridiculous. 00:47:25.871 --> 00:47:27.659 I never miss meetings. 00:47:27.859 --> 00:47:30.114 That's not who I am. Never been that way. 00:47:30.314 --> 00:47:32.138 I never heard anything like that. 00:47:32.338 --> 00:47:34.758 I didn't get any frantic phone calls, 00:47:34.958 --> 00:47:37.378 like "Has Earvin been abducted by aliens, 00:47:37.578 --> 00:47:39.850 "and, you know, is he okay? 00:47:40.050 --> 00:47:43.565 Because he hasn't shown up here yet." 00:47:43.765 --> 00:47:46.479 And the next day, the Lakers were returning, 00:47:46.679 --> 00:47:49.494 sent me a text and said, 00:47:49.694 --> 00:47:52.600 "Can we get together tomorrow morning, right?" 00:47:52.800 --> 00:47:55.706 And I had-there's the trade deadline, right? 00:47:55.906 --> 00:47:57.635 So I said, it's pretty busy, Dan. 00:47:57.835 --> 00:48:04.766 And he said, um, "I'd like to see you tomorrow morning." 00:48:04.966 --> 00:48:07.021 So that's when I knew something was up. 00:48:09.817 --> 00:48:12.123 It was the hardest thing I ever did. 00:48:12.323 --> 00:48:18.168 But still, I wasn't going to make a rash decision. 00:48:18.368 --> 00:48:21.266 When I had to make the decision, 00:48:21.466 --> 00:48:26.777 I sat with Kobe for a couple of hours. 00:48:26.977 --> 00:48:30.300 You know, I-I told him what I wanted to do, 00:48:30.500 --> 00:48:33.824 which was to fulfill the wishes that my dad had 00:48:34.024 --> 00:48:37.331 and what he told me he wanted me to do. 00:48:43.802 --> 00:48:46.066 Over the years, I said, you know, 00:48:46.266 --> 00:48:49.105 "Dad, Jimmy and I don't see eye to eye 00:48:49.305 --> 00:48:51.159 on a lot of things." 00:48:51.359 --> 00:48:54.833 My dad said, "I expect you, in the position 00:48:55.033 --> 00:49:00.753 that I'm putting you in, to make the changes necessary." 00:49:01.838 --> 00:49:03.345 I told Kobe that. 00:49:03.545 --> 00:49:04.853 And he said, "Okay." 00:49:05.053 --> 00:49:06.748 He goes, "I don't want you to look 00:49:06.948 --> 00:49:09.240 "just at what's right in front of you, 00:49:09.440 --> 00:49:11.733 "but, like, pull the camera back, Jeanie, 00:49:11.933 --> 00:49:14.873 and see the wide shot." 00:49:15.073 --> 00:49:19.482 I had to step up and take the sister hat off 00:49:19.682 --> 00:49:23.891 and become the leader of this organization. 00:49:24.091 --> 00:49:26.596 Well, now to a story that's shaking up the sports world. 00:49:26.796 --> 00:49:28.275 The LA Lakers clean house. 00:49:28.475 --> 00:49:30.400 The governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, 00:49:30.600 --> 00:49:32.525 Jeanie Buss, replaced her brother Jim Buss 00:49:32.725 --> 00:49:33.661 and Mitch Kupchak, who was 00:49:33.861 --> 00:49:35.072 the general manager of the Lakers, 00:49:35.272 --> 00:49:37.222 and gave complete control 00:49:37.422 --> 00:49:39.172 up to Earvin "Magic" Johnson. 00:49:39.372 --> 00:49:41.626 No, I wasn't surprised at all. 00:49:41.826 --> 00:49:43.723 Neither was Mitch. 00:49:43.923 --> 00:49:46.186 You know, we knew it was coming to an end. 00:49:46.386 --> 00:49:50.310 When Dr. Buss passed away, you know, I felt the pressure. 00:49:51.521 --> 00:49:56.656 It was just too much energy spent on the family's issues. 00:49:59.078 --> 00:50:00.757 She didn't call me to fire me. 00:50:00.957 --> 00:50:03.169 She obviously didn't want to talk to me. 00:50:03.369 --> 00:50:04.848 So I just said, "Okay." 00:50:05.048 --> 00:50:08.690 The timing was unusual. 00:50:08.890 --> 00:50:11.144 That April would have been the end 00:50:11.344 --> 00:50:13.398 of his three-year timeline 00:50:13.598 --> 00:50:15.924 that he shared with the media. 00:50:16.124 --> 00:50:19.024 The trade deadline was coming up. 00:50:19.224 --> 00:50:21.924 And I was concerned that Jimmy 00:50:22.124 --> 00:50:26.424 would make decisions and trade away players 00:50:26.624 --> 00:50:29.180 that would further undermine the team. 00:50:29.380 --> 00:50:31.736 So instead of waiting until April, 00:50:31.936 --> 00:50:37.571 I fast-forwarded the decision to February of 2017 00:50:37.771 --> 00:50:40.994 to make sure that no trades would happen 00:50:41.194 --> 00:50:44.418 that would further dig us in a hole. 00:50:44.618 --> 00:50:46.891 - It was like, "Whoa." 00:50:47.091 --> 00:50:49.178 First of all, how can you be fired? 00:50:49.378 --> 00:50:50.430 You're part of the family. 00:50:50.630 --> 00:50:52.026 You can't be fired. 00:50:52.226 --> 00:50:54.563 Jeanie, no, you can't do that. 00:50:54.763 --> 00:50:56.952 That's not right. 00:50:57.152 --> 00:50:59.750 It must have been humiliating for Jim 00:50:59.950 --> 00:51:03.461 to, you know, be let go from his own sister. 00:51:03.661 --> 00:51:07.172 What does that say about their relationship, 00:51:07.372 --> 00:51:09.060 just family? 00:51:09.260 --> 00:51:11.639 Did you call her after this happened? 00:51:11.839 --> 00:51:17.159 - I, um, no. 00:51:17.359 --> 00:51:19.455 There's a family feud brewing 00:51:19.655 --> 00:51:22.169 over who will run the Los Angeles Lakers. 00:51:22.369 --> 00:51:25.877 Jim and Johnny Buss allegedly attempted a coup 00:51:26.077 --> 00:51:27.722 to oust their sister, Jeanie Buss, 00:51:27.922 --> 00:51:29.784 as the controlling owner of the Lakers. 00:51:29.984 --> 00:51:31.647 That's according to the Los Angeles Times. 00:51:31.847 --> 00:51:35.980 My brother, Jimmy, got involved with some attorneys. 00:51:36.180 --> 00:51:37.566 We involved attorneys so we can understand 00:51:37.766 --> 00:51:38.870 what the trust says. 00:51:39.070 --> 00:51:40.514 We were trying to figure out, 00:51:40.714 --> 00:51:41.959 "Well, but is Jeanie the- 00:51:42.159 --> 00:51:44.756 the absolute dictator of the Lakers?" 00:51:44.956 --> 00:51:48.338 According to our attorneys, they said the best thing to do 00:51:48.538 --> 00:51:51.824 is to put some other people on the board. 00:51:52.024 --> 00:51:55.310 Our general counsel- he goes, 00:51:55.510 --> 00:51:56.279 "I wouldn't say it was 00:51:56.479 --> 00:51:58.943 "a hostile meeting that we had, 00:51:59.143 --> 00:52:01.539 "but they basically came in 00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:06.174 and-and put a loaded gun on the table." 00:52:06.374 --> 00:52:08.503 Just to make sure that there's checks and balances. 00:52:08.703 --> 00:52:09.890 That's all it was. 00:52:10.090 --> 00:52:14.185 But Jeanie took it as we're trying to unseat her. 00:52:14.385 --> 00:52:18.481 If I'm not on the board, then I wouldn't qualify 00:52:18.681 --> 00:52:21.069 to be controlling owner 00:52:21.269 --> 00:52:23.458 as recognized by the NBA. 00:52:23.658 --> 00:52:28.218 The NBA does not want teams in limbo, 00:52:28.418 --> 00:52:31.424 so they would have forced us to sell the team. 00:52:31.624 --> 00:52:33.177 On Friday, Jeanie Buss 00:52:33.377 --> 00:52:34.931 filed a restraining order 00:52:35.131 --> 00:52:35.900 against her brothers 00:52:36.100 --> 00:52:37.737 to basically say that they had to follow 00:52:37.937 --> 00:52:40.158 the wishes of her father in the family trust. 00:52:40.358 --> 00:52:42.529 And it wasn't like we were trying to get rid of Jeanie 00:52:42.729 --> 00:52:45.326 as president of the Lakers. 00:52:45.526 --> 00:52:47.924 We wanted Jeanie to understand 00:52:48.124 --> 00:52:52.558 that Dad would not have wanted you 00:52:52.758 --> 00:52:55.313 to just take total control, hire and fire 00:52:55.513 --> 00:53:01.817 whoever you wanted, and without the rest of us being involved. 00:53:04.823 --> 00:53:06.502 Clearly, the intention 00:53:06.702 --> 00:53:08.841 that my father had in the trust 00:53:09.041 --> 00:53:13.758 was to make sure that I would be named controlling owner, 00:53:13.958 --> 00:53:16.389 because he wrote the trust exactly the way 00:53:16.589 --> 00:53:19.207 the judge interpreted it. 00:53:19.407 --> 00:53:21.825 Those were his wishes, 00:53:22.025 --> 00:53:28.413 and they tried to disregard what their father wanted. 00:53:28.613 --> 00:53:30.500 That's a betrayal of all the hard work 00:53:30.700 --> 00:53:33.256 and what he did on our behalf 00:53:33.456 --> 00:53:35.260 to make this possible. 00:53:38.725 --> 00:53:42.904 I felt that there was this kind of desire 00:53:43.104 --> 00:53:47.084 to remove me or stab me in the heart. 00:53:47.284 --> 00:53:51.709 The episode with not hiring Phil and that whole charade, 00:53:51.909 --> 00:53:54.850 and now this? Okay, I-I was right. 00:53:55.050 --> 00:53:58.598 This was happening to me. I wasn't just being paranoid. 00:54:07.157 --> 00:54:11.207 It was, you know, sickening for me. 00:54:15.382 --> 00:54:19.832 I always knew that Jeanie was gonna be the one, 00:54:20.032 --> 00:54:24.483 um, that eventually, you know, took my dad's space. 00:54:24.683 --> 00:54:27.739 She-she knows every aspect of the company. 00:54:27.939 --> 00:54:30.996 She's sacrificed a lot to get where she is. 00:54:31.196 --> 00:54:34.219 And I supported her. 00:54:34.419 --> 00:54:37.092 I knew all those years that he was grooming, 00:54:37.292 --> 00:54:39.438 you know, Jeanie to take over. 00:54:39.638 --> 00:54:41.058 He didn't have to talk to me about it. 00:54:41.258 --> 00:54:42.946 I was seeing it play out. 00:54:43.146 --> 00:54:45.985 I knew personally that she was gonna be the one. 00:54:50.995 --> 00:54:52.840 - She had a blueprint. 00:54:53.040 --> 00:54:55.637 She knew what her blueprint was gonna be now. 00:54:55.837 --> 00:54:58.509 You know, there are some things that, um, you know, 00:54:58.709 --> 00:55:00.743 we discussed and talked about- 00:55:00.943 --> 00:55:03.321 you know, from a distance, now, 00:55:03.521 --> 00:55:05.700 because we weren't, uh, engaged. 00:55:05.900 --> 00:55:10.366 But yeah, she-she knew what was gonna happen 00:55:10.566 --> 00:55:12.714 and how it was gonna happen. 00:55:12.914 --> 00:55:15.376 I've been prepared for this my entire life. 00:55:15.576 --> 00:55:17.264 I didn't see all the twists and turns, 00:55:17.464 --> 00:55:21.013 but I'm just doing exactly what my dad asked me to do. 00:55:24.102 --> 00:55:25.772 She made the right decision. 00:55:25.972 --> 00:55:28.036 It was the right call. 00:55:28.236 --> 00:55:30.740 People were-you know, he might have been upset, 00:55:30.940 --> 00:55:33.004 but it was the right call. 00:55:33.204 --> 00:55:36.710 But you still on the team. 00:55:36.910 --> 00:55:39.884 Man, it's... Whoo. 00:55:42.974 --> 00:55:45.863 Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news. 00:55:46.063 --> 00:55:49.403 LeBron James will not pick up the option on the final year 00:55:49.603 --> 00:55:50.831 of his contract with the Cavaliers 00:55:51.031 --> 00:55:53.519 and will become an unrestricted free agent today. 00:55:53.719 --> 00:55:56.095 Me and Magic work out at the same gym. 00:55:56.295 --> 00:55:58.471 He ran out of the gym one day real fast. 00:55:58.671 --> 00:56:00.133 You know, I'm like, "What, whoa, you all right?" 00:56:00.333 --> 00:56:01.218 He's, "Yeah, I gotta go to the office. 00:56:01.418 --> 00:56:02.312 Got something going on." 00:56:02.512 --> 00:56:03.639 You know, and he just sprints out of there. 00:56:05.685 --> 00:56:08.691 I had business.