Phil Jackson is not the biggest Jim Buss fan, and the feelings he has toward the Los Angeles Lakers owner are probably mutual.
Buss, who has been in charge of basketball operations since the health of his late father Jerry began declining, chose to hire Mike D’Antoni two years ago instead of bringing back Jackson. Phil was clearly irritated by the way the entire ordeal went down.
For that reason and more, it should come as no surprise that Jackson took a shot at Buss when a reporter asked him for his opinion on the Lakers boss earlier this week.
“Jimmy Buss is a person that’s vaulted into position through his inheritance, his father’s position,” Jackson said, via Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. “I think he’s coming to terms with one of the realities of this job. That’s all I can offer.”
The relationship between Jackson and Buss is even more awkward given that Buss is Jackson’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. Jackson is engaged to Jeanne Buss, who is in charge of business operations with the Lakers while her brother Jim runs the basketball side. Jeanie and Jim reportedly did not speak after the team hired D’Antoni over Jackson.
While injuries to Kobe Bryant certainly haven’t made Jim Buss’ life easier over the past two years, there’s no question the Lakers have struggled since he took over. While Jim says Dwight Howard was never really a true Laker, Jeanne says she believes her father could have convinced Howard to stay in LA if he were still alive.
Nothing like a little family drama mixed with a side of business.
