The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, had a rough start last season, recording a 3-10 start in their first 13 games. Moreover, their star player, LeBron James, was sidelined due to an injury for 13 consecutive games.
In a recent interview on The Athletic NBA Show, Lakers’ owner and president Jeanie Buss recalled the season’s most shining moment: LeBron James surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar set the bar high in 1984, a moment that Buss vividly remembers, especially the commentary from legendary announcer Francis “Chick” Hearn, who had once declared it a record unlikely to be ever broken.
“I was there when Kareem set that record and I’ll never forget Chick Hearn saying,” Buss said. “‘This is a record that will never be broken.’ It was broken in my lifetime by another person wearing a Laker uniform meant the world to me.”
Buss also pointed out LeBron’s resilience in maintaining a high-performance level year after year deserves acknowledgment.
However, with James temporarily out of the court, Anthony Davis stepped up in a big way. The forward averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last season, playing a pivotal role in securing the Lakers’ playoff spot, finishing seventh in the Western Conference with a 43-39 record.
“Bottom line about LeBron and me: LeBron makes me love the game again” 🙌
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on LeBron James breaking his all-time scoring record pic.twitter.com/5bI90Auood
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2023
Buss praised Davis, stating, “Something just clicked with the team and Anthony Davis being healthy. There is an argument to be made that he was the best player in the NBA when he was playing at that level.”
Jeanie Buss faces off-court challenges during team’s struggles
While the Lakers were settling in on the court, the start of the season was challenging. The appointment of Darvin Ham as the new head coach might have played a role in the initial upsets, considering the time it often takes for a team to adapt to new leadership.
However, what was even more concerning were the threats directed at Buss. She revealed,“We got a brand new coach, we were 2-10, I’m not going to survive this. I was getting death threats. It was not fun.”
EVERY Lakers Player Stats & Award Predictions For the 2023-24 NBA Season.
(A thread). pic.twitter.com/8jOmtuyhFf
— . (@LakerFan1234000) August 3, 2023
Although Buss avoided getting into the specifics of the threats, it highlights the immense pressure that comes with leadership roles in high-profile franchises.
The Lakers’ season has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, but with the legends and passionate leadership, they remain a team to watch.