All-round Athlete

Chapter 801 The Lakers of Bath

The Bass family is the main owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. It is not considered a wealthy family in the United States. Even among the owners of various NBA teams, the Bass family's assets can only be regarded as a medium level. For example, the owner of the Rockets, Alexander, and the owner of the Mavericks, Cuban, are richer than Bass.

However, in the sports circle in Los Angeles, the Bass family is a giant. In addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Buss family also owns the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, American football's Los Angeles Lasers, and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. At the same time, the Bass family also owns other assets such as sports TV.

The founder of the Buss family, Jerry Buss, started with real estate. In 1979, he spent $67.5 million to buy more than 80% of the shares of the Lakers, and he managed the Lakers to become the most successful professional basketball club in the world. , Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and now Kobe Bryant have bloomed here one after another.

Today, Jerry Buss is 77 years old. As early as a few years ago, he lived a retired life, and his second son, Jim Buss, has also become the heir of the old Buss, controlling Los Angeles lakers.

The 4.5% of the Lakers shares controlled by Magic Johnson is far from enough to affect the Bass family's control of the Los Angeles Lakers, but if Johnson wants to sell this part of the equity, he cannot get around the Bass family.

At this time, in the office of the president of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jim Buss seemed a little irritable. He did not want Johnson to sell the 4.5% stake in the Lakers.

After all, Johnson is an old courtier of the Lakers, and he maintains a good relationship with the Bass family. In the Bass family's view, it is better to put the equity in the hands of a good acquaintance than in the hands of a stranger, even if it is just 4.5% stake.

In order to prevent Johnson from selling this part of the equity, Jim even asked his father Buss Sr. to contact Johnson, but in the end it failed. Johnson was determined to sell the 4.5% stake in the Lakers.

Of course, Magic Johnson will not be short of money. The reason why he sold the shares of the Lakers is because the head coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson, expressed his intention to retire. Johnson believes that once Phil Jackson retires, the Lakers will fall into a long period of low ebb, and the value of the Lakers' stocks will also depreciate at that time. It is better to sell the stocks while the Lakers have just won a championship. Cash out and earn more.

"Damn Phil Jackson!" Jim Bass cursed involuntarily when he thought of Phil Jackson.

Phil Jackson is obviously a special existence in the Lakers. This meritorious coach has led the Lakers to achieve many brilliance. From the perspective of a coach, Phil Jackson is probably the most outstanding achievement among active NBA coaches one. However, Phil Jackson is not satisfied with this. He hopes to participate in the management of the team and hopes to become the team's management.

Phil Jackson has asked many times, hoping to enter the management of the Lakers, but neither the old Bass nor the current Bass Jr. agreed. Although Old Buss was friends with Jackson, he had always been afraid of Jackson. He was worried that Jackson would steal the Lakers' property. Especially after Phil Jackson fell in love with Jenny Bass, the daughter of old Bass, old Bass became more guarded against Phil Jackson. When the old Buss appointed the overtime worker, Jenny Buss was obviously more capable, but the old Buss finally chose Jim. The reason why he didn't let Jenny Buss take over was because he was worried that the Lakers would fall into In the hands of Phil Jackson.

Among the Lakers, Phil Jackson is undoubtedly the master of meritorious deeds. In fact, the master of meritorious deeds is not the most critical issue. There are many kings in history who can live in harmony with ministers of deserving masters. However, when The king felt that when this powerful minister wanted to seize his country, the conflict must be inevitable. In Bass' view, Phil Jackson not only wanted to seize his own country, but also showed it clearly.

However, Phil Jackson has brought too much glory to the Lakers, so the Bass family cannot easily drive him away, and for the record of the Lakers, the Bass family will try their best to keep Phil Jackson , Of course, the premise is as the coach of the team. At the same time, the boss of the Lakers is Kobe. With Kobe's pride, if the coach is changed, Kobe may not be willing to obey the coach's arrangement.

Phil Jackson seemed to have seen this point, so he made a move to retreat, saying that he would retire next year and no longer be the head coach of the Lakers. Of course, if the Bass family is willing to hand over some management rights, or even transfer some shares, Phil Jackson doesn't mind staying and continuing to lead the Lakers.

This is actually a game. Phil Jackson believed that Jim could not find a more suitable coach, while Jim felt that Phil Jackson was bluffing. During this time period, Magic Johnson became more sensitive when he sold the 4.5% stake.

"In any case, this 4.5% of the shares cannot fall into the hands of Phil Jackson." Jim Bass tapped on the table, although he knew that Phil Jackson would not blatantly buy the 4.5% of the shares, but Phil -Jackson can use a third-party investor to take over this part of the shares without anyone noticing. Once that happens, Phil Jackson will have a springboard and can participate in the decision-making of the Lakers at any time Among them, coupled with the help of Jenny - Buss, Jim - Buss is likely to be overhead.

"If it doesn't work, I can only promise Kobe." Jim Buss sighed.

Kobe also expressed interest in the 4.5% of the Lakers shares, 50 million US dollars is not a very huge amount for Kobe, he can definitely get it. Of course, Kobe didn't pay for it himself. Behind him, there is a Chinese-American benefactor of Patrick Chen who is willing to pay for the 4.5% of the shares. Of course, as Kobe's beneficiary, he must be with Kobe, and what Patrick Chen represents is also Kobe's interests.

"Do you really want to sell it to Kobe!" Jim Buss continued to tap the table with his fingers.

Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly the symbol of the city of Los Angeles, and even more so, the symbol of the Lakers. However, Jim is also afraid of Kobe. What he worries most is that Kobe will become the second Phil Jackson!

"It seems that I need to talk to that Patrick Chen." Jim Buss was thinking about it, when the phone rang, it was the Lakers general manager Kupchak's call.

"Jim, I just received a call from Zhang Guan." Kupchak said directly without going around in circles.

"Zhang Guan? The Chinese?" Jim recalled for two seconds: "I remembered that the "New York Times" seems to have reported recently that we are negotiating with him about signing a contract. He must have called for this matter. Right? Do you want us to clarify?"

"No. Zhang Guan didn't mention the "New York Times" at all." Kupchak continued: "He is interested in Johnson's 4.5% stake, and hopes to call you."

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