There is always a sense of uncertainty when a sports team gets sold. But in the case of the reported sale of a majority share of the Los Angeles Lakers from the Buss family to Mark Walter, there seems to be plenty of optimism and even excitement among fans.
The Buss family has gotten plenty of criticism for many years due to its penny-pinching ways when it comes to running the Lakers. But Walter is the CEO of Guggenheim Partners and has been the primary owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012. During that time, the Dodgers have won 11 of the last 12 National League West titles and two of the last five World Series championships.
Walter has spared no expense when it comes to running the Dodgers. He freely spent money to bring in prominent players such as former MVPs Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani. That willingness to spend money has extended throughout the organization, as he has brought in the best people.
One of those people is manager Dave Roberts, who was hired in 2016. He talked about what Walter will do for the Purple and Gold.
Via Los Angeles Times:
“He’s really committed to the city of Los Angeles in various ways. Sports is something that he’s very passionate about, and certainly Los Angeles sports. I think it’s a very exciting day for the Lakers, for the city of Los Angeles. And I think speaking from [the perspective of] a Dodger employee, he’s very competitive. He’s going to do everything he can to produce a championship-caliber team every single year and make sure the city feels proud of the Lakers and the legacy that they’ve already built with the Buss family.
“… I think he does everything he can to provide resources, support. He wants to win. He feels that the fans, the city, deserves that. I think that’s never lost.”
When Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979, they had a reputation as a bridesmaid franchise. But they won five NBA championships over the next nine seasons, and they then won five more in a span of 11 seasons starting with the 1999-2000 campaign, turning them into the gold standard of basketball.
After he passed away in 2013, his kids inherited the franchise, but in the last dozen seasons, it has missed the playoffs seven times and lost in the first round of the postseason three times. Although it won the 2020 world title, some would say the franchise doesn’t have quite the same mystique or luster it once boasted.
At least now, money may not be an obstacle to putting together the best Lakers rosters possible within the confines of the NBA’s new, ultra-restrictive salary cap.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on how Mark Walter will help Lakers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
