The Lakers are moving into a new chapter after the Buss family sold the franchise, but Pau Gasol is making sure their legacy isn’t forgotten. Speaking on The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, the Lakers legend praised Jerry and Jeanie Buss for creating an iconic franchise and reflected on what he learned during his time under their leadership.
“It was something that was very embedded. I think to the family, the feeling, the passion for the Lakers,” said Gasol. “How he [Jerry Buss] was able to really turn around and create an iconic franchise, having moved from Minneapolis. The whole deal has just been, it’s an incredible story. When Jeanie took over, I think she’s done an unbelievable job of doing that, kind of carrying over her dad and her family’s legacy. It was a family business, and it was almost run as such, and there’s special care that goes into it when you kind of go all in, and that’s your wealth, that’s your life, you live and breathe it.”
The Lakers are one of the NBA’s most storied and iconic franchises, with 17 championships and a star-studded history that includes stars like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. The Buss family was there through it all, and Gasol is proud to have played for them and an organization that treated each other like family.
“Honored that I was able to be a part and I’m a part of that franchise forever, having my name retired in the rafters along with all the greatest Lakers of all time,” added Gasol. “So obviously, that’s one of the biggest honors of not just my career, but my life. Now, exciting to see how all that hard work and commitment have paid off with the latest sale at the 10 billion dollar valuation. We hope it to be just as exciting as the previous one, and obviously, I will always be rooting for my Lakers and hoping that they do great.”
The Buss family ran the Lakers for nearly 50 years, and that stretch turned out to be one of the most prosperous in franchise history. Between the titles, the stars, and the glamour, the Lakers were thriving under the Buss regime, and we can only hope the momentum will continue under new majority owner Mark Walter.
While Pau remains optimistic about this new chapter for the Lakers, he won’t forget the legacy that the Buss family left behind. Like most players, his NBA journey didn’t begin in Los Angeles. In fact, it wasn’t until seven years into his career that he donned the purple and gold. Leading up to his arrival, the Lakers were in NBA purgatory without a proper star to pair next to Kobe Bryant. So when they added Pau in February’s trade deadline, it turned the Lakers into contenders practically overnight.
They made the NBA Finals that season (2008) before winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. In that stretch, Gasol served as the perfect partner to Kobe Bryant with averages of 18.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 55.3% shooting. Gasol stayed on the Lakers for another four years after that, but his bond with Kobe never faded, and even persists today after Kobe’s death in 2020.
Under Jerry and Jeanie’s watch, the Lakers turned into the league’s crown jewel, and Gasol will always carry pride for being part of that legacy. Even as the team moves forward under new ownership, his words are a reminder that the heart of the franchise was built on passion, loyalty, and family values that will always define what it means to wear purple and gold.
