Once it’s all set and done, what matters is legacy. NBA players are chasing greatness by breaking through their individual barriers and collecting championship conquests. But for an owner it’s different. Especially, if you are the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. To Jeanie Buss, the looming shadow of her father, the great Dr. Jerry Buss inspires her to not only be brave but also carry on his legacy. LA is supposed to be a place of groundbreaking superstars. So when the name Luka Doncic came up, she went right to the poker table.
Yes, a simple game of poker is how her father taught her a valuable lesson. “My dad was such a great poker player and he always wanted me to remember that poker was a game of patience… But once you got the cards, you had to go from zero to 100,” Buss said about what she had learned. At first, she used that analogy to exchange the Lakers’ bright young core to trade for Davis.
Pushing in all the chips got her and the Lakers a 17th title in 2020. So once she saw an opportunity to possibly prolong the stardom in LA, she didn’t mind recycling. “It was difficult because we weren’t looking to trade Anthony Davis or Max Christie. But it was a deal that he would’ve made. And we had to go for it,” Buss said according to Melissa Rohlin.
Jeanie Buss said her goal is to make her father proud.
I asked her if the Luka trade would’ve made him proud.
“He’d be very proud,” she said. “When you get a player of that stature you have to give up a lot. My dad was such a great poker player and he always wanted me to…
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) February 28, 2025
Dr. Jerry Buss did it with Shaquille O’Neal or even Pau Gasol later in his career, both of which rewarded the Purple and Gold with glistening returns.
Likewise, having the precedent, Jeanie Buss is looking to be just as ambitious. And well, Luka Doncic sets the stage for something seismic in LA. He’s only 25 years old and has been one of the stellar performers during the postseason since coming to the league. The former Real Madrid player may be marred with health issues during this trade.
However, not just the magnitude of the trade, but even the “motive” might lead to an inspired Doncic.
The Lakers get the best Luka Doncic?
When the Mavericks did trade him, they did the exact opposite of Buss. Dallas went away from their theme. Dirk Nowitzki set the norm for a superstar to possibly spend their career in Dallas. Luka Doncic wanted just that. However, that didn’t happen. But those wouldn’t be his only broken deals.
Since the trade, some alarming reports have crept in. Apparently, people within the Mavericks feel Doncic’s career will dip in the next five years. Are you sure you want to give gasoline to a player like Luka Doncic?
It does seem like they have had some effect on the Slovenian guard. And they play in the favor of the Lakers. Since entering the Purple and Gold facility, the 25-year-old appears to have noticeably lost some weight. First and foremost, it never looked like he was 270 lbs in the first place. Now, he’s starting to look better.
Another improvement is buying into the culture. JJ Redick and the Lakers play a heavy-motion defense. Likewise, Doncic is making strides to be a reliable contributor. In seven games, he has recorded a 105.1 defensive rating with his new team, the best mark of his young career. And it’s not even close.
With more reps, his shooting efficiency and familiarity with his teammates are going to keep growing astoundingly. That’s what the NBA needs to be prepared for. Thus far, the experiment has looked great. And with LeBron James, a role model by his side, Doncic has easy access to the formula which will help him physically.
If you talk about a game of poker, it seems Jeanie Buss might be one card away from a royal flush. Or who knows, maybe it’s Luka Doncic who completes her hand.
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