Los Angeles Lakers president and governor Jeanie Buss insisted she is "the boss" of the team. While explaining the hierarchy of the Lakers organization, she admitted hiring New York Knicks president Phil Jackson was never an option.
Kobe Bryant last week seemingly questioned who was in charge of the Lakers, and Buss answered the question Thursday during an ESPN radio interview.
"I'm the boss," Buss told ESPN. "I am responsible ultimately for anything with the team and the decisions that are made. In my position, I empower people that are in positions to do their jobs.
"[Executive vice president of player personnel] Jim Buss and [general manager] Mitch Kupchak are responsible for all basketball decisions. They are empowered to do that. My job is to make sure, as a boss, that I provide them the tools to do the job successfully. But it's up to them to make the day-to-day decisions on how they operate their area of the business."
Buss, though, emphasized she is the one with the final say on any decision.
"Ultimately I am the one voice. I am that person," she said. "I'm at the top of the food chain."
She admitted she prefers to "build a consensus" among the Lakers' shareholders and her siblings, who share majority ownership of the team in a trust left by her father.
While she is engaged to marry Jackson, she acknowledged hiring Jackson to a job in the Lakers' front office was never considered.
"I think people need to understand: It isn't just Phil. They don't need anybody else. Everything is covered," Buss said. "There is no additional need for anybody to come in. Jimmy and Mitch have a like mind in how they see the game and what they want to accomplish with this team and they have it under control.
"They don't need another voice, whether that's Phil or whoever. It isn't about Phil; they don't need another voice, they've got it covered. I understand that and I respect that and I'm happy for them."
Buss's comments were seemingly a response to Bryant saying the team needs "a clear direction and clear authority."
