1 00:00:01,921 --> 00:00:04,927 [pensive music] 2 00:00:04,927 --> 00:00:11,941 ♪ ♪ 3 00:00:31,647 --> 00:00:33,400 JEANIE: Around 2000, 4 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,404 we started having conversations 5 00:00:35,404 --> 00:00:40,414 about how my dad wanted to be remembered. 6 00:00:40,414 --> 00:00:43,671 Legacy was important to him. 7 00:00:45,884 --> 00:00:50,309 He wanted to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 8 00:00:50,309 --> 00:00:56,781 He wanted to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. 9 00:00:56,781 --> 00:00:59,035 But really, what was most important to him 10 00:00:59,035 --> 00:01:01,916 was his family and his team. 11 00:01:03,878 --> 00:01:04,963 JOHNNY: He wanted the Lakers to be run 12 00:01:04,963 --> 00:01:07,259 generation after generation. 13 00:01:07,259 --> 00:01:08,805 JANIE: The franchise is-- 14 00:01:08,805 --> 00:01:10,140 is what we have. 15 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:14,566 And we have to do whatever we can to keep it going. 16 00:01:14,566 --> 00:01:18,323 - He would say, "I trust you guys to keep this going 17 00:01:18,323 --> 00:01:20,662 the way that I want it to go." 18 00:01:20,662 --> 00:01:22,708 JEANIE: But I think that my dad, 19 00:01:22,708 --> 00:01:25,254 at the end of his life, wanted peace. 20 00:01:25,254 --> 00:01:31,057 He didn't want disgruntled, you know, children complaining. 21 00:01:31,057 --> 00:01:32,853 JOHNNY: The problem was, you know, he didn't want 22 00:01:32,853 --> 00:01:34,230 to talk about death. 23 00:01:34,230 --> 00:01:35,692 He want--he didn't want to talk about wills. 24 00:01:35,692 --> 00:01:38,238 He didn't want to talk about trust. 25 00:01:38,238 --> 00:01:42,831 He wanted to just talk about, generation after generation, 26 00:01:42,831 --> 00:01:45,587 carrying the Lakers as far as we can. 27 00:01:45,587 --> 00:01:47,047 JEANIE: He didn't share 28 00:01:47,047 --> 00:01:50,304 exactly what the succession plan was. 29 00:01:50,304 --> 00:01:52,642 - I knew it's gonna come down to a conflict. 30 00:01:55,982 --> 00:01:58,613 ROGER TROUTMAN: ♪ California love ♪ 31 00:01:58,613 --> 00:02:00,825 [2Pac's "California Love"] 32 00:02:00,825 --> 00:02:06,336 ♪ California knows how to party ♪ 33 00:02:06,336 --> 00:02:09,175 ♪ California knows how to party ♪ 34 00:02:09,175 --> 00:02:11,304 CHICK HEARN: There he is. His first shot as an owner. 35 00:02:11,304 --> 00:02:12,389 You think he likes it? [commentator laughs] 36 00:02:12,389 --> 00:02:14,060 ROGER: ♪ California ♪ 37 00:02:14,060 --> 00:02:16,231 ♪ ♪ 38 00:02:16,231 --> 00:02:18,109 - At this moment, I can't believe it. 39 00:02:18,109 --> 00:02:19,613 ROGER: ♪ California ♪ 40 00:02:19,613 --> 00:02:20,824 PERSON: What's the future? 41 00:02:20,824 --> 00:02:22,326 Want to replace your father at the top? 42 00:02:22,326 --> 00:02:24,413 - Yeah. [laughs] 43 00:02:24,413 --> 00:02:26,376 ROGER: ♪ In the city ♪ 44 00:02:26,376 --> 00:02:28,046 BUSS: Between my daughters and my sons, 45 00:02:28,046 --> 00:02:30,885 there are certainly enough sports teams to go around. 46 00:02:30,885 --> 00:02:33,348 ♪ ♪ 47 00:02:33,348 --> 00:02:34,935 ROGER: ♪ In the city ♪ 48 00:02:34,935 --> 00:02:36,730 PERSON: Are you and the rest of the family, 49 00:02:36,730 --> 00:02:37,983 are you guys all on the same page? 50 00:02:37,983 --> 00:02:40,487 ♪ ♪ 51 00:02:40,487 --> 00:02:41,740 PERSON: The Lakers caught in the middle 52 00:02:41,740 --> 00:02:43,368 of a family power struggle. 53 00:02:43,368 --> 00:02:47,586 ♪ ♪ 54 00:02:48,253 --> 00:02:50,340 BUSS: I think I've really left them with something. 55 00:02:59,776 --> 00:03:01,404 METTA: I was in LA, actually, just partying. 56 00:03:01,404 --> 00:03:02,741 [laughs] 57 00:03:02,741 --> 00:03:04,703 And then I get a call from my agent. 58 00:03:04,703 --> 00:03:06,874 And he say, uh, "The Lakers wanna talk to you." 59 00:03:06,874 --> 00:03:09,462 And my first response was, "For what?" 60 00:03:09,462 --> 00:03:11,717 [laughs] 61 00:03:11,717 --> 00:03:14,055 And then the next morning, I'm like, "Wow, this is crazy, 62 00:03:14,055 --> 00:03:15,725 a hell of an opportunity." 63 00:03:15,725 --> 00:03:17,687 I never thought I'd have an opportunity to win again, 64 00:03:17,687 --> 00:03:19,190 just because, when you don't treat 65 00:03:19,190 --> 00:03:21,277 the basketball gods the right way, 66 00:03:21,277 --> 00:03:22,906 they don't treat you the right way. 67 00:03:24,450 --> 00:03:26,997 ISAIAH: I enjoy coaching Metta. 68 00:03:26,997 --> 00:03:29,878 The young players can play with force. 69 00:03:29,878 --> 00:03:32,091 They can play with energy. 70 00:03:32,091 --> 00:03:34,011 And I stayed with him. 71 00:03:34,011 --> 00:03:36,516 I could have given him the--the last piece 72 00:03:36,516 --> 00:03:39,564 of how to harness that force and energy 73 00:03:39,564 --> 00:03:42,111 and not let it spin out of control 74 00:03:42,111 --> 00:03:44,490 with the Malice at the Palace and everything 75 00:03:44,490 --> 00:03:47,079 spun out of control for him. 76 00:03:47,079 --> 00:03:48,999 NEWSCASTER: It was one of the most violent clashes 77 00:03:48,999 --> 00:03:51,755 between players and fans in U. S. sports history. 78 00:03:51,755 --> 00:03:53,466 NEWSCASTER: Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers 79 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:54,928 racing into the stands 80 00:03:54,928 --> 00:03:56,765 after a spectator hit him with a drink. 81 00:03:56,765 --> 00:03:58,936 That set off, basically, a riot. 82 00:03:58,936 --> 00:04:01,065 REPORTER: The NBA has handed down record suspensions. 83 00:04:01,065 --> 00:04:03,153 And now, authorities in Michigan 84 00:04:03,153 --> 00:04:06,200 are also considering criminal charges. 85 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,163 METTA: Five years past the brawl, 86 00:04:08,163 --> 00:04:09,498 here I am with the opportunity 87 00:04:09,498 --> 00:04:10,918 to play for the Lakers. 88 00:04:10,918 --> 00:04:13,549 So I said, "Okay, I'ma cherish this moment." 89 00:04:13,549 --> 00:04:15,678 LAMAR: When Ron came to the team, 90 00:04:15,678 --> 00:04:17,724 I think at that point in Ron's career, 91 00:04:17,724 --> 00:04:19,561 I think he just wanted to be dependable. 92 00:04:19,561 --> 00:04:24,070 And that's all we needed from him, was just to fit in. 93 00:04:24,070 --> 00:04:26,658 - The NBA Finals begin tomorrow night, 94 00:04:26,658 --> 00:04:29,246 when the Boston Celtics go to see the Los Angeles Lakers 95 00:04:29,246 --> 00:04:32,796 in a rematch from two years ago that was won by the Celtics. 96 00:04:32,796 --> 00:04:34,716 Tell me how you see the finals. 97 00:04:34,716 --> 00:04:36,595 - I think it's a really interesting matchup. 98 00:04:36,595 --> 00:04:38,682 A couple of years ago, when they faced each other, 99 00:04:38,682 --> 00:04:40,477 they were both looking for championships. 100 00:04:40,477 --> 00:04:42,022 Now, they both have them. 101 00:04:42,022 --> 00:04:44,318 Boston beat the Lakers in that series, 102 00:04:44,318 --> 00:04:46,615 humiliated them in the final game. 103 00:04:46,615 --> 00:04:49,663 And the Lakers then came back last year and beat Orlando. 104 00:04:49,663 --> 00:04:51,750 They faced each other 11 times in the finals. 105 00:04:51,750 --> 00:04:53,712 So there's a great history here. 106 00:04:53,712 --> 00:04:56,342 And Boston's won nine of those times. 107 00:04:57,010 --> 00:05:00,183 REPORTER: Welcome to downtown Los Angeles, 108 00:05:00,183 --> 00:05:03,691 where it's time for the NBA's biggest stage, 109 00:05:03,691 --> 00:05:05,945 the 2010 NBA Finals, 110 00:05:05,945 --> 00:05:09,368 featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. 111 00:05:09,368 --> 00:05:12,124 Lakers-- SNOOP: You know, us in Boston, 112 00:05:12,124 --> 00:05:13,334 we got a love-love, 113 00:05:13,334 --> 00:05:15,213 hate-hate relationship. 114 00:05:15,213 --> 00:05:18,303 We love our teams, and we hate their teams. 115 00:05:18,303 --> 00:05:21,100 Definitely was happy for KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen 116 00:05:21,100 --> 00:05:24,148 and the rest of the guys, but fuck them. 117 00:05:24,148 --> 00:05:25,400 ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, 118 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,739 game one starts now. 119 00:05:27,739 --> 00:05:29,491 PERSON: 2008 against the Celtics-- 120 00:05:29,491 --> 00:05:31,454 all of Laker Nation was hurt because-- 121 00:05:31,454 --> 00:05:32,999 especially because it was against the Celtics. 122 00:05:32,999 --> 00:05:34,335 PERSON: Right? Against the Celtics. 123 00:05:34,335 --> 00:05:35,588 PERSON: It was painful. Dude, you can't lo-- 124 00:05:35,588 --> 00:05:36,882 PERSON: [raspberry sound] 125 00:05:36,882 --> 00:05:38,259 I mean, I grew up such a Lakers fan. 126 00:05:38,259 --> 00:05:39,846 And so like, the Lakers and Celtics rivalry... 127 00:05:39,846 --> 00:05:40,890 PERSON: You just hate them. PERSON: Meant everything-- 128 00:05:40,890 --> 00:05:42,226 PERSON: But you hate them. 129 00:05:42,226 --> 00:05:43,519 PERSON: We can't-- there's just no way 130 00:05:43,519 --> 00:05:45,398 I can be on a team, on a Lakers team, 131 00:05:45,398 --> 00:05:48,196 that loses to the Celtics twice. 132 00:05:48,196 --> 00:05:49,240 No. 133 00:05:49,699 --> 00:05:52,329 ANNOUNCER: As Fisher puts up his first jumper. 134 00:05:52,329 --> 00:05:53,666 Artest down the other way. 135 00:05:53,666 --> 00:05:55,962 ANNOUNCER: Artest grapples... [crowd cheering] 136 00:05:55,962 --> 00:05:58,341 ANNOUNCER: Gasol let go. 137 00:05:58,341 --> 00:05:59,886 ANNOUNCER: The five starters have scored-- 138 00:05:59,886 --> 00:06:01,640 PERSON: I've seen us as a team 139 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,103 grow so much from 2008. 140 00:06:04,103 --> 00:06:07,025 Powell, Lamar, you know, all our guys-- 141 00:06:07,025 --> 00:06:10,073 like, how much we have grown since the last time 142 00:06:10,073 --> 00:06:11,868 we faced this team. 143 00:06:11,868 --> 00:06:15,333 DEREK: The right mixture of guys is so important. 144 00:06:15,333 --> 00:06:19,300 It takes very specific parts and pieces and chemistry 145 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:21,847 in order to really bring it all together. 146 00:06:21,847 --> 00:06:23,767 ANNOUNCER: The Lakers take game one. 147 00:06:23,767 --> 00:06:26,815 NBA Finals are tied at one game apiece. 148 00:06:26,815 --> 00:06:28,861 ANNOUNCER: And a big road victory for Los Angeles. 149 00:06:28,861 --> 00:06:33,036 ANNOUNCER: The NBA Finals are tied at two games apiece. 150 00:06:33,036 --> 00:06:35,165 ANNOUNCER: The Celtics win and are headed to Los Angeles 151 00:06:35,165 --> 00:06:36,500 with a 3-2 lead. 152 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:37,754 ANNOUNCER: And there'll be a game seven 153 00:06:37,754 --> 00:06:40,425 of the 2010 NBA Finals. 154 00:06:40,425 --> 00:06:42,095 - Game seven-- 155 00:06:42,095 --> 00:06:44,475 I wanted to leave because we was losing. 156 00:06:44,475 --> 00:06:46,062 ANNOUNCER: Rondo, the offensive rebound. 157 00:06:46,062 --> 00:06:48,358 Goes back up and packs it in. 158 00:06:48,358 --> 00:06:50,111 And it's a 13-point lead. 159 00:06:50,111 --> 00:06:52,282 RAJON: We had a lead going into the fourth quarter. 160 00:06:52,282 --> 00:06:54,411 We understood the seriousness of the game, what-- 161 00:06:54,411 --> 00:06:57,459 what was on the line, and the, uh--the rivalry. 162 00:06:57,459 --> 00:07:00,340 It was all or nothing. ANNOUNCER: Here's Swanson. 163 00:07:00,340 --> 00:07:02,887 Artest right up on top of him. 164 00:07:02,887 --> 00:07:04,306 METTA: In the early parts of my career, 165 00:07:04,306 --> 00:07:05,684 I had such a big ego, 166 00:07:05,684 --> 00:07:07,062 and I wanted to be the best at all times. 167 00:07:07,062 --> 00:07:08,607 I was trying to be. 168 00:07:08,607 --> 00:07:10,443 So to be a role player and to embrace it 169 00:07:10,443 --> 00:07:12,489 and really try to be the best at it-- 170 00:07:12,489 --> 00:07:14,493 that was one of the proudest moments of my career. 171 00:07:14,493 --> 00:07:15,996 ANNOUNCER: Deflected by Farmar! 172 00:07:15,996 --> 00:07:17,290 Artest picks it up. 173 00:07:17,290 --> 00:07:19,086 Artest to the basket. 174 00:07:19,086 --> 00:07:20,130 ANNOUNCER: Pop out another one. 175 00:07:20,130 --> 00:07:21,883 Inside Artest. 176 00:07:21,883 --> 00:07:23,887 ANNOUNCER: Allen air foul. 177 00:07:23,887 --> 00:07:28,312 That's the drive, gets to the rim, block from behind. 178 00:07:28,312 --> 00:07:29,983 ANNOUNCER: Bryant looking. 179 00:07:29,983 --> 00:07:31,485 Artest, that's a 3. 180 00:07:31,485 --> 00:07:32,780 [crowd cheering] 181 00:07:32,780 --> 00:07:35,744 Lakers by 6 with a minute to play. 182 00:07:35,744 --> 00:07:40,211 - When Ron Artest hit that 3-pointer, 183 00:07:40,211 --> 00:07:43,760 the joy, like, surging through me, 184 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,975 the bolt of light from God that came from the heavens 185 00:07:46,975 --> 00:07:48,812 and, like, coursed through my body 186 00:07:48,812 --> 00:07:51,358 and made me feel like I could do anything on Earth 187 00:07:51,358 --> 00:07:52,945 for the rest of my life-- 188 00:07:52,945 --> 00:07:54,031 that was pretty good. 189 00:07:54,031 --> 00:07:56,202 ANNOUNCER: Oh, pulls ahead! 190 00:07:56,202 --> 00:08:00,001 The Lakers three-peat, back-to-back titles. 191 00:08:00,001 --> 00:08:01,963 SNOOP: We ended up winning. 192 00:08:01,963 --> 00:08:04,009 Then I couldn't leave because I was stuck 193 00:08:04,009 --> 00:08:05,596 with all the motherfucking fans. 194 00:08:05,596 --> 00:08:08,560 It was like the parade was right now. 195 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,689 METTA: Kobe trusted us. And he made us feel so good. 196 00:08:10,689 --> 00:08:12,484 And he passed me the ball. 197 00:08:12,484 --> 00:08:14,697 He never passes me the ball. [laughter] 198 00:08:14,697 --> 00:08:16,910 And he passed me the ball. 199 00:08:16,910 --> 00:08:19,498 Kobe passed me the ball. 200 00:08:19,498 --> 00:08:20,960 VANESSA: Kobe got along with Metta, 201 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,005 and Kobe thought that was really funny. 202 00:08:23,005 --> 00:08:26,345 Um, that was a cute--a cute jab 203 00:08:26,345 --> 00:08:28,224 because, when Kobe was younger, 204 00:08:28,224 --> 00:08:29,811 he did have some teammates 205 00:08:29,811 --> 00:08:31,021 that couldn't shoot the ball in the ocean 206 00:08:31,021 --> 00:08:32,900 if they were standing on a yacht. 207 00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:35,446 But once he realized that he had teammates 208 00:08:35,446 --> 00:08:37,868 that he could trust, I feel like he felt 209 00:08:37,868 --> 00:08:39,121 a little bit more comfortable 210 00:08:39,121 --> 00:08:41,710 and became a better teacher 211 00:08:41,710 --> 00:08:43,421 and a better leader. 212 00:08:43,421 --> 00:08:46,343 He wanted the best out of all of his teammates. 213 00:08:46,343 --> 00:08:48,097 REPORTER: Can you speak in terms of what this means 214 00:08:48,097 --> 00:08:50,351 to you individually? 215 00:08:50,351 --> 00:08:52,355 - Just got one more than Shaq. 216 00:08:52,355 --> 00:08:57,532 [laughter] 217 00:08:57,532 --> 00:08:59,077 So you can take that to the bank. 218 00:08:59,077 --> 00:09:02,042 [laughter] 219 00:09:02,042 --> 00:09:05,716 JEANIE: My dad was thrilled to beat the Celtics 220 00:09:05,716 --> 00:09:08,889 and to win another championship. 221 00:09:08,889 --> 00:09:12,647 But it would be the last championship 222 00:09:12,647 --> 00:09:14,149 for Dr. Buss. 223 00:09:15,068 --> 00:09:17,948 [soft music] 224 00:09:17,948 --> 00:09:19,744 MATT BARNES: I grew up a California kid, 225 00:09:19,744 --> 00:09:21,163 you know, Showtime Laker fan 226 00:09:21,163 --> 00:09:22,833 from the earliest days I can remember. 227 00:09:22,833 --> 00:09:25,380 And it was always a dream of mine to wear the same jersey 228 00:09:25,380 --> 00:09:27,885 as Matty Johnson. 229 00:09:27,885 --> 00:09:30,223 2010, my contract's up in Orlando, 230 00:09:30,223 --> 00:09:33,062 and I get a call from a number I don't know. 231 00:09:33,062 --> 00:09:35,400 And for some reason, I answered that call. 232 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,780 And he said, "What up?" I was like, "Who is this?" 233 00:09:37,780 --> 00:09:39,575 He's like, "It's Kobe." I'm like, "Yeah, right." 234 00:09:39,575 --> 00:09:40,786 I was like, "Who is it?" And he starts laughing. 235 00:09:40,786 --> 00:09:42,455 He's like, "Nah, it's really me." 236 00:09:42,455 --> 00:09:44,501 And he's like, "Have you ever thought about being a Laker?" 237 00:09:44,501 --> 00:09:47,424 I'm like, "Fucking, I've dreamt about being a Laker." 238 00:09:47,424 --> 00:09:49,094 He's like, "All right." 239 00:09:49,094 --> 00:09:50,723 And literally, like, four or five days later, 240 00:09:50,723 --> 00:09:52,601 I was a Laker. 241 00:09:52,601 --> 00:09:55,440 As a team, they're in search for a three-peat. 242 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,527 Kobe wanted that sixth ring. 243 00:09:57,527 --> 00:09:58,697 He always told me, he's like, "I wanna be able 244 00:09:58,697 --> 00:10:00,241 to sit at the same table as MJ," 245 00:10:00,241 --> 00:10:02,287 meaning he needed one more piece of hardware 246 00:10:02,287 --> 00:10:04,458 to be able to do that. 247 00:10:04,458 --> 00:10:07,213 ANNOUNCER: Well, the 2011 NBA playoffs, 248 00:10:07,213 --> 00:10:09,342 here in Downtown Los Angeles, 249 00:10:09,342 --> 00:10:12,474 home of the two-time defending champion Lakers, 250 00:10:12,474 --> 00:10:15,354 a sellout crowd at the Staples Center. 251 00:10:15,354 --> 00:10:17,943 As the Lakers begin their quest for a three-peat. 252 00:10:17,943 --> 00:10:19,404 And during the regular season, 253 00:10:19,404 --> 00:10:21,618 it was the usual little bit of drama for them, 254 00:10:21,618 --> 00:10:23,329 some ups and downs, but they are still, 255 00:10:23,329 --> 00:10:25,041 in many eyes, the team to beat. 256 00:10:25,041 --> 00:10:26,920 - Every season, even when they were shitty, 257 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,882 the expectations were a championship. 258 00:10:28,882 --> 00:10:30,761 You know? So it was--it was no different. 259 00:10:30,761 --> 00:10:33,098 And again, like I said, they were coming off two in a row. 260 00:10:33,098 --> 00:10:37,524 - We just assumed, like, "Okay, well, playoffs are here. 261 00:10:37,524 --> 00:10:39,946 "Let's get through this so we can, you know, try 262 00:10:39,946 --> 00:10:42,116 to win another championship." 263 00:10:42,116 --> 00:10:43,410 JEANIE: That year, 264 00:10:43,410 --> 00:10:45,331 in the first round of the playoffs, 265 00:10:45,331 --> 00:10:49,381 Mitch Kupchak flew with the team to New Orleans. 266 00:10:49,381 --> 00:10:51,176 This is highly unusual. 267 00:10:51,176 --> 00:10:53,347 He's never done this before. 268 00:10:53,347 --> 00:10:56,646 [foreboding music] 269 00:10:56,646 --> 00:11:00,027 Then, a few days later, Phil called me, 270 00:11:00,027 --> 00:11:03,869 screaming, "What is happening? Why are they doing this?" 271 00:11:03,869 --> 00:11:05,831 And I go, "What are you talking about?" 272 00:11:05,831 --> 00:11:09,504 ♪ ♪ 273 00:11:09,504 --> 00:11:11,466 "They just informed the staff 274 00:11:11,466 --> 00:11:14,849 "that they're no longer employed after June 30. 275 00:11:14,849 --> 00:11:17,897 We're trying to win a playoff series here." 276 00:11:17,897 --> 00:11:20,026 ♪ ♪ 277 00:11:20,026 --> 00:11:22,280 JIM: Coach comes in to a team, 278 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,163 he basically surrounds himself with his staff. 279 00:11:26,163 --> 00:11:29,712 And that includes the workout guys, 280 00:11:29,712 --> 00:11:31,256 the assistant trainers, 281 00:11:31,256 --> 00:11:35,933 the assistant coaches, the medical staff. 282 00:11:35,933 --> 00:11:40,316 Basically, you don't renew the support staff of the coach 283 00:11:40,316 --> 00:11:43,530 when that coach is not coming back. 284 00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:46,036 And Phil wasn't coming back. 285 00:11:46,036 --> 00:11:48,583 PHIL: That was probably my hardest year coaching. 286 00:11:48,583 --> 00:11:50,503 And I was ready to retire. 287 00:11:50,503 --> 00:11:53,927 I'm dealing with a situation of a cancer operation 288 00:11:53,927 --> 00:11:55,722 at the end of the season. 289 00:11:55,722 --> 00:11:57,266 MATT: When he announced he had cancer, 290 00:11:57,266 --> 00:11:59,270 we all knew that he was finished 291 00:11:59,270 --> 00:12:00,816 after that particular season. 292 00:12:00,816 --> 00:12:03,153 But normally, if there's gonna be changes made, 293 00:12:03,153 --> 00:12:05,074 it's gonna be made in the off-season, 294 00:12:05,074 --> 00:12:09,625 you know, not during a run where you're trying to capture 295 00:12:09,625 --> 00:12:11,253 a third championship. 296 00:12:11,253 --> 00:12:13,424 You really don't wanna mess up the chemistry. 297 00:12:13,424 --> 00:12:15,469 You don't wanna mess up the focus. 298 00:12:15,469 --> 00:12:17,515 You don't want to mess anything up. 299 00:12:17,515 --> 00:12:19,269 LAMAR: We were rolling. 300 00:12:19,269 --> 00:12:21,189 Why would you want to disturb that? 301 00:12:21,189 --> 00:12:23,778 Why would you want to disturb that groove? 302 00:12:23,778 --> 00:12:25,824 PHIL: It was a fumble at the end, 303 00:12:25,824 --> 00:12:28,955 and it led to an uneasy feeling for the team. 304 00:12:30,082 --> 00:12:31,919 DEREK: We beat New Orleans in the first round. 305 00:12:31,919 --> 00:12:34,215 But it was tough. 306 00:12:34,215 --> 00:12:36,721 Like, the--the amount of energy and connectedness 307 00:12:36,721 --> 00:12:40,645 that it takes to win a championship-- 308 00:12:40,645 --> 00:12:42,190 it was just gone. 309 00:12:42,190 --> 00:12:44,904 ANNOUNCER: Today, in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs 310 00:12:44,904 --> 00:12:48,160 have a chance to end LA's hopes of a three-peat. 311 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,124 - You had all these dynamics going on, 312 00:12:51,124 --> 00:12:54,214 and the team just folded like a deck of cards. 313 00:12:56,176 --> 00:12:58,472 ANNOUNCER: 25-point lead for the Mavericks. 314 00:12:58,472 --> 00:12:59,558 COMMENTER: Man, the Lakers aren't coming back 315 00:12:59,558 --> 00:13:01,019 to win this game. 316 00:13:01,019 --> 00:13:02,940 - It was like being in a fight 317 00:13:02,940 --> 00:13:04,777 where you just get hit with one good one. 318 00:13:04,777 --> 00:13:06,363 And you're kind of like-- 319 00:13:06,363 --> 00:13:08,868 you don't know what's going on, and you're kind of shook. 320 00:13:08,868 --> 00:13:10,079 ANNOUNCER: And you start to wonder what's going 321 00:13:10,079 --> 00:13:11,582 through Phil Jackson's mind. 322 00:13:11,582 --> 00:13:12,793 And you got to wonder if there's something 323 00:13:12,793 --> 00:13:14,755 going on in that locker room. 324 00:13:14,755 --> 00:13:16,341 Very sad way 325 00:13:16,341 --> 00:13:20,057 for the Phil Jackson coaching résumé to end. 326 00:13:20,057 --> 00:13:23,857 - To go out that way as defending champions 327 00:13:23,857 --> 00:13:25,569 was bitter. 328 00:13:25,569 --> 00:13:26,779 It was hard. 329 00:13:26,779 --> 00:13:27,948 It's not befitting 330 00:13:27,948 --> 00:13:29,409 an organization like this. 331 00:13:29,409 --> 00:13:32,290 ANNOUNCER: There will be a new champion in the NBA. 332 00:13:32,290 --> 00:13:35,087 And one of the great coaching careers of all time 333 00:13:35,087 --> 00:13:36,883 has come to an end. 334 00:13:36,883 --> 00:13:39,387 MARK: I remember going up to Phil after the game, 335 00:13:39,387 --> 00:13:42,310 and he congratulated me, and I told him, you know, 336 00:13:42,310 --> 00:13:43,478 "Don't retire. We need you." 337 00:13:43,478 --> 00:13:44,522 He goes, "No, I'm done. 338 00:13:44,522 --> 00:13:45,984 This--this was my last game." 339 00:13:47,236 --> 00:13:51,036 PHIL: Then the summer, I journey down to San Diego 340 00:13:51,036 --> 00:13:53,791 to see my assistant coach, Frank Hamblen. 341 00:13:53,791 --> 00:13:55,419 We sat and talked about the season, 342 00:13:55,419 --> 00:13:57,173 about the team, 343 00:13:57,173 --> 00:14:02,016 about resolving, you know, what went down. 344 00:14:02,016 --> 00:14:07,485 The two of us over a couple beers at a racetrack. 345 00:14:07,485 --> 00:14:08,738 You know, we-- we were kind of like, 346 00:14:08,738 --> 00:14:12,161 "Okay, let's get on with our lives." 347 00:14:12,161 --> 00:14:13,623 MATT: What we didn't know as players, 348 00:14:13,623 --> 00:14:15,961 at least I didn't know, was, like, that was really 349 00:14:15,961 --> 00:14:17,421 the beginning of the end. 350 00:14:25,062 --> 00:14:26,732 BRIAN: After that season, 351 00:14:26,732 --> 00:14:28,987 I interviewed for the Laker job. 352 00:14:28,987 --> 00:14:32,577 I'd been with them 12 years, both as a player 353 00:14:32,577 --> 00:14:34,707 and as a coach. 354 00:14:34,707 --> 00:14:36,334 I put in the work. 355 00:14:36,334 --> 00:14:38,213 I felt like I paid my dues. 356 00:14:38,213 --> 00:14:41,011 I was the most qualified for that time, 357 00:14:41,011 --> 00:14:43,891 in that situation, with that team. 358 00:14:43,891 --> 00:14:48,358 Kobe publicly came out and endorsed me. 359 00:14:48,358 --> 00:14:52,826 Phil Jackson publicly came out and endorsed me. 360 00:14:52,826 --> 00:14:55,247 - Brian Shaw was kind of the heir apparent, 361 00:14:55,247 --> 00:14:56,332 could have had continuity 362 00:14:56,332 --> 00:14:59,464 for Brian to take that-- that job. 363 00:14:59,464 --> 00:15:03,305 BRIAN: I did my interview, which was at Dr. Buss' house. 364 00:15:03,305 --> 00:15:06,562 Dr. Buss told me-- he said, "In order for Jimmy 365 00:15:06,562 --> 00:15:10,527 "to grow in his role, I have to step back 366 00:15:10,527 --> 00:15:13,576 "and allow him to do what he feels is best 367 00:15:13,576 --> 00:15:16,456 for the team going forward." 368 00:15:16,456 --> 00:15:20,464 The rest of the meeting was mainly Jimmy 369 00:15:20,464 --> 00:15:22,552 doing a lot of the talking. 370 00:15:22,552 --> 00:15:24,598 JIM: I've--I've always liked Brian Shaw. 371 00:15:24,598 --> 00:15:27,771 You know? It was a natural interview. 372 00:15:27,771 --> 00:15:30,568 He was a Laker for a long time. 373 00:15:30,568 --> 00:15:32,404 He was very smart. 374 00:15:32,404 --> 00:15:36,204 But we needed to have the right coach. 375 00:15:36,204 --> 00:15:39,168 - He gave me his outlook on the team, 376 00:15:39,168 --> 00:15:42,258 and that Andrew Bynum is the guy 377 00:15:42,258 --> 00:15:45,180 that's gonna carry this team to the next era 378 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:46,976 of Laker dominance. 379 00:15:50,357 --> 00:15:54,741 And he says everybody on the team, 380 00:15:54,741 --> 00:15:57,664 including Kobe, could go if it came down to it, 381 00:15:57,664 --> 00:15:59,542 but that it was gonna be Andrew 382 00:15:59,542 --> 00:16:01,714 who was gonna carry everything forward. 383 00:16:01,714 --> 00:16:04,510 - Ha! Oh, that's not true. 384 00:16:04,510 --> 00:16:07,391 We were building a team, or trying to build a team, 385 00:16:07,391 --> 00:16:10,189 around certain players. 386 00:16:10,189 --> 00:16:14,405 But I would never say, "Even Kobe could go." 387 00:16:14,405 --> 00:16:17,203 Yeah, no. No-- [laughs] sorry. 388 00:16:17,203 --> 00:16:18,956 BRIAN: He was interviewing me, 389 00:16:18,956 --> 00:16:21,629 but I also felt like I was interviewing him 390 00:16:21,629 --> 00:16:23,633 to see what it would be like 391 00:16:23,633 --> 00:16:26,012 under him in this situation going forward, 392 00:16:26,012 --> 00:16:28,308 that it was going to be very, very different 393 00:16:28,308 --> 00:16:31,189 than what I had known 394 00:16:31,189 --> 00:16:33,401 taking care of Laker business to be. 395 00:16:35,657 --> 00:16:37,827 They said they would let me know 396 00:16:37,827 --> 00:16:41,167 what their decision was gonna be. 397 00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:43,421 [indistinct talking] 398 00:16:43,421 --> 00:16:45,593 MITCH: Uh, what I'd like to do at this time 399 00:16:45,593 --> 00:16:50,143 is announce, uh, and introduce the new coach 400 00:16:50,143 --> 00:16:52,106 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Brown. 401 00:16:52,106 --> 00:16:55,112 [applause] 402 00:16:59,370 --> 00:17:02,126 BRIAN: They hadn't talked to me, 403 00:17:02,126 --> 00:17:08,848 not a phone call from Jimmy or Mitch. 404 00:17:08,848 --> 00:17:12,396 JIM: It had nothing to do with his talent as a coach. 405 00:17:12,396 --> 00:17:17,114 But we needed more of a--a big name. 406 00:17:17,114 --> 00:17:19,118 Mike Brown found a lot of success 407 00:17:19,118 --> 00:17:20,747 coaching LeBron James. 408 00:17:20,747 --> 00:17:22,249 He got him to the finals. 409 00:17:22,249 --> 00:17:23,919 He was a fantastic coach. 410 00:17:23,919 --> 00:17:27,176 - Jimmy wanted to create his own legacy. 411 00:17:30,642 --> 00:17:33,146 JEANIE: It felt unsteady. 412 00:17:33,146 --> 00:17:37,071 But if this is the direction that my dad 413 00:17:37,071 --> 00:17:39,993 wants Jimmy to go in, so be it. 414 00:17:39,993 --> 00:17:42,164 That's the way it has to be. 415 00:17:43,375 --> 00:17:46,047 JIM: My dad's health was fading, 416 00:17:46,047 --> 00:17:49,053 and--and I wanted to win another championship for him. 417 00:17:51,265 --> 00:17:53,269 REPORTER: Kobe, how do you feel about this team 418 00:17:53,269 --> 00:17:55,482 as you start another season? 419 00:17:55,482 --> 00:17:57,277 KOBE: I think that the temperature of the team 420 00:17:57,277 --> 00:18:00,117 is a very calm one. It's a--we're very-- 421 00:18:00,117 --> 00:18:01,912 we understand what we have to do. 422 00:18:01,912 --> 00:18:04,626 We understand the roles are clearly defined. 423 00:18:04,626 --> 00:18:06,212 And now it's time to go out there on the floor 424 00:18:06,212 --> 00:18:09,301 and execute. 425 00:18:09,301 --> 00:18:10,805 REPORTER: Kobe, you mentioned a few days ago, 426 00:18:10,805 --> 00:18:12,767 you wanted to make sure that you gave Mike 427 00:18:12,767 --> 00:18:14,353 and the rest of the coaching staff 428 00:18:14,353 --> 00:18:15,815 kind of that freedom, the players-- 429 00:18:15,815 --> 00:18:17,401 KOBE: That's not me giving them their freedom. 430 00:18:17,401 --> 00:18:18,528 They're the coaches. REPORTER: Right. 431 00:18:18,528 --> 00:18:20,031 KOBE: You know what I'm saying? 432 00:18:20,031 --> 00:18:21,492 And we're here to be coached, and I'm here to be coached 433 00:18:21,492 --> 00:18:22,494 just like everybody else. 434 00:18:22,494 --> 00:18:23,914 You know what I mean? 435 00:18:23,914 --> 00:18:25,835 And it's important for everybody to understand that. 436 00:18:25,835 --> 00:18:27,254 You know, I make a mistake, 437 00:18:27,254 --> 00:18:28,506 the coach's job is to correct that. 438 00:18:28,506 --> 00:18:29,551 You can't be sensitive. 439 00:18:29,551 --> 00:18:32,097 You can't be a baby. 440 00:18:32,097 --> 00:18:34,435 You know, you're here to win, man. 441 00:18:34,435 --> 00:18:36,189 MATT: That year, in the playoffs, 442 00:18:36,189 --> 00:18:38,276 we played a young OKC. 443 00:18:38,276 --> 00:18:40,030 ANNOUNCER: Harden for 3. 444 00:18:40,030 --> 00:18:41,199 MATT: And they got us. 445 00:18:41,199 --> 00:18:42,911 ANNOUNCER: Westbrook for Derek! 446 00:18:42,911 --> 00:18:46,459 MATT: And it hurt because I wanted to be able to help Kobe 447 00:18:46,459 --> 00:18:48,046 get his sixth championship. 448 00:18:48,046 --> 00:18:51,553 But I definitely knew the person steering the ship, 449 00:18:51,553 --> 00:18:53,641 um, wasn't gonna get us there. 450 00:18:53,641 --> 00:18:56,855 [indistinct talking] 451 00:18:59,068 --> 00:19:01,990 MITCH: I wanna thank everybody for coming on short notice. 452 00:19:01,990 --> 00:19:05,288 Today, we relieved Mike Brown of his head coaching duties. 453 00:19:05,288 --> 00:19:06,499 It's really simple. 454 00:19:06,499 --> 00:19:08,921 It's wins and losses. 455 00:19:08,921 --> 00:19:10,758 And Mike knows that. 456 00:19:10,758 --> 00:19:12,929 MATT: Mike is not a bad guy, but he didn't have 457 00:19:12,929 --> 00:19:14,515 the respect of the players. 458 00:19:14,515 --> 00:19:15,601 You know, although Mike had success 459 00:19:15,601 --> 00:19:16,854 in Cleveland with Bron, 460 00:19:16,854 --> 00:19:18,607 the Lakers are a whole 'nother monster, 461 00:19:18,607 --> 00:19:19,985 a whole 'nother level. 462 00:19:19,985 --> 00:19:22,866 And I think Mike was in over his head. 463 00:19:22,866 --> 00:19:25,370 INTERVIEWER: Five games into this season, 464 00:19:25,370 --> 00:19:28,711 Mike Brown was relieved of his coaching duties, 465 00:19:28,711 --> 00:19:30,965 head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 466 00:19:30,965 --> 00:19:33,052 What was your initial reaction to that? 467 00:19:33,052 --> 00:19:36,142 - "Oh, shit." 468 00:19:36,142 --> 00:19:38,146 PERSON: The Lakers decided to fire Mike Brown 469 00:19:38,146 --> 00:19:39,523 after watching the way they got off 470 00:19:39,523 --> 00:19:40,860 to a 1 in 4 season. 471 00:19:40,860 --> 00:19:42,739 It was--it was a real quick hook. 472 00:19:42,739 --> 00:19:44,450 The way the team is playing, it just didn't look 473 00:19:44,450 --> 00:19:45,828 like they were making progress, 474 00:19:45,828 --> 00:19:47,539 and something clearly wasn't right. 475 00:19:47,539 --> 00:19:51,422 - Mike Brown was a very defensive-minded coach, 476 00:19:51,422 --> 00:19:54,888 didn't seem to gel with Kobe. 477 00:19:54,888 --> 00:19:58,562 [crowd chanting "We want Phil"] 478 00:20:02,402 --> 00:20:04,991 ANNOUNCER: The crowd is yelling, "We want Phil," 479 00:20:04,991 --> 00:20:07,245 as in "We want Phil Jackson." 480 00:20:07,245 --> 00:20:11,087 Mr. Jackson, if you're watching, they want you. 481 00:20:11,087 --> 00:20:13,299 Wouldn't that be something? 482 00:20:13,299 --> 00:20:15,095 COMMENTER: What does this say about Jim Buss? 483 00:20:15,095 --> 00:20:17,224 This was his first fingerprint on the organization. 484 00:20:17,224 --> 00:20:18,727 What's the solution? 485 00:20:18,727 --> 00:20:20,898 - I think you have to beg Phil, first of all. 486 00:20:20,898 --> 00:20:22,442 COMMENTER: Do you? Do you go back to Phil? 487 00:20:22,442 --> 00:20:23,904 ANTONIO: You bring a guy in like that 488 00:20:23,904 --> 00:20:26,200 to kind of calm everything down. 489 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:27,829 JIM: My dad says, "What do you think?" 490 00:20:27,829 --> 00:20:31,628 I said, "Pfft, let's get him back." 491 00:20:31,628 --> 00:20:35,678 - Jimmy comes to me and says, "Do you think Phil 492 00:20:35,678 --> 00:20:37,557 would reconsider coming back?" 493 00:20:37,557 --> 00:20:41,898 And I said, you know, "If you really are serious about that, 494 00:20:41,898 --> 00:20:45,280 "then--then you have to ask him yourself. 495 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,159 I don't wanna be in the middle." 496 00:20:49,706 --> 00:20:52,502 NEWSCASTER: With an all-star roster and the clock ticking, 497 00:20:52,502 --> 00:20:54,674 the Lakers need a high-profile coach 498 00:20:54,674 --> 00:20:56,343 who will have the respect of the locker room, 499 00:20:56,343 --> 00:20:58,181 and they need him now. 500 00:20:58,181 --> 00:21:00,561 What would have to happen here for the sides 501 00:21:00,561 --> 00:21:02,940 not to come to an agreement at this point? 502 00:21:02,940 --> 00:21:05,613 - Well, Jim Buss losing his mind and deciding 503 00:21:05,613 --> 00:21:07,992 he doesn't want to be a part of this, uh, situation. 504 00:21:07,992 --> 00:21:10,038 That would--that would obviously qualify. 505 00:21:11,958 --> 00:21:14,254 PHIL: I met both Mitch and Jimmy Buss, 506 00:21:14,254 --> 00:21:18,221 talked about the personnel that was on the team. 507 00:21:18,221 --> 00:21:22,312 I thought that the team was capable. 508 00:21:22,312 --> 00:21:24,609 - We were so excited about having him back. 509 00:21:24,609 --> 00:21:27,239 MITCH: It was just me, Jimmy, and Phil. 510 00:21:27,239 --> 00:21:30,120 And Phil said, "I'll consider helping you out, 511 00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:32,082 getting you through the rest of the season." 512 00:21:33,501 --> 00:21:36,382 JEANIE: Phil asked for 48 hours so that he could talk 513 00:21:36,382 --> 00:21:39,931 to his doctors, he could talk to his family, 514 00:21:39,931 --> 00:21:43,187 and that he would give them a decision. 515 00:21:43,187 --> 00:21:46,152 Phil was gonna give them an answer Monday morning. 516 00:21:46,152 --> 00:21:50,201 And at midnight on that Sunday night, 517 00:21:50,201 --> 00:21:52,915 the phone rings and wakes us up. 518 00:21:52,915 --> 00:21:56,213 And all I hear him say is, 519 00:21:56,213 --> 00:21:59,554 "All right. Okay. All right. Thank you. 520 00:21:59,554 --> 00:22:01,390 "Well, they just called to tell me 521 00:22:01,390 --> 00:22:05,190 that they've given the job to Mike D'Antoni." 522 00:22:05,190 --> 00:22:07,235 PHIL: I said, "Okay, so be it." 523 00:22:07,235 --> 00:22:08,487 That's all right. 524 00:22:08,487 --> 00:22:09,949 That's the way it's going to be, 525 00:22:09,949 --> 00:22:12,495 I--I have no hard feelings or no-- 526 00:22:12,495 --> 00:22:15,544 no grief at all about that. 527 00:22:15,544 --> 00:22:19,092 - In the meeting, Phil told us he didn't want to coach, 528 00:22:19,092 --> 00:22:21,932 but if we needed help to get through the year, 529 00:22:21,932 --> 00:22:23,476 he would do it. 530 00:22:23,476 --> 00:22:26,023 We weren't looking for a coach to get through the season. 531 00:22:26,023 --> 00:22:27,985 I mean, that-- that doesn't help us. 532 00:22:27,985 --> 00:22:30,616 - And he said, "I will only do home games." 533 00:22:30,616 --> 00:22:32,285 Well, we can't have that. 534 00:22:32,285 --> 00:22:33,914 That's not going to work. 535 00:22:33,914 --> 00:22:36,878 - That's--that's not true. That is not true. 536 00:22:36,878 --> 00:22:40,218 That was not what Phil was offering to do. 537 00:22:40,218 --> 00:22:43,224 You just fired a coach in the middle of a season. 538 00:22:43,224 --> 00:22:46,815 You got to have somebody right now who's ready to go. 539 00:22:46,815 --> 00:22:50,698 And here's the perfect guy who would fill in 540 00:22:50,698 --> 00:22:52,910 for this partial season, 541 00:22:52,910 --> 00:22:54,998 who already has a relationship 542 00:22:54,998 --> 00:22:57,252 with the majority of the players, 543 00:22:57,252 --> 00:22:59,674 and then you could say, "Okay, in the off-season, 544 00:22:59,674 --> 00:23:03,472 we'll do our big search to find our dream candidate." 545 00:23:05,184 --> 00:23:09,736 I felt betrayed because Jimmy had sucked me back in. 546 00:23:09,736 --> 00:23:13,994 And it was kind of like, "Okay, well, is this real, 547 00:23:13,994 --> 00:23:16,583 or is this, you know, just a stunt?" 548 00:23:16,583 --> 00:23:19,881 But it's kind of like, why? Why would you do that? 549 00:23:19,881 --> 00:23:22,510 Why would you put your sister through that? 550 00:23:22,510 --> 00:23:25,433 Why would you do that to your organization, 551 00:23:25,433 --> 00:23:27,437 to your team? 552 00:23:27,437 --> 00:23:30,151 I still don't understand it. 553 00:23:30,151 --> 00:23:32,656 JIM: It was tough to work in that situation. 554 00:23:32,656 --> 00:23:35,286 But what she is saying was a betrayal-- 555 00:23:35,286 --> 00:23:39,712 well, it wasn't--it wasn't done on purpose, that's for sure. 556 00:23:39,712 --> 00:23:42,467 JEANIE: I felt it was disrespectful to Phil, 557 00:23:42,467 --> 00:23:45,766 but I felt like it was just a knife in my heart. 558 00:23:45,766 --> 00:23:52,362 And I didn't understand why, why that had to happen. 559 00:23:52,362 --> 00:23:53,907 PHIL: We continued on, 560 00:23:53,907 --> 00:23:56,913 but, you know, the process was exacerbated 561 00:23:56,913 --> 00:24:00,336 because, at the time, her father was in the hospital, 562 00:24:00,336 --> 00:24:02,173 going through a very difficult time. 563 00:24:11,609 --> 00:24:14,615 [melancholy music] 564 00:24:14,615 --> 00:24:21,588 ♪ ♪ 565 00:24:30,981 --> 00:24:33,235 - [sighs] 566 00:24:55,238 --> 00:24:57,534 JEANIE: When he knew the end was coming, 567 00:24:57,534 --> 00:25:02,460 we decided that, um, he's got to know all the lives 568 00:25:02,460 --> 00:25:05,717 he touched and he changed. 569 00:25:05,717 --> 00:25:09,934 So we decided to bring in 570 00:25:09,934 --> 00:25:14,067 everybody that, you know, meant something to him 571 00:25:14,067 --> 00:25:16,363 to come visit him. 572 00:25:16,363 --> 00:25:21,164 INTERVIEWER: What's the last thing you said to him at the hospital? 573 00:25:21,164 --> 00:25:22,333 MAGIC: I love him. 574 00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:23,587 "I love you. 575 00:25:23,587 --> 00:25:25,924 I'll never forget you." 576 00:25:25,924 --> 00:25:31,143 And, um, yeah, it was-- it was difficult. 577 00:25:31,853 --> 00:25:36,028 And, um... 578 00:25:36,028 --> 00:25:41,371 it's difficult to see him lying in that bed 579 00:25:41,371 --> 00:25:45,547 and knowing that we won't have a conversation ever again, 580 00:25:45,547 --> 00:25:48,260 that I could hug him. 581 00:25:48,260 --> 00:25:50,222 You know, so I kissed him on his forehead, 582 00:25:50,222 --> 00:25:53,938 and, uh--and that was it. 583 00:25:53,938 --> 00:26:00,952 ♪ ♪ 584 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:03,123 PAT: I went in his room, 585 00:26:03,123 --> 00:26:05,336 and, uh, we sat, we talked. 586 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,388 But I thanked him. 587 00:26:14,396 --> 00:26:16,441 Not much else you could do. 588 00:26:16,441 --> 00:26:17,945 I thanked him. 589 00:26:17,945 --> 00:26:19,657 And he wished me well. 590 00:26:22,996 --> 00:26:28,173 That was a bad day, yeah. 591 00:26:28,173 --> 00:26:30,511 He was really good man to me. 592 00:26:35,312 --> 00:26:36,941 He's a very good man. 593 00:26:36,941 --> 00:26:43,955 ♪ ♪ 594 00:26:47,963 --> 00:26:49,800 JEANIE: I just-- 595 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,267 I'd have to say that he-- he knew that the good times 596 00:26:54,267 --> 00:26:56,898 were gonna keep going. 597 00:26:56,898 --> 00:26:59,945 It was him that was gonna leave. 598 00:26:59,945 --> 00:27:02,910 And that, I think, was really hard for him, 599 00:27:02,910 --> 00:27:06,166 feeling like he was leaving us behind. 600 00:27:06,166 --> 00:27:07,795 [sniffs] 601 00:27:12,512 --> 00:27:13,890 Yeah. 602 00:27:13,890 --> 00:27:20,486 ♪ ♪ 603 00:27:20,486 --> 00:27:24,244 JESSE: I was scared for the direction of the team. 604 00:27:24,244 --> 00:27:28,210 We had a family meeting, like, a week after my dad died. 605 00:27:28,210 --> 00:27:33,095 And, uh, you know, none of us really, 606 00:27:33,095 --> 00:27:35,224 I guess, knew how things worked. 607 00:27:35,850 --> 00:27:38,230 When it was just my dad, right, he's gonna be 608 00:27:38,230 --> 00:27:40,192 the final shot caller. 609 00:27:40,192 --> 00:27:41,612 I was unaware. 610 00:27:41,612 --> 00:27:43,240 It's like, who's gonna be that person? 611 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:44,868 Like, is it Jim? 612 00:27:44,868 --> 00:27:47,123 Was it Jeanie, somebody else? 613 00:27:47,123 --> 00:27:50,630 And then Joe McCormack, who works for the Lakers, 614 00:27:50,630 --> 00:27:53,427 shared with us that Jeanie had that power 615 00:27:53,427 --> 00:27:55,014 of authority, basically. 616 00:27:55,014 --> 00:27:56,684 Jeanie was the boss. 617 00:27:56,684 --> 00:27:59,314 And Jim was surprised. 618 00:27:59,314 --> 00:28:03,071 JIM: Basically, what my dad told me was that 619 00:28:03,071 --> 00:28:05,619 Jeanie, you run the business, Jim, you run the sports, 620 00:28:05,619 --> 00:28:07,371 the--the basketball side. 621 00:28:07,371 --> 00:28:10,252 And that was pretty much what was believed 622 00:28:10,252 --> 00:28:11,964 all the way through. 623 00:28:11,964 --> 00:28:14,218 - My dad had made it clear to me 624 00:28:14,218 --> 00:28:16,473 that I was going to be the governor. 625 00:28:16,473 --> 00:28:20,690 But I think he kept it to himself 626 00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:22,569 in terms of the family 627 00:28:22,569 --> 00:28:27,871 because he may have been talked out of it 628 00:28:27,871 --> 00:28:30,835 or that, you know, there would be objection, 629 00:28:30,835 --> 00:28:34,384 and he didn't want to have to deal with that. 630 00:28:37,641 --> 00:28:39,352 MITCH: It was--it was a crossroads. 631 00:28:39,352 --> 00:28:41,941 You know, all good things come to an end. 632 00:28:41,941 --> 00:28:45,824 And that's what was happening, on and off the court. 633 00:28:49,539 --> 00:28:52,587 JIM: After my dad passed, it was therapeutic to have 634 00:28:52,587 --> 00:28:55,217 to deal with a rebuilding team, 635 00:28:55,217 --> 00:28:57,723 the situations that the Lakers were in. 636 00:28:59,935 --> 00:29:01,354 MITCH: Dwight Howard had left. 637 00:29:01,354 --> 00:29:05,487 Pau Gasol was in his mid-30s. 638 00:29:05,487 --> 00:29:08,661 Odom was traded. 639 00:29:08,661 --> 00:29:10,038 LAMAR: I was hurt. 640 00:29:10,038 --> 00:29:12,669 I just--I took it really personal, 641 00:29:12,669 --> 00:29:14,505 like, really, really personal. 642 00:29:14,505 --> 00:29:16,009 I thought I was gonna be a Laker for life. 643 00:29:16,009 --> 00:29:17,804 - But that was hard for a lot of us. 644 00:29:18,765 --> 00:29:20,434 It crushed Lamar. 645 00:29:20,434 --> 00:29:22,981 You know, it crushed me. 646 00:29:22,981 --> 00:29:25,653 I think we could have had another run at it, 647 00:29:25,653 --> 00:29:27,490 but at some point, people higher than us 648 00:29:27,490 --> 00:29:29,787 have to make the decision of "When do you transition 649 00:29:29,787 --> 00:29:33,753 to the next group to try to keep winning?" 650 00:29:33,753 --> 00:29:35,339 INTERVIEWER: What's the season been like for you? 651 00:29:35,339 --> 00:29:36,926 KOBE: I'm just trying to figure out a way 652 00:29:36,926 --> 00:29:40,057 to win ball games, just try to find whatever-- 653 00:29:40,057 --> 00:29:41,602 whatever it is. 654 00:29:41,602 --> 00:29:44,023 ANNOUNCER: Bryant, again, going to work, falls down. 655 00:29:44,023 --> 00:29:46,402 ANNOUNCER: And that's the Achilles. 656 00:29:46,402 --> 00:29:49,743 ♪ ♪ 657 00:29:49,743 --> 00:29:51,831 ANNOUNCER: Bryant tonight, with 32 points, 658 00:29:51,831 --> 00:29:55,504 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and he is hurting. 659 00:29:55,504 --> 00:29:57,592 But the Lakers down by 2, 660 00:29:57,592 --> 00:29:59,721 and they want him and need him at the free throw line. 661 00:29:59,721 --> 00:30:01,725 KOBE: So I made a move that I make a million times, 662 00:30:01,725 --> 00:30:06,652 and... it just popped. 663 00:30:06,652 --> 00:30:08,446 PAU: When Kobe tore his Achilles, 664 00:30:08,446 --> 00:30:10,242 I was heartbroken. 665 00:30:10,242 --> 00:30:12,454 It's the first time that I saw him cry. 666 00:30:12,454 --> 00:30:14,333 And it was--it was hard. 667 00:30:14,333 --> 00:30:16,004 - I remember walking in the locker room 668 00:30:16,004 --> 00:30:17,674 with Natalia and Gianna. 669 00:30:17,674 --> 00:30:20,095 And he just broke down 670 00:30:20,095 --> 00:30:21,974 as soon as I hugged him. 671 00:30:24,228 --> 00:30:26,232 REPORTER: Breaking news here on SportsCenter. 672 00:30:26,232 --> 00:30:28,445 Kobe Bryant is expected to miss six weeks. 673 00:30:28,445 --> 00:30:30,825 He has a fracture in his left knee. 674 00:30:30,825 --> 00:30:33,623 - Kobe was not Kobe anymore on the court. 675 00:30:33,623 --> 00:30:35,500 You know, he tried, but he just wasn't the same guy, 676 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:37,839 especially after all those injuries. 677 00:30:37,839 --> 00:30:40,720 ANNOUNCER: Pulls up to win it! [buzzer] 678 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:42,348 REPORTER: Mike D'Antoni no longer their coach, 679 00:30:42,348 --> 00:30:44,645 resigned with another year left on his deal. 680 00:30:44,645 --> 00:30:46,565 REPORTER: The Lakers are coming off their worst season 681 00:30:46,565 --> 00:30:47,984 in more than 50 years. 682 00:30:47,984 --> 00:30:49,236 ANALYST: The last couple of years have been rough, 683 00:30:49,236 --> 00:30:50,615 documented. 684 00:30:50,615 --> 00:30:52,911 Uh, we had Mike D'Antoni a couple of losing seasons, 685 00:30:52,911 --> 00:30:55,248 Kobe injured. The list goes on and on. 686 00:30:55,248 --> 00:30:56,961 And right now, the state of the Lakers 687 00:30:56,961 --> 00:30:59,256 seems like it's a state of emergency. 688 00:30:59,256 --> 00:31:01,094 - Looking back at some of the decisions 689 00:31:01,094 --> 00:31:03,056 that Jimmy made, you think, 690 00:31:03,056 --> 00:31:04,726 "Okay, was he making those decisions 691 00:31:04,726 --> 00:31:09,485 "to undermine the organization and my authority 692 00:31:09,485 --> 00:31:11,114 "to run a team, 693 00:31:11,114 --> 00:31:13,243 or was he just making poor decisions?" 694 00:31:13,243 --> 00:31:15,790 - Welcome to the era of Jim Buss. 695 00:31:15,790 --> 00:31:19,171 ANALYST: If Dr. Buss were alive today 696 00:31:19,171 --> 00:31:21,467 and still running the Lakers organization, 697 00:31:21,467 --> 00:31:24,098 you can't convince me that at least one, 698 00:31:24,098 --> 00:31:27,438 if not two, superstars would be coming to Los Angeles. 699 00:31:27,438 --> 00:31:28,858 LAMAR: Yeah, every decision Jim Buss made 700 00:31:28,858 --> 00:31:30,402 was always being questioned. 701 00:31:30,402 --> 00:31:32,699 People didn't really understand and respect 702 00:31:32,699 --> 00:31:36,247 his basketball knowledge. 703 00:31:36,247 --> 00:31:39,128 They just took him as, you know, the son. 704 00:31:39,128 --> 00:31:40,798 - Sometimes we fail. 705 00:31:40,798 --> 00:31:43,763 And you want to know something? You get back up. 706 00:31:43,763 --> 00:31:45,265 You know, one would say, 707 00:31:45,265 --> 00:31:46,894 you know, that Jim didn't do a good job, 708 00:31:46,894 --> 00:31:49,398 but he tried. 709 00:31:49,398 --> 00:31:50,610 MATT: Someone really needed 710 00:31:50,610 --> 00:31:53,281 to take control of the situation. 711 00:31:53,281 --> 00:31:54,701 The expectations are 712 00:31:54,701 --> 00:31:55,953 the banners in the Staples Center. 713 00:31:55,953 --> 00:31:57,456 You look up at those, and there's 714 00:31:57,456 --> 00:31:59,168 nothing more than you want to be a part 715 00:31:59,168 --> 00:32:00,922 of putting another one up. 716 00:32:00,922 --> 00:32:02,508 As prestigious as that team was, 717 00:32:02,508 --> 00:32:04,470 the big free agents were looking more at the Clippers. 718 00:32:04,470 --> 00:32:05,890 They were looking more at Miami. 719 00:32:05,890 --> 00:32:07,560 They were looking more at the teams that were winning 720 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:10,107 than a historical franchise like the Lakers. 721 00:32:10,107 --> 00:32:11,400 They're like, "You go there, 722 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,115 and it's just gonna be you and Kobe." 723 00:32:14,115 --> 00:32:15,743 REPORTER: Well, the former Laker says 724 00:32:15,743 --> 00:32:18,289 he's coming back to coach his old team. 725 00:32:18,289 --> 00:32:20,418 BYRON: When I became coach, we were in a situation 726 00:32:20,418 --> 00:32:23,926 of having a mega superstar that's on his last leg, 727 00:32:23,926 --> 00:32:28,644 basically, and a bunch of young guys. 728 00:32:28,644 --> 00:32:30,773 This is gonna take a while for this team 729 00:32:30,773 --> 00:32:32,819 to get back to that level. 730 00:32:35,407 --> 00:32:36,618 KOBE: It's hard, man. 731 00:32:36,618 --> 00:32:39,081 It's hard to be in that environment 732 00:32:39,081 --> 00:32:41,169 when, you know, we're literally, like, 733 00:32:41,169 --> 00:32:45,636 at the bottom of the league. 734 00:32:45,636 --> 00:32:50,020 PHIL: I think Jim underestimated how difficult 735 00:32:50,020 --> 00:32:52,357 it is to win in the NBA. 736 00:32:52,357 --> 00:32:55,615 It involves more than just being able to pick a player 737 00:32:55,615 --> 00:32:58,411 or sign a contract. 738 00:32:58,411 --> 00:33:01,375 He might have underestimated what it took to actually get 739 00:33:01,375 --> 00:33:04,215 that team together and produce the type 740 00:33:04,215 --> 00:33:05,676 of team that will win. 741 00:33:11,813 --> 00:33:14,694 JESSE: We used to have family meetings every summer. 742 00:33:14,694 --> 00:33:17,909 And Jim and Mitch would usually attend and give us an update 743 00:33:17,909 --> 00:33:19,829 on the state of the team. 744 00:33:19,829 --> 00:33:21,165 I believe it was the first year 745 00:33:21,165 --> 00:33:22,877 we missed the playoffs. 746 00:33:22,877 --> 00:33:24,839 Dad only missed the playoffs, what, twice. 747 00:33:24,839 --> 00:33:27,595 Like, okay, what's going on? 748 00:33:27,595 --> 00:33:29,306 JANIE: You know, we're still grieving, 749 00:33:29,306 --> 00:33:31,310 you know, the loss of my dad. 750 00:33:31,310 --> 00:33:33,983 And it's like, okay, what's gonna happen next? 751 00:33:33,983 --> 00:33:36,613 - Could the Buss family ever win a championship 752 00:33:36,613 --> 00:33:38,742 without Dr. Buss? 753 00:33:38,742 --> 00:33:40,871 JESSE: I'm kind of, like, curious to see what 754 00:33:40,871 --> 00:33:42,875 Jim's philosophy would be. 755 00:33:42,875 --> 00:33:46,257 - I mean, he's under pressure from the family. 756 00:33:46,257 --> 00:33:48,554 Everybody's second guessing. 757 00:33:48,554 --> 00:33:51,977 - I know that my dad put Jimmy there for a reason. 758 00:33:51,977 --> 00:33:53,939 And just because my dad was gone 759 00:33:53,939 --> 00:33:56,360 doesn't mean that the reason went away. 760 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:59,450 But it was up to Jim to prove it. 761 00:33:59,450 --> 00:34:01,955 - When will we be back in the playoffs? 762 00:34:01,955 --> 00:34:06,590 I need to know so that we know how to price our tickets. 763 00:34:06,590 --> 00:34:10,013 And he said, "We'll be back in the playoffs in a year." 764 00:34:10,013 --> 00:34:11,933 - I remember sitting next to my sister. 765 00:34:11,933 --> 00:34:15,231 And I remember my sister kind of confirming, 766 00:34:15,231 --> 00:34:18,363 like, what had just been said. 767 00:34:18,363 --> 00:34:20,033 - You know, Jim, why did you say that? 768 00:34:20,033 --> 00:34:21,953 And what's the upside? There's no upside. 769 00:34:21,953 --> 00:34:24,041 It's only downside, right? 770 00:34:24,041 --> 00:34:26,128 - And then Jesse said, 771 00:34:26,128 --> 00:34:28,299 "I don't--I don't think it's gonna be a year." 772 00:34:28,299 --> 00:34:29,761 - And I laughed. 773 00:34:29,761 --> 00:34:32,015 Like, I'm sorry. Like, I--I laughed. 774 00:34:32,015 --> 00:34:33,685 Like, I kind of scoffed, and I was like, 775 00:34:33,685 --> 00:34:35,188 "There's no way that's gonna happen." 776 00:34:35,188 --> 00:34:37,442 Maybe if you could, like, take who we had on the roster 777 00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:40,741 and make them healthy again and five years younger, sure. 778 00:34:40,741 --> 00:34:43,079 But that wasn't going to happen. 779 00:34:43,079 --> 00:34:44,666 - They didn't have any intimate knowledge 780 00:34:44,666 --> 00:34:46,711 of how the--how it works. 781 00:34:46,711 --> 00:34:49,049 And now to say, "Well, you know, 782 00:34:49,049 --> 00:34:50,928 why don't you do this? Why don't you do that?"... 783 00:34:50,928 --> 00:34:52,264 It was like, first of all, 784 00:34:52,264 --> 00:34:55,437 it would take me a week to answer that. 785 00:34:55,437 --> 00:34:58,610 - I think the only person that didn't scoff at that was me. 786 00:34:58,610 --> 00:35:02,284 - How exactly are you gonna get this team back in one year? 787 00:35:02,284 --> 00:35:03,369 It was funny to me. 788 00:35:03,369 --> 00:35:04,538 INTERVIEWER: And what did he say? 789 00:35:04,538 --> 00:35:06,459 - "Okay, three years, three years." 790 00:35:06,459 --> 00:35:10,133 - And I said, "If we're not back in the playoffs, 791 00:35:10,133 --> 00:35:12,847 then you know I might have to make a change." 792 00:35:12,847 --> 00:35:15,518 And he said, "Oh, absolutely. 793 00:35:15,518 --> 00:35:17,774 "If we're not back in the playoffs in three years, 794 00:35:17,774 --> 00:35:19,234 "I'm gonna walk away. 795 00:35:19,234 --> 00:35:21,990 Like, I--you know, I'll fire myself." 796 00:35:21,990 --> 00:35:25,538 So we shook hands in, you know-- 797 00:35:25,538 --> 00:35:28,754 with the witnesses of my--my siblings. 798 00:35:31,802 --> 00:35:34,097 INTERVIEWER: Are you and the rest of the family-- 799 00:35:34,097 --> 00:35:36,645 are you and Jimmy--are you guys all on the same page? 800 00:35:36,645 --> 00:35:38,816 - You know, I would say that, by and large, 801 00:35:38,816 --> 00:35:41,028 we are all on the same page. 802 00:35:41,028 --> 00:35:42,405 - You know, I was looking for Jeanie 803 00:35:42,405 --> 00:35:44,034 to help smooth the water. 804 00:35:44,034 --> 00:35:45,955 She could have very easily done that. 805 00:35:45,955 --> 00:35:48,543 Publicly would say, 806 00:35:48,543 --> 00:35:51,382 every once in a while, you know, a support, 807 00:35:51,382 --> 00:35:53,595 but she also had-- you know, 808 00:35:53,595 --> 00:35:57,143 she would phrase it in a way that there was not support. 809 00:35:57,143 --> 00:35:58,437 Let's put it that way. 810 00:35:58,437 --> 00:36:00,233 - Mitch Kupchak, our general manager, 811 00:36:00,233 --> 00:36:03,197 and my brother Jimmy have a vision and a plan. 812 00:36:03,197 --> 00:36:06,746 I've empowered them. They have a vision. 813 00:36:06,746 --> 00:36:08,917 Jim and Mitch have a vision. 814 00:36:08,917 --> 00:36:11,130 They see the game the same way. 815 00:36:11,130 --> 00:36:12,633 - What is that vision? 816 00:36:12,633 --> 00:36:14,679 - I--you know, you'd have to have them on your show. 817 00:36:14,679 --> 00:36:19,521 Yeah, it--it was awkward for me because this is my brother. 818 00:36:19,521 --> 00:36:22,193 And he's part of my family. 819 00:36:22,193 --> 00:36:23,864 But I was just focused 820 00:36:23,864 --> 00:36:26,243 on, you know, the day-to-day operation 821 00:36:26,243 --> 00:36:28,205 of a basketball team. 822 00:36:28,205 --> 00:36:32,047 - Nobody understands what kind of pressure was put on me, 823 00:36:32,047 --> 00:36:36,180 but I'm not gonna sit and let this get me down. 824 00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:39,938 Our focus was on building our young players. 825 00:36:39,938 --> 00:36:42,902 But it's not easy to plan for the future 826 00:36:42,902 --> 00:36:45,323 when you don't know who's gonna be with you. 827 00:36:45,323 --> 00:36:48,245 - And finally, I just had to just accept the fact 828 00:36:48,245 --> 00:36:52,964 that I dis--I don't want to do this anymore. 829 00:36:52,964 --> 00:36:54,842 You know, it's-- and I'm okay with that. 830 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:01,397 REPORTER: 20 years, five NBA titles, 831 00:37:01,397 --> 00:37:04,946 and more points than all but two other NBA players. 832 00:37:04,946 --> 00:37:06,490 Tonight, Kobe Bryant bids goodbye 833 00:37:06,490 --> 00:37:08,620 to the Lakers and his fans. 834 00:37:08,620 --> 00:37:10,624 REPORTER: The street's completely blocked off. 835 00:37:10,624 --> 00:37:12,502 People are just swarming all over the place. 836 00:37:12,502 --> 00:37:15,174 The Lakers are a team that's won 16 games this year. 837 00:37:15,174 --> 00:37:16,970 I don't think anybody knows that. 838 00:37:16,970 --> 00:37:18,890 They just know that it's Kobe's farewell, 839 00:37:18,890 --> 00:37:21,061 and they want to be here. 840 00:37:21,061 --> 00:37:24,569 BRIAN: There was this kind of supernatural buzz 841 00:37:24,569 --> 00:37:27,157 in the air for his last game. 842 00:37:27,157 --> 00:37:30,998 JEANIE: He inspired so many people. 843 00:37:30,998 --> 00:37:34,421 And when you have a star player retiring, 844 00:37:34,421 --> 00:37:37,970 you have the opportunity to say, 845 00:37:37,970 --> 00:37:40,391 "We love you. Thank you." 846 00:37:40,391 --> 00:37:41,978 SHAQUILLE: Kobe, they're doing a big celebration 847 00:37:41,978 --> 00:37:43,064 for you the last game. 848 00:37:43,064 --> 00:37:44,441 A lot of us are gonna be there. 849 00:37:44,441 --> 00:37:45,569 Can you promise me one thing? 850 00:37:45,569 --> 00:37:46,780 KOBE: What's up? 851 00:37:46,780 --> 00:37:48,324 SHAQUILLE: I need 50 that night. 852 00:37:48,324 --> 00:37:49,744 Can you give us 50? 853 00:37:49,744 --> 00:37:51,163 - Uh, no. 854 00:37:51,163 --> 00:37:53,417 [laughter] 855 00:37:53,417 --> 00:37:55,631 VANESSA: Towards the latter part of his career, 856 00:37:55,631 --> 00:37:59,764 after every year, he was like, "I'm--I'm gonna retire." 857 00:37:59,764 --> 00:38:01,643 And I'm like, "Okay." 858 00:38:01,643 --> 00:38:03,229 And so he's like, "I'm gonna retire this year." 859 00:38:03,229 --> 00:38:04,816 I was like, "Cool." 860 00:38:04,816 --> 00:38:06,193 And then he finally did. 861 00:38:06,193 --> 00:38:09,951 And, um, to be honest, it was just so sad 862 00:38:09,951 --> 00:38:12,038 to see that part of his life go 863 00:38:12,038 --> 00:38:15,002 because I knew how important it was to him. 864 00:38:15,002 --> 00:38:17,967 [crowd cheering] 865 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:28,864 KOBE: This is the last game for me to come out and perform 866 00:38:28,864 --> 00:38:30,366 in front of my fans, 867 00:38:30,366 --> 00:38:32,370 in front of my home crowd, 868 00:38:32,370 --> 00:38:34,291 in front of my family. 869 00:38:34,291 --> 00:38:35,794 ANNOUNCER: Now, the storybook finish 870 00:38:35,794 --> 00:38:38,132 would be Kobe shooting to win the game at the end. 871 00:38:38,132 --> 00:38:39,134 We'll see. 872 00:38:39,134 --> 00:38:41,221 [crowd cheering] 873 00:38:41,221 --> 00:38:42,766 KOBE: Well, let's go out here 874 00:38:42,766 --> 00:38:44,604 and put on a show one more time. 875 00:38:48,612 --> 00:38:51,659 DEREK: I think the expectations were so high. 876 00:38:51,659 --> 00:38:53,495 Imagine that amount of pressure. 877 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:01,971 [crowd exclaims] 878 00:39:01,971 --> 00:39:05,562 - The beginning-- it just looked bad. 879 00:39:07,315 --> 00:39:10,781 ANNOUNCER: Fans trying to urge that first Bryant basket in, 880 00:39:10,781 --> 00:39:13,410 hoping he gets going. 881 00:39:13,410 --> 00:39:18,504 BYRON: And when I saw him go 0 for 5, I said, "Oh, damn. 882 00:39:18,504 --> 00:39:20,341 I don't want Kobe to go out this way," you know. 883 00:39:23,013 --> 00:39:25,142 [crowd exclaims] 884 00:39:25,142 --> 00:39:26,562 BRIAN: But when he got that block, 885 00:39:26,562 --> 00:39:28,190 we just kind of all looked at each other. 886 00:39:28,190 --> 00:39:30,528 And it was like, you know him. 887 00:39:31,530 --> 00:39:33,868 - And literally, he just caught fire after that. 888 00:39:33,868 --> 00:39:35,371 KENDRICK LAMAR: ♪ It been that day for me ♪ 889 00:39:35,371 --> 00:39:37,500 ♪ Way, yeah, yeah ♪ 890 00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,674 ANNOUNCER: Three consecutive hoops by number 24. 891 00:39:40,674 --> 00:39:42,051 ♪ ♪ 892 00:39:42,051 --> 00:39:43,930 [crowd cheering] 893 00:39:43,930 --> 00:39:45,642 METTA: Another shot, another shot, another shot, 894 00:39:45,642 --> 00:39:47,478 another shot. Oh, wow, this is crazy. 895 00:39:47,478 --> 00:39:48,690 This is crazy. 896 00:39:48,690 --> 00:39:50,652 ANNOUNCER: Kobe. He throws. 897 00:39:50,652 --> 00:39:52,363 Good again. [crowd cheering] 898 00:39:52,363 --> 00:39:54,952 26 for Bryant. 899 00:39:54,952 --> 00:39:57,040 KENDRICK: ♪ Hol' up, sit down, hol' up-- ♪ 900 00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:59,754 ANNOUNCER: He has 35 points. 901 00:39:59,754 --> 00:40:01,966 KENDRICK ♪ Be humble, hol' up, hol' up, sit down ♪ 902 00:40:01,966 --> 00:40:03,510 [crowd cheering] 903 00:40:03,510 --> 00:40:05,431 ANNOUNCER: Huertas looks for help, and he finds Bryant. 904 00:40:05,431 --> 00:40:06,809 3 ball. [crowd cheering] 905 00:40:06,809 --> 00:40:08,730 ANNOUNCER: Yes, sir. ANNOUNCER: There's 40. 906 00:40:08,730 --> 00:40:11,234 [whistle blows] 907 00:40:11,234 --> 00:40:13,155 40 for Bryant. 908 00:40:18,833 --> 00:40:21,672 BYRON: It was unbelievable. 909 00:40:22,966 --> 00:40:24,887 But he's worn out. 910 00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:29,605 I know he's exhausted. 911 00:40:29,605 --> 00:40:32,611 So I go over, and I just looked at him. 912 00:40:32,611 --> 00:40:34,782 I said, "You got seven more minutes in that body of yours?" 913 00:40:36,034 --> 00:40:39,416 He said, "Absolutely." 914 00:40:39,416 --> 00:40:40,919 "All right, everybody just get the hell out the way 915 00:40:40,919 --> 00:40:41,963 and get Kobe the ball." 916 00:40:41,963 --> 00:40:43,465 [laughs] 917 00:40:43,465 --> 00:40:45,094 Great coaching strategy. 918 00:40:45,094 --> 00:40:50,020 ANNOUNCER: He is so tired. 919 00:40:50,020 --> 00:40:52,275 With half a minute to play, Bryant for the lead! 920 00:40:52,275 --> 00:40:55,030 [crowd chanting "Kobe"] 921 00:40:55,030 --> 00:40:56,826 Yes! [crowd cheering] 922 00:40:56,826 --> 00:40:59,915 Kobe Bryant gives the Lakers the lead. 923 00:40:59,915 --> 00:41:01,334 ANNOUNCER: Are you kidding me? 924 00:41:01,334 --> 00:41:04,340 ANNOUNCER: The amazing Kobe Bryant. 925 00:41:04,340 --> 00:41:05,760 [crowd cheering] 926 00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:09,392 ...Kobe. Fouled. 927 00:41:09,392 --> 00:41:11,731 And if Bryant makes both free throws, 928 00:41:11,731 --> 00:41:14,194 he will hit 60. 929 00:41:14,194 --> 00:41:17,200 [warm music] 930 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:19,496 ♪ ♪ 931 00:41:19,496 --> 00:41:21,667 [ball bounces] 932 00:41:21,667 --> 00:41:26,761 ♪ ♪ 933 00:41:26,761 --> 00:41:29,390 KOBE: Nothing brought me the sense of peace 934 00:41:29,390 --> 00:41:31,771 and of escape, you know, 935 00:41:31,771 --> 00:41:35,236 that the game of basketball did. 936 00:41:35,236 --> 00:41:37,323 As a kid, I was growing up and saying, 937 00:41:37,323 --> 00:41:41,540 "I want to be the greatest that ever played." 938 00:41:41,540 --> 00:41:43,544 Found a lot of comfort once I realized 939 00:41:43,544 --> 00:41:50,099 that my goal really is to be the best player I can be. 940 00:41:50,099 --> 00:41:52,019 Put one foot in front of the other, 941 00:41:52,019 --> 00:41:54,232 you control what you can control, 942 00:41:54,232 --> 00:41:55,735 and then you see what the outcome is. 943 00:41:55,735 --> 00:42:00,494 ♪ ♪ 944 00:42:00,494 --> 00:42:02,749 SHAQUILLE: When I came in, I met an 18-year-old kid. 945 00:42:04,628 --> 00:42:06,757 He always dreamed about taking that last shot. 946 00:42:09,178 --> 00:42:10,472 [crowd cheering] 947 00:42:10,472 --> 00:42:14,898 ANNOUNCER: A 60-point game for Kobe Bryant. 948 00:42:14,898 --> 00:42:16,192 SHAQUILLE: And you can't mess with destiny. 949 00:42:16,192 --> 00:42:17,738 You can't question destiny. 950 00:42:17,738 --> 00:42:19,073 ANNOUNCER: What a performance. 951 00:42:19,073 --> 00:42:22,538 What an exit for number 24. 952 00:42:22,538 --> 00:42:24,835 You couldn't have written this. 953 00:42:26,171 --> 00:42:30,930 - It was a remarkable end to a career. 954 00:42:33,770 --> 00:42:38,278 BYRON: I was there for his very first game. 955 00:42:38,278 --> 00:42:40,700 I'm here for his very last game. 956 00:42:40,700 --> 00:42:42,913 Almost 20 years later, and now I'm sitting here 957 00:42:42,913 --> 00:42:46,002 and giving him a hug as he walks off the floor. 958 00:42:46,002 --> 00:42:50,010 You know, the way he went out was--was a Hollywood script. 959 00:42:50,010 --> 00:42:51,889 ANNOUNCER: Boy, tears are flowing 960 00:42:51,889 --> 00:42:54,853 all over Southern California and all over the world 961 00:42:54,853 --> 00:42:59,613 who have loved this man for so long. 962 00:42:59,613 --> 00:43:02,994 [crowd cheering] 963 00:43:02,994 --> 00:43:04,707 KOBE: I grew up a die-hard-- 964 00:43:04,707 --> 00:43:06,919 I mean a die-hard Laker fan. 965 00:43:06,919 --> 00:43:10,719 So to be drafted and then traded to this organization 966 00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:13,933 and to spend 20 years here-- I mean, you can't write 967 00:43:13,933 --> 00:43:15,310 something better than this. 968 00:43:15,310 --> 00:43:19,485 [crowd cheering] 969 00:43:19,485 --> 00:43:21,824 The thing that had me cracking up all night long 970 00:43:21,824 --> 00:43:24,830 was the fact that I go through 20 years 971 00:43:24,830 --> 00:43:27,251 of everybody screaming to pass the ball. 972 00:43:27,251 --> 00:43:28,921 And then the last night, they're like, "Don't pass it." 973 00:43:28,921 --> 00:43:33,013 [laughter] 974 00:43:33,013 --> 00:43:36,645 And from the bottom of my heart, I-- 975 00:43:36,645 --> 00:43:38,190 God, I love you guys. 976 00:43:38,190 --> 00:43:40,570 And, uh-- [crowd cheering] 977 00:43:40,570 --> 00:43:42,072 I love you guys. 978 00:43:42,072 --> 00:43:44,953 [crowd cheering] 979 00:43:44,953 --> 00:43:46,916 JEANIE: It was, like, beyond anything 980 00:43:46,916 --> 00:43:49,713 that you could ever hope for in terms 981 00:43:49,713 --> 00:43:52,886 of being able to celebrate a career. 982 00:43:52,886 --> 00:43:56,644 [crowd cheering] 983 00:43:56,644 --> 00:43:59,817 It was a gift that he gave us. 984 00:43:59,817 --> 00:44:02,823 [crowd cheering] 985 00:44:10,504 --> 00:44:12,007 JEANIE: That winter, 986 00:44:12,007 --> 00:44:14,345 my relationship with Phil ended. 987 00:44:14,345 --> 00:44:17,101 Our lives just were growing apart. 988 00:44:17,101 --> 00:44:19,898 It was a difficult decision to make 989 00:44:19,898 --> 00:44:24,700 and, you know, something that we both agonized over 990 00:44:24,700 --> 00:44:27,204 and went back and forth. 991 00:44:27,204 --> 00:44:31,004 But it was the right decision for us to make. 992 00:44:31,004 --> 00:44:33,551 And then Kobe retired, 993 00:44:33,551 --> 00:44:36,180 and we lost our identity. 994 00:44:36,180 --> 00:44:39,020 This isn't what Laker basketball 995 00:44:39,020 --> 00:44:40,732 is supposed to feel like. 996 00:44:40,732 --> 00:44:42,484 [Vo Williams' "Greatness"] 997 00:44:42,484 --> 00:44:44,948 VO: ♪ Yeah, let's go ♪ 998 00:44:44,948 --> 00:44:47,411 ♪ I got a vision I see in my head ♪ 999 00:44:47,411 --> 00:44:49,332 ♪ A melody buried deep into my soul ♪ 1000 00:44:49,332 --> 00:44:51,252 ♪ They call us crazy, we cuttin' the edge ♪ 1001 00:44:51,252 --> 00:44:53,256 ♪ I'm lockin' the future and letting it go ♪ 1002 00:44:53,256 --> 00:44:54,843 ♪ This is a callin' that's higher ♪ 1003 00:44:54,843 --> 00:44:57,264 ♪ The time we decided our stories are gonna be told ♪ 1004 00:44:57,264 --> 00:44:59,811 JEANIE: My dad always wanted the Lakers to be great. 1005 00:44:59,811 --> 00:45:01,481 VO: ♪ The future that favors the bold ♪ 1006 00:45:01,481 --> 00:45:02,901 ♪ Break the rules ♪ 1007 00:45:02,901 --> 00:45:06,282 - There was a sense that there was no real plan 1008 00:45:06,282 --> 00:45:07,953 from Jim and Mitch to get better. 1009 00:45:07,953 --> 00:45:09,497 If anything, they seemed to be getting worse. 1010 00:45:09,497 --> 00:45:12,629 VO: ♪ Whoo, greatness ♪ 1011 00:45:12,629 --> 00:45:14,591 - There was just this sense that there was change coming. 1012 00:45:14,591 --> 00:45:16,094 VO: ♪ Legendary in the making ♪ 1013 00:45:16,094 --> 00:45:18,014 ♪ Reach out and we take it ♪ 1014 00:45:18,014 --> 00:45:20,018 ♪ 'Bout to emerge, we on the verge ♪ 1015 00:45:20,018 --> 00:45:21,521 ♪ And it feels like greatness ♪ 1016 00:45:21,521 --> 00:45:23,901 ♪ Yeah, somethin' comin', I can feel it ♪ 1017 00:45:23,901 --> 00:45:27,491 JEANIE: January 2017, I had dinner with Magic. 1018 00:45:27,491 --> 00:45:33,169 And I asked him, "What do you think about this team? 1019 00:45:33,169 --> 00:45:34,840 How do you think things are going?" 1020 00:45:34,840 --> 00:45:36,259 VO: ♪ It feels like greatness ♪ 1021 00:45:36,259 --> 00:45:41,102 - I'm tired of watching the Lakers lose. 1022 00:45:41,102 --> 00:45:43,148 Something needs to be done. 1023 00:45:43,148 --> 00:45:44,735 VO: ♪ And it feels like greatness ♪ 1024 00:45:44,735 --> 00:45:48,701 ♪ Yeah, whoo, greatness ♪ 1025 00:45:48,701 --> 00:45:49,953 INTERVIEWER: You are back, Magic, 1026 00:45:49,953 --> 00:45:51,497 with the Lakers organization 1027 00:45:51,497 --> 00:45:53,753 as an official advisor to Jeanie Buss. 1028 00:45:53,753 --> 00:45:57,886 - What I want to do is try to just, little by little, 1029 00:45:57,886 --> 00:46:00,265 build the Lakers back up, you know, 1030 00:46:00,265 --> 00:46:01,517 to where they should be. 1031 00:46:04,190 --> 00:46:06,235 Jeanie knew that I wanted to help her 1032 00:46:06,235 --> 00:46:08,323 in any way that I could. 1033 00:46:08,323 --> 00:46:10,243 JEANIE: So we made an agreement 1034 00:46:10,243 --> 00:46:12,832 that Magic Johnson would come back 1035 00:46:12,832 --> 00:46:16,172 and consult to me in my position 1036 00:46:16,172 --> 00:46:22,434 and also be available to Jim and to Mitch. 1037 00:46:24,564 --> 00:46:26,652 With Magic, we're going back 1038 00:46:26,652 --> 00:46:29,574 to the way Dr. Buss ran the team, 1039 00:46:29,574 --> 00:46:32,538 back to hope and success. 1040 00:46:32,538 --> 00:46:37,256 MAGIC: At the top, Jim hasn't established the credibility 1041 00:46:37,256 --> 00:46:39,468 that he needs out in the marketplace 1042 00:46:39,468 --> 00:46:40,763 among players and agents. 1043 00:46:40,763 --> 00:46:42,851 So he's got to get better at that. 1044 00:46:42,851 --> 00:46:44,186 JIM: And Mitch and I were just like, 1045 00:46:44,186 --> 00:46:45,898 "What in the world is he going to do? 1046 00:46:45,898 --> 00:46:48,821 He hasn't been in basketball for many, many years." 1047 00:46:48,821 --> 00:46:52,077 MITCH: I would always go to him, you know, for advice 1048 00:46:52,077 --> 00:46:54,290 on players or talk basketball. 1049 00:46:54,290 --> 00:46:57,254 But Magic coming on board was kind of weird. 1050 00:46:57,254 --> 00:46:59,133 I never understood that. 1051 00:46:59,133 --> 00:47:01,220 - Mitch and I used to talk all the time anyway 1052 00:47:01,220 --> 00:47:02,640 because we were friends. 1053 00:47:02,640 --> 00:47:04,476 And so he would ask me questions, 1054 00:47:04,476 --> 00:47:06,857 and I'd give him an answer. 1055 00:47:06,857 --> 00:47:08,861 - He had never been in that position. 1056 00:47:08,861 --> 00:47:11,240 You know, we'll work with him and see how it goes. 1057 00:47:11,240 --> 00:47:13,077 - I'm gonna call Jim later on today. 1058 00:47:13,077 --> 00:47:15,498 And, uh, then we'll set up a meeting, hopefully. 1059 00:47:15,498 --> 00:47:18,964 Um, uh, you know, Jim is calling the shots. 1060 00:47:18,964 --> 00:47:21,177 And I want him to understand 1061 00:47:21,177 --> 00:47:24,099 I'm just here to lend advice. 1062 00:47:24,099 --> 00:47:27,941 JIM: He said, "Let's meet on Tuesday at 4:00." 1063 00:47:27,941 --> 00:47:29,485 And I said, "Sure." 1064 00:47:29,485 --> 00:47:31,823 Mitch and I are sitting there, just sitting, sitting, 1065 00:47:31,823 --> 00:47:34,119 sitting, sitting, sitting. 1066 00:47:34,119 --> 00:47:35,330 We were calling. 1067 00:47:35,330 --> 00:47:36,332 You know, where's Magic? 1068 00:47:36,332 --> 00:47:37,542 What's happening? 1069 00:47:39,547 --> 00:47:41,384 And he never showed up. 1070 00:47:41,384 --> 00:47:44,181 - Uh, that's ridiculous. [laughs] 1071 00:47:44,181 --> 00:47:45,559 I never miss meetings. 1072 00:47:45,559 --> 00:47:47,814 That's not who I am. Never been that way. 1073 00:47:47,814 --> 00:47:49,985 - I never heard anything like that. 1074 00:47:49,985 --> 00:47:51,863 I didn't get any frantic phone calls, 1075 00:47:51,863 --> 00:47:55,078 like "Has Earvin been abducted by aliens, 1076 00:47:55,078 --> 00:47:57,750 "and, you know, is he okay? 1077 00:47:57,750 --> 00:48:01,465 Because he hasn't shown up here yet." 1078 00:48:01,465 --> 00:48:04,179 MITCH: And the next day, the Lakers were returning, 1079 00:48:04,179 --> 00:48:07,394 sent me a text and said, 1080 00:48:07,394 --> 00:48:10,483 "Can we get together tomorrow morning, right?" 1081 00:48:10,483 --> 00:48:13,406 And I had--there's the trade deadline, right? 1082 00:48:13,406 --> 00:48:15,535 So I said, it's pretty busy, Dan. 1083 00:48:15,535 --> 00:48:22,466 And he said, um, "I'd like to see you tomorrow morning." 1084 00:48:22,466 --> 00:48:24,721 So that's when I knew something was up. 1085 00:48:24,721 --> 00:48:27,517 [uneasy music] 1086 00:48:27,517 --> 00:48:30,023 JEANIE: It was the hardest thing I ever did. 1087 00:48:30,023 --> 00:48:35,868 But still, I wasn't going to make a rash decision. 1088 00:48:35,868 --> 00:48:39,166 When I had to make the decision, 1089 00:48:39,166 --> 00:48:44,677 I sat with Kobe for a couple of hours. 1090 00:48:44,677 --> 00:48:46,848 You know, I--I told him what I wanted to do, 1091 00:48:46,848 --> 00:48:51,524 which was to fulfill the wishes that my dad had 1092 00:48:51,524 --> 00:48:55,031 and what he told me he wanted me to do. 1093 00:48:55,031 --> 00:49:01,502 ♪ ♪ 1094 00:49:01,502 --> 00:49:03,966 Over the years, I said, you know, 1095 00:49:03,966 --> 00:49:06,805 "Dad, Jimmy and I don't see eye to eye 1096 00:49:06,805 --> 00:49:09,059 on a lot of things." 1097 00:49:09,059 --> 00:49:12,733 My dad said, "I expect you, in the position 1098 00:49:12,733 --> 00:49:18,453 that I'm putting you in, to make the changes necessary." 1099 00:49:19,538 --> 00:49:21,292 I told Kobe that. 1100 00:49:21,292 --> 00:49:22,753 And he said, "Okay." 1101 00:49:22,753 --> 00:49:24,423 He goes, "I don't want you to look 1102 00:49:24,423 --> 00:49:26,343 "just at what's right in front of you, 1103 00:49:26,343 --> 00:49:29,433 "but, like, pull the camera back, Jeanie, 1104 00:49:29,433 --> 00:49:32,773 and see the wide shot." 1105 00:49:32,773 --> 00:49:38,034 I had to step up and take the sister hat off 1106 00:49:38,034 --> 00:49:41,791 and become the leader of this organization. 1107 00:49:41,791 --> 00:49:44,296 - Well, now to a story that's shaking up the sports world. 1108 00:49:44,296 --> 00:49:46,175 The LA Lakers clean house. 1109 00:49:46,175 --> 00:49:47,762 - The governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, 1110 00:49:47,762 --> 00:49:50,225 Jeanie Buss, replaced her brother Jim Buss 1111 00:49:50,225 --> 00:49:51,561 and Mitch Kupchak, who was 1112 00:49:51,561 --> 00:49:52,772 the general manager of the Lakers, 1113 00:49:52,772 --> 00:49:53,815 and gave complete control 1114 00:49:53,815 --> 00:49:57,072 up to Earvin "Magic" Johnson. 1115 00:49:57,072 --> 00:49:59,326 JIM: No, I wasn't surprised at all. 1116 00:49:59,326 --> 00:50:01,623 Neither was Mitch. 1117 00:50:01,623 --> 00:50:04,086 MITCH: You know, we knew it was coming to an end. 1118 00:50:04,086 --> 00:50:08,010 When Dr. Buss passed away, you know, I felt the pressure. 1119 00:50:09,221 --> 00:50:14,356 It was just too much energy spent on the family's issues. 1120 00:50:16,778 --> 00:50:18,657 - She didn't call me to fire me. 1121 00:50:18,657 --> 00:50:20,869 She obviously didn't want to talk to me. 1122 00:50:20,869 --> 00:50:22,748 So I just said, "Okay." 1123 00:50:22,748 --> 00:50:26,590 JEANIE: The timing was unusual. 1124 00:50:26,590 --> 00:50:28,844 That April would have been the end 1125 00:50:28,844 --> 00:50:30,346 of his three-year timeline 1126 00:50:30,346 --> 00:50:33,352 that he shared with the media. 1127 00:50:33,352 --> 00:50:36,150 The trade deadline was coming up. 1128 00:50:36,150 --> 00:50:39,824 And I was concerned that Jimmy 1129 00:50:39,824 --> 00:50:44,124 would make decisions and trade away players 1130 00:50:44,124 --> 00:50:47,213 that would further undermine the team. 1131 00:50:47,213 --> 00:50:49,636 So instead of waiting until April, 1132 00:50:49,636 --> 00:50:55,271 I fast-forwarded the decision to February of 2017 1133 00:50:55,271 --> 00:50:59,029 to make sure that no trades would happen 1134 00:50:59,029 --> 00:51:02,118 that would further dig us in a hole. 1135 00:51:02,118 --> 00:51:04,791 - It was like, "Whoa." 1136 00:51:04,791 --> 00:51:06,878 First of all, how can you be fired? 1137 00:51:06,878 --> 00:51:08,130 You're part of the family. 1138 00:51:08,130 --> 00:51:09,926 You can't be fired. 1139 00:51:09,926 --> 00:51:12,263 Jeanie, no, you can't do that. 1140 00:51:12,263 --> 00:51:14,852 That's not right. 1141 00:51:14,852 --> 00:51:17,650 - It must have been humiliating for Jim 1142 00:51:17,650 --> 00:51:21,616 to, you know, be let go from his own sister. 1143 00:51:21,616 --> 00:51:24,872 What does that say about their relationship, 1144 00:51:24,872 --> 00:51:26,960 just family? 1145 00:51:26,960 --> 00:51:29,339 INTERVIEWER: Did you call her after this happened? 1146 00:51:29,339 --> 00:51:35,059 - I, um, no. 1147 00:51:35,059 --> 00:51:37,355 REPORTER: There's a family feud brewing 1148 00:51:37,355 --> 00:51:40,069 over who will run the Los Angeles Lakers. 1149 00:51:40,069 --> 00:51:43,577 Jim and Johnny Buss allegedly attempted a coup 1150 00:51:43,577 --> 00:51:45,622 to oust their sister, Jeanie Buss, 1151 00:51:45,622 --> 00:51:47,417 as the controlling owner of the Lakers. 1152 00:51:47,417 --> 00:51:49,547 That's according to the Los Angeles Times. 1153 00:51:49,547 --> 00:51:53,680 - My brother, Jimmy, got involved with some attorneys. 1154 00:51:53,680 --> 00:51:55,266 - We involved attorneys so we can understand 1155 00:51:55,266 --> 00:51:56,770 what the trust says. 1156 00:51:56,770 --> 00:51:58,272 - We were trying to figure out, 1157 00:51:58,272 --> 00:51:59,859 "Well, but is Jeanie the-- 1158 00:51:59,859 --> 00:52:02,656 the absolute dictator of the Lakers?" 1159 00:52:02,656 --> 00:52:06,038 - According to our attorneys, they said the best thing to do 1160 00:52:06,038 --> 00:52:11,256 is to put some other people on the board. 1161 00:52:11,256 --> 00:52:13,010 JEANIE: Our general counsel-- he goes, 1162 00:52:13,010 --> 00:52:14,179 "I wouldn't say it was 1163 00:52:14,179 --> 00:52:16,643 "a hostile meeting that we had, 1164 00:52:16,643 --> 00:52:19,439 "but they basically came in 1165 00:52:19,439 --> 00:52:24,074 and--and put a loaded gun on the table." 1166 00:52:24,074 --> 00:52:26,203 - Just to make sure that there's checks and balances. 1167 00:52:26,203 --> 00:52:27,790 That's all it was. 1168 00:52:27,790 --> 00:52:33,217 - But Jeanie took it as we're trying to unseat her. 1169 00:52:33,217 --> 00:52:36,181 - If I'm not on the board, then I wouldn't qualify 1170 00:52:36,181 --> 00:52:38,394 to be controlling owner 1171 00:52:38,394 --> 00:52:41,358 as recognized by the NBA. 1172 00:52:41,358 --> 00:52:46,118 The NBA does not want teams in limbo, 1173 00:52:46,118 --> 00:52:49,124 so they would have forced us to sell the team. 1174 00:52:49,124 --> 00:52:51,169 REPORTER: On Friday, Jeanie Buss 1175 00:52:51,169 --> 00:52:52,631 filed a restraining order 1176 00:52:52,631 --> 00:52:53,800 against her brothers 1177 00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:55,637 to basically say that they had to follow 1178 00:52:55,637 --> 00:52:58,058 the wishes of her father in the family trust. 1179 00:52:58,058 --> 00:53:00,229 - And it wasn't like we were trying to get rid of Jeanie 1180 00:53:00,229 --> 00:53:02,568 as president of the Lakers. 1181 00:53:02,568 --> 00:53:05,824 We wanted Jeanie to understand 1182 00:53:05,824 --> 00:53:10,458 that Dad would not have wanted you 1183 00:53:10,458 --> 00:53:13,213 to just take total control, hire and fire 1184 00:53:13,213 --> 00:53:19,517 whoever you wanted, and without the rest of us being involved. 1185 00:53:22,523 --> 00:53:24,402 JEANIE: Clearly, the intention 1186 00:53:24,402 --> 00:53:26,741 that my father had in the trust 1187 00:53:26,741 --> 00:53:31,458 was to make sure that I would be named controlling owner, 1188 00:53:31,458 --> 00:53:34,089 because he wrote the trust exactly the way 1189 00:53:34,089 --> 00:53:37,930 the judge interpreted it. 1190 00:53:37,930 --> 00:53:39,725 Those were his wishes, 1191 00:53:39,725 --> 00:53:46,113 and they tried to disregard what their father wanted. 1192 00:53:46,113 --> 00:53:48,200 That's a betrayal of all the hard work 1193 00:53:48,200 --> 00:53:50,956 and what he did on our behalf 1194 00:53:50,956 --> 00:53:52,960 to make this possible. 1195 00:53:56,425 --> 00:54:00,349 I felt that there was this kind of desire 1196 00:54:00,349 --> 00:54:04,984 to remove me or stab me in the heart. 1197 00:54:04,984 --> 00:54:09,409 The episode with not hiring Phil and that whole charade, 1198 00:54:09,409 --> 00:54:12,750 and now this? Okay, I--I was right. 1199 00:54:12,750 --> 00:54:16,298 This was happening to me. I wasn't just being paranoid. 1200 00:54:21,851 --> 00:54:24,857 [soft music] 1201 00:54:24,857 --> 00:54:28,907 It was, you know, sickening for me. 1202 00:54:28,907 --> 00:54:33,082 ♪ ♪ 1203 00:54:33,082 --> 00:54:36,923 JANIE: I always knew that Jeanie was gonna be the one, 1204 00:54:36,923 --> 00:54:42,183 um, that eventually, you know, took my dad's space. 1205 00:54:42,183 --> 00:54:44,814 She--she knows every aspect of the company. 1206 00:54:44,814 --> 00:54:48,696 She's sacrificed a lot to get where she is. 1207 00:54:48,696 --> 00:54:52,119 And I supported her. 1208 00:54:52,119 --> 00:54:54,792 - I knew all those years that he was grooming, 1209 00:54:54,792 --> 00:54:57,338 you know, Jeanie to take over. 1210 00:54:57,338 --> 00:54:58,758 - He didn't have to talk to me about it. 1211 00:54:58,758 --> 00:55:00,846 I was seeing it play out. 1212 00:55:00,846 --> 00:55:03,685 I knew personally that she was gonna be the one. 1213 00:55:08,695 --> 00:55:10,740 - She had a blueprint. 1214 00:55:10,740 --> 00:55:13,537 She knew what her blueprint was gonna be now. 1215 00:55:13,537 --> 00:55:16,209 You know, there are some things that, um, you know, 1216 00:55:16,209 --> 00:55:18,923 we discussed and talked about-- 1217 00:55:18,923 --> 00:55:20,677 you know, from a distance, now, 1218 00:55:20,677 --> 00:55:23,600 because we weren't, uh, engaged. 1219 00:55:23,600 --> 00:55:28,066 But yeah, she--she knew what was gonna happen 1220 00:55:28,066 --> 00:55:30,614 and how it was gonna happen. 1221 00:55:30,614 --> 00:55:33,076 JEANIE: I've been prepared for this my entire life. 1222 00:55:33,076 --> 00:55:35,164 I didn't see all the twists and turns, 1223 00:55:35,164 --> 00:55:38,713 but I'm just doing exactly what my dad asked me to do. 1224 00:55:38,713 --> 00:55:41,802 ♪ ♪ 1225 00:55:41,802 --> 00:55:43,472 MAGIC: She made the right decision. 1226 00:55:43,472 --> 00:55:45,936 It was the right call. 1227 00:55:45,936 --> 00:55:48,440 People were--you know, he might have been upset, 1228 00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:50,904 but it was the right call. 1229 00:55:50,904 --> 00:55:54,410 But you still on the team. [laughs] 1230 00:55:54,410 --> 00:55:57,584 Man, it's... Whoo. 1231 00:56:00,674 --> 00:56:03,763 - Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news. 1232 00:56:03,763 --> 00:56:07,103 LeBron James will not pick up the option on the final year 1233 00:56:07,103 --> 00:56:08,731 of his contract with the Cavaliers 1234 00:56:08,731 --> 00:56:11,946 and will become an unrestricted free agent today. 1235 00:56:11,946 --> 00:56:13,908 BYRON: Me and Magic work out at the same gym. 1236 00:56:13,908 --> 00:56:16,371 He ran out of the gym one day real fast. 1237 00:56:16,371 --> 00:56:17,833 You know, I'm like, "What, whoa, you all right?" 1238 00:56:17,833 --> 00:56:18,918 He's, "Yeah, I gotta go to the office. 1239 00:56:18,918 --> 00:56:20,212 Got something going on." 1240 00:56:20,212 --> 00:56:21,339 You know, and he just sprints out of there. 1241 00:56:21,339 --> 00:56:23,385 - [laughs] 1242 00:56:23,385 --> 00:56:26,391 I had business. 1243 00:56:26,391 --> 00:56:33,405 ♪ ♪