Lakers News: Jeanie Buss Refutes Offseason Criticism with Confidence

Jeanie Buss, the owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers , recently faced criticism regarding the team's inactivity during the 2024 NBA offseason.

After finishing the 2023-24 regular season with a 47-35 record and being eliminated in the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers' lack of sweeping roster changes has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.

During an interview with The Los Angeles Times' Chuck Silken , Buss revealed how the Lakers can silence their critics this upcoming NBA season.

"Really, you gotta play basketball and win games," Buss said. "I know the criticism out there. I know social media is rough waters for everybody. There’s always controversy being stirred up on social media.

"That’s why it doesn’t really serve me to hype everything up. It’s just, you gotta do the work. And that’s how our organization operates. We do the work. We worry about what we can control and let the work speak for itself."

Despite the criticism, the Lakers made some significant moves, including firing head coach Darvin Ham and hiring JJ Redick, who has limited coaching experience.

Buss acknowledged the backlash but highlighted that the organization is dedicated to hard work, reiterating a commitment to ensuring the team does what it takes to succeed.

The roster has seen notable shifts with the arrival of new players like LeBron James' son, Bronny, and sharpshooter Dalton Knecht.

However, Buss noted that the team still faces substantial challenges, particularly in strengthening their perimeter defense and three-point shooting.

She admitted that the criticism surrounding the lack of activity is part of the landscape of sports today but asserted that consistent performance is the ultimate goal of the franchise.

Moving ahead, Buss hopes that the focus will shift from off-court controversies to on-court achievements, allowing the Lakers to build a winning culture rather than being mired in outside distractions.

The organizational priority, as indicated by Buss, is to trust in the process of hard work and consistency to ultimately quiet voices of doubt.