Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss made a difficult decision last season when she decided to part ways with her own brother, Jim Buss, who was serving as executive vice president of basketball operations, while also firing long-time general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Firing your own brother could not have been easy, and it could make things extremely awkward at family get-togethers.
But Jeanie did what was right for the organization, hiring Laker great Magic Johnson to take over as president of basketball operations and Rob Pelinka as general manager.
Jim still has an ownership stake in the Lakers though, and he was present at the team’s preseason opener Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Honda Center.