EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — It was a familiar sight at a familiar site, but something was missing.
The pomp and circumstance was present at the Lakers facility, complete with the Larry O’Brien trophies looking over the practice floor, surely shined up to look even more golden for the occasion.
And the Buss family was scattered around, team governor Jeanie Buss standing remotely in the shadows while her brother, Jim Buss, sat on the other side, hat pulled down low over his face.
The numbers of retired Laker jerseys loomed on the walls, the perfect backdrop.
But the subdued look on Luka Donu010diu0107’s face showed the reality of this.