It was a surprisingly modest office. For a room that spawned numerous championship teams, I expected something a little more...
Glamorous.
This was the Los Angeles Lakers, a storied and proud franchise. Winning was a matter of course, and there was no reason to flaunt it. Quietly, in plain sight, was a row of championship trophies in the main office, proof of our legacy, and one I hoped to add to.
“If you ask me what our goal is, it’s to surpass the Celtic’s trophy count,” Mitch Kupchak said to me.
Mitch Kupchak, former General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, stood tall behind his desk. It was obvious he was a former player from his height. He bore a marked resemblance to John Malkovich, not that I’d ever say it out loud.
He had recently announced his resignation and I was chosen to succeed him. It would be a tough act to follow, considering the Lakers won five championships under his tenure.
He was in the process of clearing out his office. The room was mostly bare, having been emptied out. A plastic bin sat on his desk, filled with knick knacks. It was just me and him.
“Any advice for me?” I asked.
“You have to trust the people around you. That’s the key. It takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders. The best we can do is providee the organization the best opportunity to do one thing: win. This is the Lakers. Money doesn’t matter. Win no matter the cost.”
That was what I was brought here to do, to build championship teams and stake out a dynasty in this league.
“Good luck, Jo, you’re going to need it. Erick wants to see you after this. You should hurry.”
Erick Boenisch, representative for the Buss family, was going to be the person I’d report to for the foreseeable future.
“Thanks,” I said as I left the room. I entered a narrow hallway that led to Erick’s office. A set of double doors waited me.
This was where it begins.
The new Lakers Dynasty.
