Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak says criticism of Jim Buss not fair or accurate

Lakers executive Jim Buss, the son of owner Jerry Buss, has taken the brunt of criticism—both externally and from within the organization—for the team’s fall from the top echelon of the NBA to relative mediocrity.

Kobe Bryant, in comments believed to be directed at Jim Buss, criticized the front office for its handling of Pau Gasol, and Magic Johnson, who is still employed as a Lakers vice president, has also called out Buss. Buss also took some shots for not consulting Bryant before hiring Mike Brown to replace Phil Jackson as the team’s new coach. These are just a few examples of Buss in the firing line.

But Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak thinks the conventional perception of Buss is neither accurate nor fair.

"Jim gets way too much criticism and not enough credit with the success this team has had," Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times. "He is following in the footsteps of the most successful owner maybe of all time (his father, Jerry), which is hard to do. But since he's gotten more and more involved, which has been about seven or eight years, we've had some pretty good moments."

Kupchak added that Magic’s characterization that Jim Buss is running the team is “inaccurate because there are three of us that are involved in all the basketball decisions. Dr. Buss still makes, to my knowledge, all the final decisions in the organization. He's always deferred basketball decisions at some level to his basketball people, and Jimmy is a part of the basketball people.”