Why Jim and Jeanie Buss’ Public Sparring Only Makes LA Lakers Look Worse

Infighting has always been a part of the Los Angeles Lakers' makeup. But while Dr. Jerry Buss was around, everyone knew that the internal strife would never represent more than a speed bump on the road to perennial championship contention.

Even when things got particularly bad—like they did when the rift between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal forced a franchise reconfiguration a decade ago—Buss steered the Lakers through a couple of stormy years and back onto a title track.