Los Angeles Lakers CEO Jeanie Buss getting advice from Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson, LeBron James about 'hard decisions'

Jeanie Buss isn't happy that the Los Angeles Lakers aren't in the playoffs, and the team's CEO and president said that she has gotten input from some familiar faces — including Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson and, yes, LeBron James — as to how the team can get back there.

«If we are not living up to the Lakers standard, absolutely I will look at everything,» Buss told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Tuesday. «I will make the hard decisions, because that's what you have to do.»

After missing the playoffs with a 33-49 record, the Lakers, who had the NBA's fourth-highest payroll, fired coach Frank Vogel in April. While general manager Rob Pelinka is the point man for the organization's search for a replacement, sources told ESPN last week that Buss, Jackson and longtime advisor Kurt Rambis also are a significant part of the conversations to vet candidates.

Jackson, the Hall of Fame coach, won five of his 11 NBA championships during his two tenures with the Lakers. He also is Buss' former boyfriend.

«People see us around town, we have breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever… it's not anything romantic,» Buss told the LA Times. «He's somebody that knows this environment and knows the challenges I have and wants to see the Lakers successful, so he's somebody I know doesn't have any other agenda than for the Lakers to be successful, so he's somebody that I can lean on.»

Johnson, the team's legendary Hall of Fame player who hastily stepped down as Lakers president in 2019 amid insinuations of «backstabbing,» also has had Buss' ear during this time.

When asked by the LA Times if she was again relying on Johnson's advice, said Buss: «Absolutely.»

«Bottom line, the Lakers are important to him and he wants the Lakers to win,