[Saba Sports News] During the previous NBA season, a group of Los Angeles Lakers fans engaged in unacceptable behavior. Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ controlling owner and president, disclosed on “The Athletic NBA Show” that she had received death threats from enraged Lakers fans during the 2022-23 season.
Buss described the season’s outset as extremely challenging, fearing she might not endure it. The threats she received weighed heavily on her. However, as the season progressed, there was a positive turning point for the team.
In the prior season (2021-22), the Lakers had a disappointing record of 33-49 and missed the playoffs. The start of the 2022-23 season was equally discouraging, with a dismal 2-10 record and struggles on both offense and defense. Fortunately, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka orchestrated a remarkable roster overhaul before the NBA trade deadline.
This involved trading away players like Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, and Patrick Beverley in exchange for talents like Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, D’Angelo Russell, among others. This move helped the Lakers recover, finishing the season with a 43-39 record, making it to the play-in tournament, and achieving an unexpected run to the Western Conference Finals.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to emphasize that threatening someone’s life is unacceptable in both the realm of sports and society at large. Unfortunately, this incident isn’t the first instance of Lakers fans resorting to death threats due to the team’s performance.