Jeanie Buss captured her first championship as the controlling governor of the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2020, and is looking to add her second title now that the franchise has secured a new face in Luka Doncic.
Jeanie, like her father the late Dr. Jerry Buss, understands that superstars drive the NBA and winning and that acquiring one is always a priority. Although Jeanie was initially not on board with trading Anthony Davis for Doncic, she eventually came around and the move should pay dividends given the Slovenia native’s global superstardom and talent.
Since becoming governor of the Lakers, Jeanie has done a good job of upholding the family values the franchise has become known for over the decades. Buss and the organization have proven they truly care about their partnerships with their stars and by extension their families.
For example, Jeanie made an appearance at USC’s graduation to present Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna Bryant with her diploma, via High School on SI:
🎓 Natalia Bryant carried a piece of her dad’s legacy with her on graduation day 💜💛 A proud moment made even more special as Lakers owner Jeanie Buss presented her with her degree on stage. #MambaForever
Video via: Vanessa Bryant/ IG pic.twitter.com/BEdBHlasgt
— High School On SI (@HighSchoolOnSI) May 20, 2025
The video in the post begins with a sweet shot of Vanessa Bryant with Natalia and a close-up shot of her stole that says “Thank You Mom & Dad.” The next shot is of Natalia walking across the stage where she’s met by Jeanie wearing her own gown in the USC colors.
Like Natalia, Jeanie is a USC alumna and the moment is a heartwarming one between the two women. Natalia and Jeanie share an embrace before posing for a photo and the former then walks off stage to cheers. The video ends with a couple of photos of Natalia posing on campus.
It’s hard to believe Natalia’s already graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree, but it goes to show how quickly time flies. The Bryant family must be incredibly proud of Natalia and it was a wonderful gesture for Jeanie to present her with her diploma.
Jeanie Buss regrets not letting 2020 championship team to defend title
While trading for Luka Doncic was a no-brainer, the Lakers have made their fair share of mistakes. For example, the team broke up their 2020 championship roster and Jeanie Buss admitted she regrets not letting the group defend their title.
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