What can Lakers fans expect from their new majority owner? According to a top executive who knows him best, they can expect an obsessive, relentless pursuit of victory.
Andrew Friedman, the President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently gave Lakers fans a thrilling preview of what new owner Mark Walter is all about. While paying respect to the previous ownership, Friedman offered a powerful reassurance about the team’s future.
“The Buss family has done an unbelievable job with the Lakers,” Friedman began. “But the good news is for Laker fans, they can rest assured that it is going to a guy that is incredibly competitive, wants to win so badly and he feels so much pressure to the fans… He is constantly putting pressure on us to do whatever we can to win.”
Friedman added, “So I think when that is the North Star of an owner, and hire good people around, I think really good things happen.”
Walter’s priority is sport
His insight comes after Walter, the principal owner of the defending MLB champion Dodgers, purchased a majority stake in the Lakers in June, connecting two of Los Angeles’ most iconic sports franchises.
If Lakers fans want proof of Walter’s commitment, they need only look at his tenure with the Dodgers. In a world where many owners focus on the bottom line, Walter is renowned for prioritizing the on-field product.
Under his leadership, the Dodgers have consistently boasted one of the highest payrolls in baseball, a strategy that has produced two championships and an incredible 12 consecutive postseason appearances.
Walter invests in success
Walter’s investment in winning goes far beyond player salaries. He famously poured $100 million into state-of-the-art clubhouse renovations and is known for investing in any cutting-edge training equipment or technology that can provide a competitive edge. The message is clear: if it helps the team win more games, Walter is on it.
While the Buss family created a legendary dynasty, Friedman’s prediction suggests the Lakers’ championship culture is now in the hands of an owner who will stop at nothing to continue it.
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