The Players on West

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “I thought Jerry did a good job (as coach), but it was not satisfying to him personally. I give him top marks (as a general manager). He seems to understand what the team needs and tries to get it. Jerry Buss gives Jerry (West) and Bill Sharman a lot of free rein. A few times they’ve asked me about a certain player, which I think is wise on their part. Chemistry is important. There are a lot of talented people playing this game, but they’re not always able to get along.”

James Worthy: Jerry likes to give you pointers, but he’s never harsh. If you need to talk to him off the court you can, though I think most players who reach this level of success have other means of support. I think he has a great talent for putting together good teams.”

Mychal Thompson: “The Lakers do whatever it takes to win; (they) spare no expense to sign quality players. Good players who produce are rewarded. I was excited when I heard I might be traded here. . . . I don’t see Jerry around that much. Players have cliques, and managements have theirs. We’re not all going out for beers together.”

A.C. Green: “I think he and I have more than a typical player / general manager relationship; he’s more of a friend. He’s taken time out of his schedule every summer to help me with my game. Some players feel you can’t get too close (to a general manager) and wonder, ‘Is he doing this in my best interests, or the team’s?’ But I feel like it all helps me in the long run.”

Magic Johnson: “(West) knows how players fit into our team. The guys he’s brought over have helped us a great deal as players, but they also fit into the team mold. One bad apple can mess it up. I think I have a different perspective on Jerry than most people because I know him better. He’s very serious about the Lakers, which is when most people see him, but he’s a fun guy. He’s more than a general manager--you can talk to him if you have other things on your mind. The only thing that surprises me is that he can still shoot so well. He’ll go out on the court and hit 25 shots in a row. He can beat any of us.”