Dime is the premier basketball magazine, covering the NBA, NCAA, High School, Playground and International basketball - as well as sneakers, fashion and music.
DIME: When looking at players, what are the skills and intan-
gibles you look for? BJL: When Phil Jackson was there, we'd know what he likes. So, everything from someone having a high basketball IQ and being able to run that triangle offense on top. A smart player, a big guard – we like big guards – so, you're always looking for what everyone else is looking for: a diamond in the rough.
DIME: Did you find any of those diamond-in-the-rough guys? BJL: Jordan Farmar was one of my guys. Obviously, I wish (the
Lakers) still had him; it would have been nice to have him this last season. As you can tell, we need a fast guard.
DIME: You mentioned working with Phil – any memorable war
stories? BJL: It's funny, because as scouts, we don't really work with Phil. I reported to Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, and our assistant GM, Ron Lester. So, you don't have too much interaction with the coach, it's more of your front office people.
DIME: What was the organization like from the inside? BJL: The Lakers organization is like a big family. It's pretty neat to
be with that organization, and the Buss family is so great. I mean, everyone I've worked with has just been amazing, and if you've been with the team as long as I have, you get to know everyone.
DIME: But you grew up in the Bay Area, so you weren't inherently
a Lakers fan, right? BJL: A fun fact is that I was actually a cheerleader for the Warriors. So, I actually grew up more of a Warriors fan, but I've always loved the Lakers. Especially during the Showtime years, and I've always had so much respect for Magic [Johnson]. Even my dog, I named my dog Wilt Chamberlain, so I've always respected a lot of the Lakers growing up. And obviously once you work for a team with all that legacy and championships, you can't help but become a fan.
DIME: How were you able to make the transition from cheer-
leader to behind the scenes in the front office? BJL: Yeah, I mean a lot of people think I jumped right from being a cheerleader into the front office, which is not the case. I was a cheerleader who started off really young – I started cheering in the NBA at 17 – and then went off to the (San Francisco) 49ers, and then ended up cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. Then, from there, I got my broadcast journalism degree (at the University of Texas) and went off to start doing sports broadcasting for many years and then went on to the (Lakers) front office.
DIME: And you've got a few championship rings to show for
everything so far. BJL: Yeah, I actually have five. I have five (NBA) championship rings and I also have a Super Bowl ring.
DIME: You wear that bling out to the club though, don't you? BJL: (laughs) For the games, I'll wear my rings and for special
events, I will. But I don't wear them all the time. It's funny how when you wear them, it's definitely a conversation piece.
DIME: Beyond the sports world, what else have you been up to –
heard there was a possibility of some TV production coming up? BJL: Yeah, I mean I've got so many different things that I'm always working on. I'm one of those people, I'm sure you know, that likes to have a lot of irons in the fire. So, I've got a show that's possibly in production that we'll be doing… I've got a book deal coming up and I have a new radio show that SiriusXM just picked up. It's called, "Inside the Playboy Locker Room with Bonnie-Jill." And I'm always working on my charity, Hounds & Heroes, which benefits animal wel- fare and the military. I'm actually going to Afghanistan (in August) for another tour, my 18th tour actually to support the troops overseas. And I have a clothing line, an NBA clothing line, and I'm going to be doing that, called Double Play Sportswear. So I like to brand myself, I have a lot of things going on. I'm one of those people, and you only live once, so I kind of want to conquer the world.
40