Buss Likes Life in the Fast Lane

SAN DIEGO —  Laker owner Jerry Buss has been present throughout the first week of training camp, bedecked in an assortment of floral shirts while quietly looking down on his creation from halfway up the seats at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

His grandkids are often next to him, flopping in and out of their seats, perhaps the only commotion Buss will face at training camp.

In more tumultuous times, Shaquille O’Neal irritated Buss at an exhibition game in Hawaii a year ago, blocking a Mike Dunleavy shot and bellowing in Buss’ direction, “Now you gonna pay me?” Buss didn’t. Instead, he took another gamble in a career forged by them, ultimately agreeing to trade O’Neal to the Miami Heat.

Laker fans were overwhelmingly unhappy with the decision, blanching at the perception of an owner watching an empire crumble while dining on pasta and wine during a vacation in Italy.

Buss always has been enamored with a faster, lighter, Showtime-like lineup, which is what he now has without O’Neal. The Laker offense, for better or worse, will be jarringly different compared with the pound-the-ball-into-the-post mentality of past seasons.

“It’s accurate to say that up-and-down and fast-paced is the way he’s always liked the Lakers to play, from when he purchased the team,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday about Buss, who has not granted an interview since a conference call with reporters in July.

“We did take a dramatic step in a different direction when we hired Phil Jackson and we put our faith in him and his system. But [Buss] has always liked fast-paced, athletic teams. I think he believes that’s entertaining.”

Kupchak said disapproval of the O’Neal trade was not unexpected, but criticism of Buss as absentee owner was inaccurate.

“People hear the owner’s out of the country and they assume he doesn’t want to be here because of the things we did this year, and that’s unfair,” Kupchak said. “He travels every year. We were in touch more so than usual because of what was going on. Usually it’s once a day, but this year, sometimes two or three times a day.”

At the same time, Kupchak acknowledged the criticism.

“People look to me and they look to the owner as far as reaching out with their emotions,” Kupchak said. “Sometimes fans want to know where the buck stops. That’s why myself and Dr. Buss are the ones they reach out to.”

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X-rays on Luke Walton’s left ankle were negative. He could return to practice by Monday, Kupchak said.... Forward Brian Grant sat out Friday morning’s practice because of neck soreness but practiced in the afternoon.... Coach Rudy Tomjanovich singled out center Chris Mihm after the morning practice: “He had a couple good days in a row at scrimmages: activity, energy, some inside presence.”