Lakers' Buss fires back at Magic Johnson: 'My dad made you a billionaire'

These are unusual times for the Los Angeles Lakers. A historically and globally revered franchise, the team failed to make the postseason for two years in a row, with the third expected this season. Two decades ago, a Lakers team with cap space would land its pick of top free agents. Today, blue-chip players avoid the purple and gold like the plague, while whispers as to why circulate around the NBA.

For all the innuendo regarding Kobe Bryant, no Laker has been as maligned over the past three years as part owner and executive vice president Jim Buss. That's understandable since the buck stops at the top when a team underperforms, and the fire relentlessly comes from all sides when it's a franchise so accustomed to winning.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Buss, the son of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Johnson suggested the heir is in over his head and won't let anyone help him.

Buss responded to the criticism in an interview with USA Today's Sam Amick.

"Magic Johnson going nuts on me?" Buss asked. "It's like, 'Really, dude? My dad made you a billionaire almost. Really? Where are you coming from?'"

Buss prefaced the remark by listing individuals whose basketball opinion he respects, among them Jerry West, Pat Riley, and Bryant.

"If Jerry West said 'Jim Buss doesn't know what the hell he's doing', that would hurt. I don't know what I would do then," Buss said. "If Kobe came out and said, 'Jim Buss doesn't know what he's doing, I'd be hurt as hell."

Johnson has long credited Buss' father for his transition from NBA superstar to successful businessman and part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Magic remains a highly visible Lakers fan, and these are basically uncharted waters for a franchise that hadn't lost more than 60 games until last season.

The Lakers are still paying the price for their failed 2012-13 experiment that brought in Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Mike D'Antoni. None remain, and in the process the team alienated longtime coach Phil Jackson (the fiance of Jim's sister, Jeanie Buss) and signed Bryant to an extension that many feel has kept free agents away.

Buss took control of the team after his father died in 2013 and claimed some responsibility for the mess. He went so far as to say he'd step down if the Lakers aren't competitive by 2017.

"I don't think criticism is unfair when you have a record like we've had," he said.