The Los Angeles Lakers have been in a tumultuous state lately.

In the same offseason where LeBron James moved on from the franchise after eight seasons and a 2020 championship, former owner Mark Walter suddenly sold his majority stake in the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.

Now the Buss family trust is embroiled in a potential legal battle amongst themselves after the trust voted to sell their minority stake in the team to Iger and Kushner as well, but Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is threatening legal action to void the sale.

Amidst all this, former Lakers star Jamaal Wilkes, who played eight seasons for the Lakers from 1977-85, shared his thoughts on the state of the Lakers, including the Buss family, James' departure and the true beginning of the Luka Doncic era, in an exclusive interview with Roundtable Sports' Farbod Esnaashari at the Harold and Carole Pump Gala Foundation Dinner. 

The Buss family have been no strangers to drama over the state of the Lakers in recent years, with Jeanie Buss previously winning a legal challenge brought about by her siblings in an attempt to oust Jeanie from her seat in the Lakers' board of directors.

But this recent attempt by Jeanie to veto her siblings' five-to-vote to veto the sale of their ownership stake so close to the start of the season threatens to throw the Lakers into chaos by opening day, something that Wilkes hope can be avoided. But Wilkes also wanted to acknowledge the contributions the family have made to the team going back to Dr. Jerry Buss' purchase of the Lakers back in 1979, just a year after Wilkes joined the team.

"It seems to be always something and hopefully they get it sorted before the beginning of the season so it's not hanging over the the team," Wilkes said. But listen, Dr. [Jerry] Buss bought the team 40, 50 years ago, and they continued the legacy, and they had a good run toward the end. They had some, and still have some, issues. But I don't think it takes away from it."

James was no stranger to difficulties with the Buss family either, with reports of behind-the-scenes issues between James and Jeanie Buss emerging as James grew closer to departing the team in free agency. 

Still, James' time in Los Angeles was pivotal for both his own career and for changing the direction of the Lakers. When James joined the franchise, the Lakers' had five-straight losing seasons and didn't seem to have a clear direction to get back on track. 

After James joined, while the Lakers had one more losing season in his first year with the team, they soon turned things around and in just his second season wearing purple and gold the Lakers were NBA champions once again. 

Now, they've been set on the right path once again and have Doncic to lead the team, but Wilkes was keen to speak what James did to turn the team around and where that  impact places him amongst the so many other legends that have played in Los Angeles over the years.

"I think he's right there with the greatest," Wilkes said. "I mean, he came at a time when when the team's future was clearly in doubt. Brought the championship, and you know, tried his best. You know and then they [James and Buss] had a difference of opinion, and it is what it is. But I think his legacy is secure."

With James gone, the future of the team is squarely in Doncic's hands and through the offseason Doncic has been taking measures to the ensure that the Lakers, who have been fully transformed over the offseason, are clicking together. 

The most notable way that Doncic has done that has been bringing the entire team to Slovenia for a mix of a training camp and team bonding trip, and that sign of leadership and taking direction of the team has Wilkes encouraged about what the 2025-26 scoring leader can do to lead the team to further greatness, if the Buss' ownership dispute doesn't get in the way.

"I think the fact that Luka Doncic took the team over to his home country, Slovenia, and they all went to have a mini camp, man, I'm really excited," Wilkes said. "I think he's really stepping up to the plate and I'm happy for him. I hope he does extremely well. And again, I hope they get this ownership thing sorted, so it's not a cloud over the team."