LA Lakers’ Jeanie Buss to Brooklyn Nets: ‘Bring it on’

The Brooklyn Nets made headlines again, this time signing veteran LaMarcus Aldridge, but LA Lakers’ president and CEO Jeanie Buss has one message to the upstart Nets, “Bring it on.”

Buss and the defending champs have watched the Nets put on a clinic this season for signing veteran talent, assembling a roster of current and former All-Stars.

But the champs don’t seem to be worried by the Eastern Conference’s newest powerhouse.

“It brings out the best in us,” Buss told Stephen A, during Stephen As World on ESPN+. “When teams identify us as the team to beat, and they gear up to go at us head-to-head, that makes us work harder. So, bring it on.”

The Lakers didn’t sit by idly, picking up Andre Drummond from the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Cavs bought out his contract.

Drummond will provide some much-needed help to the frontline in Anthony Davis’ absence.

“The addition of Andre Drummond, who we picked up in the buyout market, will certainly fortify a season where we’ve had to deal with injuries and COVID,” Buss said, referring to Davis, Marc Gasol, and most recently LeBron James. “[Gasol]was out for several weeks with COVID and a really tough case where he was on a minutes restriction even though he’s back in the lineup.”

Players aren’t the only ones who have missed games due to COVID.

The Lakers still haven’t hung their 2019-20 championship banner, waiting until fans will be able to join them in the stands for the moment.

“We want to keep our fans safe. That’s most important,” said Buss. “But I’m a little bit jealous that the L.A. Dodgers are going to have fans for their opening game, and really the difference is being outdoor as opposed to indoor like we are. What I’m hoping for is we have fans in time for the playoffs. That’s really what’s missing.”

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