Los Angeles Lakers owners Jeanie Buss and brother Jim Buss upped the ante for the struggling Lakers.
In a report from LA Times dated April 2014, Jim Buss said, "I was laying myself on the line by saying, if this doesn't work in three to four years, if we're not back on the top - and the definition of top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship - then I will step down because that means I have failed."
He added, "I don't know if you can fire yourself if you own the team ... but what I would say is I'd walk away and you guys figure out who's going to run basketball operations because I obviously couldn't do the job.
Yahoo! Sports reported that since that time, the Lakers failed to land a promising free agent to improve their status despite having the buying power. The team lost veteran point guard Steve Nash and rookie Julius Randle to injuries. The Lakers were further plagued by new coach Byron Scott's inconsistent strategies and team rotations and superstar Kobe Bryant had to battle criticisms about his ball-hogging and old legs.
On January 6, 2015, Jeanie Buss, Lakers President and Governor, reiterated her brother's promise.
She told the Los Angeles Times at the 11th annual Lakers All-Access event at Staples Center, "Yeah, of course, but I don't see why -- given the resources, given our legacy, given who our head coach is, who our front office is -- [we'll have] any problem."
Jeanie said, "We have our comfort level in that he's doing what his strengths are, and he knows, whatever he needs, he just has to pick up the phone," she said. "He has a vision of what Laker basketball should be and that's what he does. I can't tell you the difference between the triangle offense and the Princeton offense."
She continued, "My brother has skills that are better than me. He could always beat me in Monopoly. I respect that he knows what's going on."
RealGm reported that Jim Buss set his three-year deadline to his siblings. Jeanie said, "It was a private conversation with our family but I understand why he said it. I mean, I don't understand why he said it but I don't think it'll be a concern. I think he presented a challenge to himself, but I don't know why he made that public."
She added, "'We'll be contending,' that's what he said. 'We'll be in the Western Conference finals within three years.' I think as long as you have Kobe Bryant on your team, anything can happen in the playoffs."