Lakers President Jeanie Buss Talks About The Groping Incident Where She Accused An NBA Owner

Speaking candidly on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Jeanie Buss described how, during her first NBA board of governors meeting, an NBA owner grabbed her behind.

Lakers President Jeanie Buss Talks About The Groping Incident Where She Accused An NBA Owner

“As we were waiting, taking a break from the meeting and everybody’s in line for the buffet for lunch during the lunch break, somebody grabs my ass,” Buss said on the show. “I turn around and I was so shocked. But it was like, again — if I didn’t have the confidence that my dad put in me, that was a moment where I wanted to shrink and to be nothing, that I would have, you know, gotten sick and said, ‘I gotta go.’ Do I really belong here? You know, I’m just really not one of the group, like  I’m been singled out.

“It made me really self-conscious.”

This accusation has caused uproar and prompted inquiries about how women are treated in the NBA. Buss, who is well-known for her divisive ownership style, has made news for a number of reasons over the years. However, a lot of people have been moved by this latest revelation.

Although Buss seemed to have accepted what occurred, supporters and observers are becoming increasingly worried. Is the NBA going to respond to Buss’s allegations? The NBA must make sure that these kinds of situations don’t happen in the modern league.

https://twitter.com/nba_fs/status/1723286470302286018

The Los Angeles Times claims that the alleged sexual harassment took place in 1995.

Buss informed Bensinger that she stood her ground against that owner.

Buss remarked, “I just gave him a dirty look, like back off.” “And I stayed in the room. I realized that I might not be able to gain the respect of the existing ownership groups. But everybody that came after me, I could help them in the room because they’d be the new person.”

Buss stated that she attempted to ease the next generation of owners’ lives by drawing on her experience.

“So, then the next new person was Mark Cuban. And I made sure that from day one, I put my hand out to him and said, ‘Hey, if I can help you understand any of this stuff, if there’s any questions, here’s my number. Call me now and I’ll help you and I’ll support you.’”

The NBA has been working to advance inclusion and gender equality. They have pushed for female participation in top positions and have taken action in recent years to empower women inside the company. But events such as this cast doubt on the progress that is being achieved.

The NBA must look into Buss’s allegations in great detail and, if required, take proper legal action. The league has to make it very clear that harassment and any wrongdoing of any kind will not be accepted. In addition to defending the rights and welfare of people like Buss, this would establish a standard for those who might have encountered comparable circumstances.

 

 

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