Insiders say Linda and Lambis have greater power in Lakers management than Pelinka

According to reports from Vishvisha Kumar, a contributor to US sports media F/W. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most legendary teams in NBA history and have long been plagued by rumors of internal dissonance. Now, these whispers are starting to sound more like sirens. According to NBA insider Ethan Strauss, the real power of the Lakers’ front-end is not in general manager Pelinka, but in a pair of people behind the scenes: Linda and Lambis. "According to conversations with people familiar with the matter, the ranking of the Lakers' most powerful decision-making officials will be: Executive Director/Executive Special Projects, Linda, Director of Basketball Affairs Lambis, President of Business Operations Harris (dating Jenny Buss a long time ago) and General Manager Pelinka."

"That's the order I understand, and it's not yet involved James, Ritchie Paul and their Klutch Sports Group. LeBron and Crucci have been controlling the Lakers' basketball decision, but it's not clear how long this dynamic will last. They have a lot of influence, but it's likely to be short-lived." This discovery has sparked widespread suspicion. How could a consultant and his wife, who do not have traditional basketball operations titles, surpass the general manager in daily power?

What is even more shocking is that Linda Lambis has a vague "special project" title and is a long-time confidante to Jenny Bass, who has a greater influence than the executives responsible for building the roster. To understand how this dynamic formed, it is necessary to look back at 2017 when Kurt Lambis rejoined the Lakers. Since then, he has quietly accumulated influence within the team, becoming Jenny Buss’ trusted basketball spokesperson with Pelinka.

Linda Lambis, described by several insiders as a behind-the-scenes consultant, has been embedded in the upper level and operates as a "pillar" for the Lakers' internal think tank. The Lakers recently sold to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for $10 billion, expected to shake this opaque and arguably outdated structure. Although Jenny Buss will serve as president for a few more years as part of the transition, insiders say Linda and Kurt Lambis may have few days to exert unrestrained influence.

This dysfunction is more than just a secret power dynamic. The Lakers have reportedly operated frugally, cutting costs in key areas, which prevented the team from keeping up with the ever-evolving NBA. From limited employee expansion to outdated analytical infrastructure, franchises are left behind under the guise of tradition. With Magic Johnson openly praising the new owner and promising to bring “exciting things” to Lakers fans, hopefully the team will move from nepotism and shadow decision makers to professional, modern management that aligns with top NBA organizations.

Ultimately, Strauss' blockbuster report paints a picture of a franchise that has long been trapped in an outdated hierarchy where friendship trumps merit and consultants have greater influence than executives. With a new era in the $10 billion sale, the question is no longer whether Linda and Kurt Lambis have too much power. But whether this power is finally over.