"I think there is an economic cloud on the horizon," Buss said. "The [salary] caps and all these things float with the BRI, so we're going to have to wait and see what [effect] this predicted recession has on us."
The BRI is basketball-related income for all 30 NBA teams, a key figure in determining the salary cap a few months before each new season. The salary cap for teams this season is $58.68 million and has been increased annually by $2.5 million to $3 million the last couple of seasons.
Buss, 75, meets periodically with Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, continuing to hand more of the day-to-day workings of the team to his son, Jim, and daughter, Jeanie.
Jim is vice president of player personnel; Jeanie is executive vice president of business operations.
"I'm very comfortable with it," Buss said. "There's always a fear in a family-owned business that the siblings will not run it as correctly as you would like it to be run. But Jeanie's been at it a very long time and I have nothing but absolute pure admiration for what she's done.
"Jimmy, of course, has been taking over with increasing percentages as we've gone along. Everything he's done and said and planned for is 100%, as far as I'm concerned. At this point, I'm just really very, very pleased with their performances."
Buss, who revealed that one of the reasons he bought the Lakers in 1979 was to beat the Boston Celtics, also divulged his favorite moment as owner.
"The biggest thrill of my life was not only when we beat the Celtics, but we finished it off on their own home floor [in the 1985 Finals]," he said. "That was something. I walked out, put a chair in the middle of the floor, lit up a cigar -- and I don't smoke cigars."
Buss seemed to relish the prospects for this season's Lakers.
"I'm having a great time. I really am," he said. "I can't wait to see every game. I probably will see more games on the road this year than I have for a long time. They're going to be fun to watch and I'm very excited."
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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com
