Jeanie Buss

Lakers owner Jerry Buss underwent a surgical procedure Thursday, but the team would not provide many details. "He did have surgery and it went fine," Lakers spokesman John Black said. "He's not home yet, but he's expected to make a full recovery. " Black would not discuss the procedure. Buss' son, Jim, the Lakers' executive vice president of player personnel, on Friday told Times columnist T.J. Simers that his father got "out of surgery 14 hours ago" when the owner called Friday morning wanting details about the Lakers' acquisition of Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic.

The reality show surrounding the Lakers is always captivating. The Lakers' front office is looking to make roster changes. Kobe Bryant is wondering if he'll ever win his sixth NBA championship. Pau Gasol is worrying whether he'll remain a Laker. Andrew Bynum is noticing the angst on whether he will fully mature. Metta World Peace is thriving on acting goofy. The Lakers' reality show rarely focuses just on the basketball court. It focuses on everything off of it too. With Lamar Odom, the Lakers were eventually treated to too many doses of the Kardashian family.

Jeanie Buss couldn't help but laugh. She's Phil Jackson's longtime companion but says she doesn't even know how much he wants to coach in the NBA again. "I can't answer that question," said Buss, a Lakers executive vice president. "Only he can. Nobody's called him. Unless somebody calls, we won't know how to answer that question. " That uncertainty also applies to the New York Knicks, who recently fired coach Mike D'Antoni . Jackson won 11 NBA championships as a coach — six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Lakers.

Game stories -- The Times' Ben Bolch highlights Kobe Bryant's poor shooting performance in the Lakers' 103-99 loss Sunday to the Utah Jazz. -- The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding notes how the Lakers' poor defense and a bad shooting night from Bryant contributed to the Lakers' loss. -- The Daily News' Elliott Teaford notes how it's rare for the Lakers to lose at home. -- The Salt Lake Tribune's Brian T. Smith credits the Jazz's win to its youth.

Here's another reason why Phil Jackson probably won't coach the New York Knicks. He's too busy having fun filming commercials. The latest ad, seen below, features Jackson touting the Asus Zenbook . In the wake of Apple's popularity, it isn't surprising Jackson would tout a PC: He's a nonconformist. And in the wake of March Madness, it is surprising he would promote the NCAA tournament. He's routinely called college basketball "a boys' game" and refuses to watch it. Perhaps money can change a person's thinking.

She sits in the first row behind the courtside seats, directly across from the Lakers' bench, the coolest seat in the house. For years, fans have stopped by to cheer with her, mourn with her, question her, or just hug her. For years, through showers of confetti and storms of boos, Jeanie Buss has always been in that seat, evolving into one of the most active, visible and trusted connections between Lakers management and the fans. Which makes you wonder why, this season, she's barely been around.

On the first day the Clippers stars shared a court, Chris Paul was joyfully throwing up three-point shots, Chauncey Billups was carefully shooting free throws and their newest big acquisition was on the sideline. It was resting on the thin shoulders of the guy who looks like a golfer and talks like a swing coach. It is pressure, and Saturday it officially began an extended stay atop Vinny Del Negro. Who? C'mon, you know, Vinny Del Negro. He's the coach of the Clippers, the guy you occasionally spotted last season between Blake Griffin dunks?

Suddenly, the spigot of outrage turned off. The decadent buffet line of rips and quips and clever observations ceased to exist during the NBA playoffs. Mark Cuban went on a lockout. Of himself. Of course this wasn't quite locking up the keys and throwing them away. But starting with the second-round playoff series against the Lakers, the passionate Mavericks owner managed to pull off what was once thought to be nearly impossible. When he did talk, he really didn't say anything, not even when asked about having any interest in buying the Dodgers.

The first sign this wasn't an ordinary day was the presence of the Rolls-Royce in the players' parking lot. It stuck out among all the other luxury cars because of its owner. Jerry Buss was at the Lakers' training facility Tuesday primarily to see his daughter, team executive Jeanie Buss , though the players interpreted it as a symbolic appearance 12 hours after they foundered in another playoff series opener. The Lakers' owner made a brief but grand appearance during practice, walking down a long stairwell that starts near the office of General Manager Mitch Kupchak and ends near the basketball court.