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Lon Rosen looking forward to challenge as Lakers president
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- Lon Rosen looking forward to challenge as Lakers president
For Lon Rosen, becoming the Lakers' president of business operations is a full-circle moment.
Rosen started his career with the Lakers as an intern while in college before becoming a front office executive in the 1980s, eventually becoming an agent and business executive – including being the Dodgers' executive vice president and chief marketing officer since 2012.
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"Being able to sort of return to really where I started, it's a really exciting thing for me," Rosen told a handful of beat reporters on Tuesday night. "And I like the challenge, and I'm really looking forward to it. There's really great people working with me, which is what makes things enjoyable."
For Lon Rosen, becoming the Lakers' president of business operations is a full-circle moment. Variety via Getty Images
Rosen served as the Dodgers' executive vice president and chief marketing officer since 2012. AP
"Being able to sort of return to really where I started, it's a really exciting thing for me," Rosen told reporters. Penske Media via Getty Images
Rosen added: "For me, it's a challenge. It's something new, but it is sort of like returning home. But because I still have my connection with the Dodgers , it's a fun thing."
"I've spoken to others that do this type of work. Luckily there's a great team that works here at the Lakers that I've met for the last two days. And I have a really great team that works for the Dodgers and we all just fit together," he added.
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In a wide-ranging conversation, Rosen addressed a variety of topics.
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He confirmed the plan for president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka to continue to lead the franchise's basketball operations, along with input from special advisers Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi,
Pelinka told reporters earlier in the month he and franchise governor Jeanie Buss will lead front office expansion .
"Rob's empowered to do what he does," Rosen said. "And he's talked about it and I can talk about it; Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, they have involvement helping Rob a bit. It gives you a deeper bench, and I think Rob appreciates that. And it is unique. But they have a skill set that they can transfer some of it here. And that's really how we look at it.
Rosen added: "For me, it's a challenge. It's something new, but it is sort of like returning home." Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
"I have a really good relationship with Rob. I've known Rob Pelinka from when he was representing Kobe [Bryant]. I met him many many years ago."
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Friedman, Zaidi and Rosen are among the Dodgers connections added to the legendary NBA franchise since Mark Walter, who's also the majority owner of the Dodgers, bought majority ownership of the team from the Buss family in the fall.
Lakers icon Magic Johnson won't rejoin the franchise in an official role. Johnson was the team's president of basketball operations from February 2017-April 2019 before he abruptly resigned.
"He's always gonna have some type of involvement with all the teams, but he is not gonna have day-to-day involvement," Rosen said. "It's gonna be no different since he left the Lakers. Obviously he's a huge fan of the Lakers, but he's not gonna be, 'Hey Rob go sign this player. Do that.' He'll always be involved with all the teams that he's involved in, but no, he's not gonna have day-to-day involvement at all. He is a super Laker fan and he'll continue to be a super Laker fan. It's not bad to have that."
Rosen also had a message for fans after the recent increased season ticket prices for next season – which included a 3% "admin fee".
Rosen also revealed Lakers icon Magic Johnson won't rejoin the franchise in an official role. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
"We hope they renew," Rosen said. "And obviously it reflects on what the market is now and the demand for tickets. You can look at how tickets sell and what the prices are. You look at the primary and secondary market and you can see where their demand is."
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Rosen said he'll spend a "majority" of his time working for the Lakers, but will still provide "some services" to the Dodgders.
"We're gonna look at best practices for both teams," Rosen said. "I haven't gotten into the weeds of how the Lakers operate, but I have a sense of how they operate and they operate very well. There's things that we do at the Dodgers that we do really really well.
"Both organizations are gonna learn from each other. I don't know where it's all gonna fall. People say, the Dodgers are, the, this gold standard. And you know what, we do a really nice job there. And the job here is, I've been to a lot of games here. I know their business model is very successful, so I just gotta make sure I don't mess it up."
