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ALL IN THE FAMILY David Levy Turns Family Therapist for the Los Angeles Lakers By Sarah Fisher
There’s a prominent family in Los Angeles, and like most families, they have had their share of dysfunctional moments. This wellknown basketball dynasty goes by the name “Lakers,” and by the summer of 2007, sibling rivalry among players threatened their teamwork on the court. The “golden child” Kobe Bryant publicly battled his ego and burden of responsibilities, while patriarchs of the family struggled to control their charges. It was definitely time for some family therapy. Lucky for the Lakers and all their supporters, in late 2007 the Los Angeles Times featured a public therapy memo directed at the team. And lucky for longtime Lakers fan David Levy, professor of psychology at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, that columnist Kurt Streeter sought him out to conduct the much-needed psychoanalysis.
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Levy is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and he jumped at the chance to call the Lakers out on some of their issues through couch-less therapy. A Los Angeles-area native, Levy sees the Lakers as much more than just a basketball team. They are like his extended family; they’re in his blood. As Levy says, “I’m a Lakers fan by DNA.” “Back in 2007, the Lakers were chaotic and fighting a lot, with very little respect for each other and a lot of jealousy,” he continues. “Kobe’s teammates were looking at him with a mixture of both envy and respect, as often happens in families with an overachieving member.” Instead of acting as a responsible brother, Bryant was complaining about management and publicly pushing for the transfer of youngest player Andrew Bynum, who could have been called the runt of the family at that time. Former player and manager, the legendary Jerry West, symbolized the absent, idealized father, having left the fold in 2002. Current manager Mitch Kupchak was the stepfather who, as Streeter said in his article, “can do no right.”
Summer 2009
7/8/09 8:13 PM