It would also be the season where after multiple opportunities to improve upon themselves came and went, the Lakers decided to replace Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak with former Lakers legend Magic Johnson and former sports agent Rob Pelinka on February 21, 2017, as both president of basketball operations and general manager respectively.
Furthermore, it was the season where Jeanie Buss would officially be named the primary owner of the Lakers on March 27.
On the eleventh anniversary of Bryant's legendary 81–point game on January 22, 2017, the Lakers lost by 49 points to the Dallas Mavericks 122–73 at the American Airlines Center marking the Los Angeles Lakers' suffered their worst loss ever in franchise history surpassing their record set when the Utah Jazz won by 48 points 123–75 over the Lakers in Bryant's final game played in Salt Lake City in Utah on March 28, 2016.
Following the season, D'Angelo Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, Nick Young signed with the Golden State Warriors where he won a championship, and Metta World Peace retired.
Until 2024–25, this was the last time that the Lakers won on opening night.