Lakers hire former Dodgers executive Michael Spetner

The Lakers hired former Dodgers executive Michael Spetner as the team’s new chief strategy and growth officer, a freshly minted position designed to stretch the Lakers’ brand across the globe.

New Lakers owner Mark Walter has already implemented Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and front office executive Farhan Zaidi as special advisers to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, and recently hired Lon Rosen as president of business operations after a decade with the boys in blue. It was Rosen who hired Spetner on Wednesday.

“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers legacy and orient toward the future to consider what’s next,” Rosen said in a statement released by the Lakers. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”

While Spetner didn’t sign Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Roki Sasaki, he was working behind the scenes building analytical frameworks, developing business intelligence tools, and most importantly, helping the Dodgers plant their flag in Japan.

With international players including Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura now in purple and gold, Spetner will now bring that same playbook courtside.

The Lakers said Spetner will oversee long-term business strategy and identify international growth opportunities — executive-speak for something much simpler: turning the Lakers into an even bigger global empire than they already are.

The Dodgers have become an international powerhouse in recent years, and Walter is applying that same philosophy to the Lakers.

The Dodgers have won three championships in the last six years, and fans are hoping Walter can bring that same pedigree to the Lakers.