The longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry Buss, died on Monday, February 18, at the age of 80. Buss was diagnosed with cancer eighteen months ago and battled the diagnosis heroically. This past year he fought for his life in a hospital bed in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Jerry Buss grew up in Kemmerer, Wyoming, where he reportedly was a good student. He went on to become wealthy in the aerospace and real estate industries before buying the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. The Lakers, under his ownership, won 10 NBA titles and became world famous.
Kobe Bryant, who played for the Lakers for 16 years said of Buss, “ His impact is felt worldwide.” Buss was known as one of the most successful owners to ever be involved in the game. Doc Rivers, the Boston Celtics head coach said, “He made the NBA a cool place. A place everybody wanted to go, where everybody wanted to play. Players take note of that.” Magic Johnson a former player for the Lakers said, “ Buss gave me the platform to be magic, and he gave me the knowledge to be magic.”
Buss basically threw his life into the Lakers and everything he did seemed to be dictated by the Lakers and what was best for the organization. Later, when he got sick, he kept his health issues quiet, and not many people outside the team knew the extent of his illness. Some say that Buss was so successful because the guys on the team were very talented, however, it was what were Buss’s leadership strategies that ultimately lead the Laker’s and to Buss’s success. Bob Steiner, Buss’s longtime friend said, “I never saw him when he wasn’t polite to everybody.” Buss also drafted players who other teams passed over. Under the reign of Jerry Buss the Lakers became Southern California’s most loved sports franchise.
For sentimental reasons Jerry passed the Lakers on to one of his sons, Jim Buss. A decision many are now questioning because the Lakers might not make the playoffs this year which is very unlike them; the Lakers are not known to have losing seasons.
Buss’s statistics show what kind of owner he was, his team made it to the finals 16 times during his early 34 years in charge and even won 10 titles between 1980 and 2010. Buss was involved with basketball for at least 65 years and he made a huge impact throughout the NBA. His presence in the sporting world will be missed.