Lakers was lucky with Jerry Buss

In what marks a sad day in Lakers history, Jerry Buss passed away yesterday at the age of 80. It had been announced on Thursday that Jerry was dying of cancer, and did not have much time.  In his last few days, he received calls and visits from many Lakers players, all wishing him well.

Jerry is widely known as one of the best franchise owners of all time.  He purchased the Lakers in 1979, and transformed them into one of the best franchises in all of sports. He is responsible for bringing cheerleaders and a band to the Lakers, branding the “Showtime” era, and drawing the Hollywood crowd toward the Lakers.

David Stern said of his passing, “Jerry Buss helped set the league on the course it is on yesterday. Remember, he showed us it was about ‘Showtime,’ the notion that an arena can become the focal point for not just basketball, but entertainment. He made it the place to see and be seen.” Under Jerry’s ownership, the Lakers have won 10 NBA titles, and have with very few exceptions always been championship contenders.

At Buss’ hall of fame induction, Magic Johnson said of Buss, “He is a master at building a team. He has put the Lakers right up there with the New York Yankees as the top brands in sports. He has been able to do so because he is one of the shrewdest businessmen you will ever meet. With him, it’s never been about putting money in his pocket. It’s always been about putting it back into the team.”

Buss’ 10 titles make him the winningest owner in sports history. The team that he bought for $16 million back in 1979 has now been recently valued at over $1 billion. Jerry was a pioneer in franchise ownership, and his legacy lives on through each banner hanging in Staples Center.

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