Jerry Buss Dies Aged 80: The Man Who Made The L.A Lakers 'Hollywood'

18 February 2013

Jerry Buss, the long-time owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, has died aged 80. The self-made millionaire made his fortune in real estate and bought the legendary west-coast NBA outfit in 1979, charting the team's success with marquee signings Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and, of course, Shaquille O'Neal.

Image caption Kobe Bryant [L] Is One Of The Lakers' Greatest Ever Players. A Lakers Fan Arrives At The Staples Center in Los Angeles [R]

Buss snapped up the Lakers (along with the Forum in Inglewood), the NHL's Kings and 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County for $67 million in 1979. At the time, the NBA was in a bad state and many teams stood on the brink of bankruptcy. After picking with Magic Johnson in the Michigan State draft, the Lakers began to win. "Jerry Buss helped set the league on the course it is on today," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "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."

Jerry Buss is survived by his children John, Jane, Jeanie, Jim, Jesse and Joey.