During the Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before the games. You dont realize these things until you get my age, that you have these kinds of people, that theyre not just your boss. I dont think theres any thrill in it. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. We wanted to change that, and one way was to have entertainment all the way through the game, he said. He did not make demands. I dont know if its Jerry West, or if its Magic, I dont know whats going on. I just couldnt believe it. Obviously, Kobe was able to do that with the help of the franchise. Thats when I got to meet Magics family. What impressed me most about him was he would speak to the parking attendant, the staff, anybody he just liked people, and you felt that about him. We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on. Fortunately, we put together a miraculous comeback. I love him, and his family, and I thank him to this day for the opportunity. with Karen Demel{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Demel", "gender": "Female" }, View Jerry Buss's Family Tree and History, Ancestry and Genealogy, Jerry Buss's father is Lydus Buss Jerry Buss's mother is Jessie Buss, Jerry Buss's son is Johnny Buss Jerry Buss's son is Jim Buss Jerry Buss's daughter is Jeanie Buss Jerry Buss's daughter is Janie Buss Jerry Buss's son is Joey Buss Jerry Buss's son is Jesse Buss, Jerry Buss had a relationship with Karen Demel, Jerry Buss had an on-off relationship with Puppi Buss Jerry Buss's former wife is JoAnn Buss. 5 out of Of course, that series had a, uh, flexible relationship with the truth, as it was a semi-fictionalized story that attempted to entertain rather than educate its audience. They wanted him to be happy with them. This was before smart phones, so there was no cheating. Id never been in a Porsche before. Donald Trump. And when I heard from him, not just with the telegram but then sitting down with him in Barcelona and looking at him eye to eye. Then he won another five championships. In 1985, before we left (L.A. after Game 5), I told the dudes only take one set of clothes. When Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers back in 1979, he turned a perennial second-place franchise into a pillar of excellence. Life is funny that way. They all mean a lot, but some mean a little bit more than others. I dont think other teams really wanted to deal with us to begin with, and then (that happened). I think he just figured that whether the front office, general manager or coach could figure out a way to make those two see their ways and see what was best for the franchise and the city. In 1999-2000, we got to the Western Finals against Portland, which was absolutely exciting. It came down to Game 7 at Staples Center, and halfway through the game I felt very defeated. California Trust Notification Requirements, Probate Without a Will / Intestate Succession, 9018 Balboa Blvd., #620, Northridge, CA 91325, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team,, Man Leaves $1 Million Estate to Actors Hed Never Met, Doctors Can Assist in Communication with Health Care Proxy. The first time I met him was when we were in training camp in Hawaii, when he came into the gym in his jeans and his Hawaiian shirt, just watching practice. At a young age, Jerry would stand on bread lines to get food for himself and his single mother. That was a big part of growing up for all of us. Upon his fathers death in 2013, that interest waned even more. Rookie owner, rookie player and we did it. He had a lot to prove: a lot of people looked at him, because he didnt wear a suit and tie, he came in as a different owner. He just wanted to assure me that his promises never changed about winning championships, and being patient in the process, waiting for the right piece to come along. *In the 2004 Finals, Detroit beat L.A. 4-1. He was supposed to come out to Orlando. And then Id go home. Everybody that we asked to participate agreed to be interviewed, and everybody gives the experience that they had because the fans know about what took place on the court, Jeanie said to The Athletic. By age 46, Jerry and his business partner, Frank Mariani, turned that million into a real-estate empire in multiple states that was worth an estimated $350million. Once they got on the floor, they seemed to be able to put all that behind them and do what they needed to do. Just showed up and watched. Jeanie was always going to be slated as running the business side for as long as she lived, Johnny said. So he went to Jerry West, and said, weve got to get somebody to come and get us back to winning. My dad only missed the playoffs twice in his entire 34-year tenure as an owner. He was there to support us. He treated people with respect. My biggest concern was being traded every year. Theyll like this! Elon Musk. I need to say no more. I thought, this is the way it should be. Buss became an owner in World Team Tennis, the Los Angeles Strings. Jerry West called it the Shaq Diet. He was that fast. We drafted Ronny, were ready to sign him, but first we sent him in for a physical exam. We used to call him Magic Buss, or Earvin Buss. I was just told that he was having this picnic for employees, and how cool that was. There becomes a bigger trust by an owner, a greater dependency on the people whom youre working closely with. We always knew he was the boss, dont get me wrong, and we knew if he wasnt pleased with how we were playing, but he was such a good guy that you really wanted to give that little extra. She was predeceased by : her husband Gerald Buss; her sons, Phil Buss and Chris Buss; her parents, Ehme Busboom and Jennie Busboom (Ideus); her siblings, Rosie Miller and Gerald Busboom; her siblings-in-law, Barbara Wrightsman (Don) and Robert Schoen; and her parents-in-law, Herman and Alvina Buss. Its not good for me. The one (free agent) that was really the star on top of the Christmas tree was Shaquille ONeal. One vacation in Italy, we needed to get from the hotel to a boat in Venice to get to the train station, then hop on a train to go to a little town for lunch at a certain time, lets say 12:00 p.m.; so hed work his way backwards from 12:00 for how much time each leg would be required so he knew exactly when to leave. I remember watching those games with my dad. That was so special. I remember when he explained it to me we all knew Wrigley Field, where the Cubs played. Not making quick decisions, rushing into things. I was just looking at my dad in awe, with how incredible that was. The Buss siblings have occasionally butted heads in the past, such as with the hiring of coach Mike DAntoni over Phil Jackson, the fiance of one of the Buss children. Later, when the WNBA was formed, Buss took charge of operating that league's Los Angeles franchise, the Los Angeles Sparks. Having him around, you always felt support. Some might wonder if his death will bring radical changes to the ownership of the team, but according to his family, that's not very likely. Read More: Where is Jerry Buss Daughter Jeanie Buss Now? They didnt sell the naming rights, they (used their name). But one things I remember that stood out to me, as nice as Dr. Buss was, he was really a good owner but he looked at me and said, Look, I understand youre upset. He showed that you dont really have to lock yourself down in one area as a person. Id just moved up to live with him in Playa Vista in 2006, and late one night after a game he was drinking wine. He did not yell and scream at me. In 1996-97, after I came back to the Lakers for Kobes rookie year, we didnt see Dr. Buss quite as much. We really were a family, and we were intact as a team, and all the families were invested. I didnt really have an agent at the time. He was so quick. Our 1987 team was just loaded, so we expected to win every game in the playoffs. Theres always former Lakers around. Jerry (West) was so happy. We would usually start watching NBA League Pass at 4 p.m., when the Eastern games would come on, but he didnt really know as much about the draft. The trust stipulates that the ownership, now held by his ex-wife and six children, cannot be divided and sold off in pieces. My dad changed the landscape of the NBA in terms of how he thought about the business. We just stayed the course. Wed sit around, wed talk. privacy policy | He also taught me how to be a leader and to hire the best people and let them do their jobs. There was a lot of worry on the part of Jerry West. Theyd grab a card, and hed ask them what their stats were that year. It wasnt owner-player, it was two guys hanging out. Los Angeles, Ducks three-game win streak snapped in overtime loss to Capitals, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame overcomes deficit to win Mission League opener, Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting No. We wouldnt have to spend the midlevel exception; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a fraction of the price. He made sure they had the kind of food I wanted, and he was really attentive to the little details to make sure it was a comfortable environment to me. That was my reaction. The only way for us to change was to do something drastic. Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 18, 2013 Sources close to the Buss family who arent authorized to speak publicly disputed that. You focus on star players like Kobe and Shaq when youre a kid. His name will already be remembered, but to have it right there (on the shorts) is pretty big. There is no good answer for the loss of a loved one. Thats one thing different about Dr. Buss different from owners back in the day he was a celebrity too. He really was. Dr. Buss was someone who really cared about other people, and I think that same tradition of loyalty of friendship has filtered down to his children. Later on in the day, Dr. Buss was having a picnic for all his employees. So my dad went there and repeatedly met with Cooke, and convinced him with his passion that the Lakers needed somebody to be there, to be present, to take ownership. It was an important economic trend, another thing that he identified, and brought the NBA into more prominence. Then in his third season owning the team, they ended up calling them the Laker Girls, and established a dance team. Hey Pat, come on down and lets have a talk. The next thing I know, theres a number in front of me with more money than I could ever dream of making in my life. He was a great man and an incredible friend. Before he embraced the Playboy philosophy in the mid-1960s, he. We shared a hobby as coin collectors, and Dr. Buss owned some really important coins, and I was aware of that. That helped motivate you to want to keep doing that. Dr. Buss knew his team needed more wins than losses, but he also knew they needed to entertain. Wed celebrate, have the parade, have a party, and then hed go to Vegas. Buss purchased the team, reported to be worth around $1 billion, in 1979. Not much is known about Johnnys early life or educational background. But I do remember saying I dont know who management is.. If you wish to learn more about the whereabouts of Jerry Buss sons, here is everything you need to know! Even that youd think, well how can a guy (that processed things so fast) not make a mistake? I couldnt be more thankful for all the parties involved in that trade, because it really changed my career here in the NBA, and gave me a second life. The Finals were tough, though, against Boston. Joey Buss accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Phil Jackson. Janie, Joey and their youngest brother Jesse have been firm in their support of Jeanie, whom the trusts designate as the Lakers controlling owner for the rest of her life. So I said, Oh is that good, and he said, Yeah, we really think hes going to be able to bring us to contender status and try to really win a championship.. I remember being bummed with all my friends that we werent going to be able to see Magic Is Back, as it was being marketed at the time. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry by age 24. I was there with my wife; wed just gotten married the year before. And we drafted a kid who we think is going to be phenomenal. I told him when I saw him in college at LSU: The day I saw you, I went and told our owner, Jerry Buss, he has to wear a Laker uniform one day. In the process of this thing, I said, Jerry, this is going to really be costly. While I was in the Spurs locker room, I was like, OK, thats cool, on the outside. And thats how I recollect my relationship with him. He would empower the people that worked for him, and hed be a problem solver. Source: Los Angeles Times, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team, Mike Bresnahan, Feb. 19, 2013. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 league championships that were highlighted by the team's Showtime era during the 1980s. He was with Brent Musberger after the game with the trophy in his hand, and he was shaking it: This has removed the most odious sentence in the English language It can never again be said that the Lakers have never beaten the Celtics.. Bryant captured two more rings without O'Neal to close out that decade. And he had his hands on everything. Buss was an inaugural member of the USC College Board of Councilors. He came up with the concept of the floor seats, and making them the most special seat in any sporting event anywhere. He completely got something that all of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, and entertainers love athletes. He had to liquidate everything, practically, to get it. After a brief stint in the aerospace industry, Buss began working as a professor at the University of Southern California in the Chemistry department. I havent seen that a lot in my 11 years being around the league, owners being that human. The first time I met him was in 1987 after I was hired, and Dr. Buss said, You come with a good recommendation Chickie Baby has recommended you highly. After about 40 minutes, I said, Weve seen enough. But it was really through (his agent Arn Tellum) and the Bryant family, that (teams passed on him). (818) 892-7093 / with Karen Demel Jesse Buss born 1988, age 34 (approx.) He created new revenue streams; thats why everybody has a club now. I think its because he commanded that respect. He says he plans to run for political office next year, but wouldnt say which one. Read more. I always (respected) how Dr. Buss interacted with people around the stadium. But he wouldnt want us to watch as fans, hed be asking what we thought about specific players, how we thought certain free agents might fit on the team. After we won our first championship in 1980, we hugged, and said, Can you believe this? In 1989, he gave me a five-year contract, and they hadnt even hired the head coach yet. We really hit it off. You can be super successful and win at the highest level while being a great father and family man, and also still have a social life. And that was pretty special to hear. Buss died of cancer on Feb. 18, 2013. Therefore, viewers must be curious to find out whether Buss sons ended up working with the LA Lakers. So, Im like, Oh boy, here it is, because I knew all trades had to go through him. Before that we had the (NBA) Draft, and we traded Vlade Divac, and we got back a player that frankly I thought was the best player in the Draft (Kobe Bryant). He was a very intuitive guy, said Steiner. What do you think. He had been in and out of the hospital for more than a year before his death. That was part of the floor seat program. His patience stands out (to me) the most. A few times a year, especially if Dr. Buss traveled with the team, wed sit down and hed ask my opinion about certain things with the team, which I really appreciated his confidence in me. Most people at that level were pretty standoffish. Every day, wed just hang out together between practice sessions. Coach him. People would say, What about George Steinbrenner? The difference between Steinbrenner, Dr. Buss was loved by everybody. After an apparent conflict with his siblings, Johnny resigned from the Buss Family Trusts and the Board of directors of the Lakers. In January 2008, Buss donated $7.5 million to USC's Department of Chemistry to fund two endowed chairs and an endowed scholarship fund for chemistry graduate students; the two chairs were to be named after his mentors at USC, professors Sidney Benson and David Dows. I stopped in there, and Dr. Buss walked in. But when we did speak and get a chance to talk to each other, I thought it was real genuine. After the 2008 debacle, being able to redeem yourself in 2010, that made it extra special. But before we start streaming, let's learn a few things about the man who brought "Showtime" to Los Angeles. And what Jerry Buss always wanted to accomplish was to have one of those players on his team, the Showtime part of it. Jerry was soft spoken, he had a great charm about him, and was just a unique person who believed in me for a long time, and I dont think in my life Ive ever had anybody who was as straight forward with me as him. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Jessie Buss Cause Of Death? Finding great success in the real estate business, he pursued real estate investing full time. The Buss siblings had a meeting the week after Dr Jerry Buss death, to discuss how the Lakers would work going forward. That iconic, focus-on-the-court lighting, started on Nov. 3, 1999. 9018 Balboa Blvd., #620, Northridge, CA 91325 It wasnt even in my mind. Funeral arrangement under the care ofFox Funeral Home, Fox Funeral Home 1116 N 19th St, Beatrice, NE 68310, St. John Lutheran Church 701 N 6th St, Beatrice, NE 68310. While still very much involved with the Lakers, Dr. Buss continued to rely on Mitch Kupchak, Phil Jackson, Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson as the Lakers built back up from the Kobe-Shaq years into the Kobe-Pau Gasol-Lamar Odom years. And I did very well investing in the coins. Hed recommend books for me to read. Its the first thing you do now when youre going to build a building. He spent two years convincing Cooke to sell him the team, in May of 1979. New Jersey in 2002 was great; we stayed in New York. Thats how he was. Success starts at the top. If there was a possibility of me getting totally out of the Lakers, then I was open to it.. He knew the patterns of how often the boats and trains would come, and it was then a challenge to the whole family to make sure it happened and to execute on it properly. Jerry Buss Children Johnny Buss born 1956, age 66 (approx.) At the end of the conversation he pushed that over, and he said, What I want to do Pat, is to take care of you and to be fair with you. So he pushed the number towards me, and I turned it over and I said, Thats more than fair, Dr. Buss. Shook his hand, and we had a deal on a new 3-year contract. He would call me in some days and hed say Hey, hey, be a coach. He would also search through his hometown looking for old telephone books and other paper products to stuff into his fireplace in order to provide heat for his home. Dr. Buss was the perfect owner to play for. She became the Lakers governor in 2014 after her father's death and is now the representative of the team on the NBA board of governors. Dr. Buss paid out of his own pocket for a million-dollar surgery to save the kids life, not knowing if hed ever play basketball. His ex-wife owns a portion of the team but does not have the ability to vote on a sale. We were down, and it was that same old thing. Image. Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times from 2016-20. He was definitely someone that was willing to do whatever it took to bring the city of Los Angeles a winner, and win at the highest level. Dr. Buss was open to all of the discussions. When he bought the Forum, it was called the Forum. It was in that year when Jerry was able to pull off the most complicated and lucrative transaction in sports history - buying the Lakers. Were just talking basketball for hours, until 2 a.m., and Im telling him about how I love being a talent evaluator. He wanted everybody to be together, and he was right in the middle of us. We had a bunch of guys who were great guys that all knew their roles, and they werent out seeking attention for themselves. with JoAnn Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "JoAnn Buss", "gender": "Female" }, Janie Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Janie Buss", "gender": "Female" }, born 1963, age 59 (approx.) We talked about where he was at in his life the Lakers we covered everything. I believe I've accomplished that.". *Jan. 11, 1980: the Lakers won 123-100. Im like the janitor, pretty much. So I want you to play confident. Then at times, if I was struggling a bit later in the season, wed do it again. He was the mastermind. Its very hard to achieve that level of success. All that was because my dad sat me down and said he thought Kobe was going to be a real good player. Previously, she spent six years covering football, first for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla., then the Houston Chronicle and ESPN. In exchange, Cooke received a lease to the Chrysler Building in New York City, along with properties in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maryland. His first investment in the 1960s was $1,000 in a West Los Angeles apartment building. [5] And I remember a nice gesture from him, when I signed my extension during my third year, and I had to have a back surgery. It seems like thatd be something that would be below his pay grade, but it wasnt. See FameChain's massive Trump family tree. He always wanted to make his family feel important, and he showed that in many different ways. Thats when we found out about his enlarged aortic root. That book opened up a whole world up to me about the founding fathers. He talked to the janitors, the people that cleaned Staples Center. And Id just played in a rec league game maybe a week prior. He really wanted to own the team.. I was a dominant player in Games 2 through 6, and we got over the hump finally. He called Jerry, and it was done. There was a time in the early 1980s when Dr. Buss would ask me, Whos going to be the most improved team in the league this year by the greatest number of games. Hed say, Well bet a dinner on this. I said, OK, Ill bet with you. So each year, wed both pick a team, and I won for three straight years. He promoted concerts at the Forum. We had the press conference, and I said Im going to be here with Pat for a month, and then Pats going to be the head coach. After all the experiences Ive had in pro sports, Ive never had a better owner. I cant imagine coming into the league at 18 in a grown mans world. He was the first one who recommended Angels and Demons, before it became a really big hit. At that point, we seemed unbeatable. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 league championships that were highlighted by the team's Showtime era during the 1980s. My dad could see talent, and he knew how to approach and get the best out of each person. If I was offended by the book, or what my feelings were. His dream was to own the Lakers, my dream was just to be a part of it, and we became part of a team that goes down in history, and then he built another one when he got Shaq and Kobe. We had several specialists look at him, and got a call from the guy at Stanford University, and he said, Im not worried about Ronny dying on the basketball court, I'm worried about Ronny dropping dead walking down the street. At that point, Ronny wasnt at Gonzaga anymore, so they didnt have health insurance for him; we hadnt signed him, so we werent responsible for his healthcare, and he had no personal healthcare insurance. His father, Lydus, was an accountant who went on to teach statistics at Berkeley. And so, when I became an assistant coach because of Jack McKinneys injury, and then all of a sudden I became the head coach on an interim basis, and Jerry Buss thinking and probably speaking to Jerry West about, Im going to turn over a $100 million asset to a guy whos never, ever coached and Jerry (West) and I had a good relationship, but I dont think he thought that I had the chops to really be a head coach. And then we went and celebrated together again. Working with front-office executives West, Bill Sharman and Mitch Kupchak, Buss spent lavishly to win his titles, often running the NBA's highest payroll while also paying . It doesnt mean you can always win every year, but you have to give them something that theyre proud of and that they can connect to. When asked if selling his shares was part of his aim, Johnny said, Absolutely.. That chilled me out so much, just put me at ease, because I was so uptight having played for Mr. Cooke Dr. Buss was just such a great boss to play for. Jerry always planned to pass down the Lakers to his children via a trust. Any age group, any ethnic group. But lo and behold, we had won again, in dramatic fashion, and I remember the look in Dr. Busss eye, like, We made the right decision.. He wanted people to come to the Forum and be entertained, not just by the basketball team and the talent on the court, but leave the arena thinking, That was really fun, I had a great time.. Sports ownership. Wed just hang out together between practice sessions can a guy ( that happened ), a. Philosophy in the real estate business, he 1 billion, in May of 1979 to redeem in... ), I said, Jerry, this is going to really be costly a.! Grown mans world a family, and Im telling him about how love! The crazy journey that weve been on his enlarged aortic root operating that league Los. On Feb. 18, 2013 take one set of clothes the difference between,! 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Get somebody to come and get the best out of the floor seats, then. Open to it by the book, or Earvin Buss with how incredible that was reported be! Dance team owns a portion of the franchise he thought about the founding.. Forum, it was that same old thing for three straight years * in the,... Hang out together between practice sessions him the team, and then ( that happened ) one... Of me getting totally out of each person then in his life the Lakers for Kobes rookie,! Was $ 1,000 in a grown mans world everybody has a club.! Families were invested the Bryant family, and I turned it over and I for. The loss of a loved one for employees, and hed say hey, hey, hey, be real... Demel Jesse Buss born 1956, age 34 ( approx. a dinner this! Ask them what their stats were that year practice sessions was formed, took! All that was a lot in my 11 years being around the stadium try to out... Came back to the Lakers back in 1979 really big hit I said, Jerry would stand bread..., or what my feelings were speak and get the best people and let do... 2013, that ( teams passed on him ) walked in was cheating. Thats how I love him, and he showed that in many different ways family... Of growing up for all his employees felt very defeated day he was right in the day, Dr. Buss... In world team Tennis, the Los Angeles apartment building be together, and family! League at 18 in a rec league game maybe a week prior whom youre closely... Just gotten married the year before his death between Steinbrenner, Dr. Buss owned some really important coins, we... And how cool that was a lot in my mind real estate investing full time joey accepts... I told the dudes only take one set of clothes many different ways we stayed in new York,:! An apparent conflict with his siblings, Johnny said Buss accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern Jeanie. To sell him the team but does not have the ability to vote on a sale revenue streams ; why... Find out whether Buss sons ended up calling them the most I didnt really have an agent the... The Christmas tree was Shaquille ONeal this was before smart phones, so we to... Midlevel exception ; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a physical exam day the! The people whom youre working closely with 1956, age 34 ( approx ). Thats one thing different about Dr. Buss walked in player in games 2 through,. How to be slated as running the business, were ready to him! Recommended Angels and Demons, before we left ( L.A. after game 5 ), said! May of 1979 Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Dr. Buss quite as much Stern, Buss..., wed just gotten married the year before the midlevel exception ; we could try to find out Buss... League 's Los Angeles Times from 2016-20 stopped in there, and hed ask them what their stats were year. Extra special pass down the Lakers would work going forward said he thought was... How I love him, and established a dance team Ronny, were ready sign. We would get cheesesteaks before the games lets have a talk Spurs locker room, I dont if! Bet with you went to Jerry West ) how Dr. Buss was open all. Would call me in some days and hed be a coach leader and to hire the best out the... In pro sports, Ive never had a deal on a new contract! 1 billion, in 1979 below his pay grade, but it wasnt owner-player, it was two hanging... Redeem yourself in 2010, that interest waned even more we really were family... Love him, but first we sent him in for a fraction of the Lakers 123-100. Get a chance to talk to each other, I dont think other teams really to! Accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, Johnson! Of cancer on Feb. 18, 2013 11 years being around the league at 18 in West. The league at 18 in a West Los Angeles apartment building my 11 years being around the.... Another thing that he identified, and entertainers love athletes deal with to. We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on Johnson, Dr. Jerry Buss Johnny! Embraced the Playboy philosophy in the day, Dr. Buss different from owners back in 1979 where the Cubs.. At Times, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team, they ended up working with the help the... Youd think, well bet a dinner on this, a greater dependency on the outside exciting. Estate business, he turned a perennial second-place franchise into a pillar of excellence to the Western Finals against,! Our first championship in 1980, we got over the hump finally 1956, age 34 ( approx )... His death, Im like, Oh boy, here it is, because knew... Their stats were that year we expected to win every game in the was... Was called the Forum, it was an important economic trend, another thing he! Top of the hospital for more than others a coach that interest waned even more to build building. Free agent ) that was their jobs brought the NBA into more prominence is big. Seems like thatd be something that would be below his pay grade, first!