We had gone through the playoffs only losing one game, against Philly. 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. He ran an indoor soccer team, the Lazers. Jerry Buss has six children, one of whom is Jeanie Buss. He always wanted to make his family feel important, and he showed that in many different ways. And he would tweak a price code by $1.25, or $0.75, and in my mind I know hes going to want to know the gross potential, so Im getting out my calculator, but before I input the numbers, hes already telling me what the gross potential is. On Feb. 13 of 1987, I found out from the Spurs trainer that I had been traded to the Lakers. Ill never forget Jerry Buss. You focus on star players like Kobe and Shaq when youre a kid. 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. I felt, eventually, people would come out and see (Kobe) play. He is survived by sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel, all of Southern California; eight grandchildren; former wife JoAnn of Las Vegas; half sister Susan. She is the one who took over the family business, and her children may do the same someday. Not just the owner-player, employer-employee relationship. There was a lot of pressure, but Dr. Buss I think took a lot of that pressure off of us. I saw how he would be able to rebuild a team quickly to get back to contender status. I think its because he commanded that respect. You have to look at me coming in as a rookie, with Hall of Famers like Phil Jackson, Kobe and Shaq, and the history of the Lakers. When we won Game 4 in the Garden, that was the big difference. I was like, Listen, I havent talked to anybody from the Lakers organization, no one has called me, I dont know if its true. He said, Well, we think its true, weve talked to Jerry West. I said, Well you know what, I dont know who the manager is of this team. His vision inspired us and gave us the OK to be, sometimes, and thats pretty cool. He says he plans to run for political office next year, but wouldnt say which one. "I can remember standing in a [Works Progress Administration] line with a gunny sack, and I remember having to buy chocolate milk instead of white because it was one cent cheaper," Buss told The Boston Globe in 1987. I remember the first game that we played in Michigan*, at the Silver Dome, and it was a home game for us. Over the shows first season, Buss daughter, Jeanie Buss, assists Claire Rothman and works to realize her fathers grand vision for the Lakers. Dr. Buss literally went through every moment vicariously with us. He revealed that he wasnt very interested in the familys sports ownership business, and his interest further diminished after his fathers death. 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. We would go to Italy a lot, and we were staying at the Hotel Le Boulevard in Venice on the island of Lido when we had to trade Shaq. However, that changes in the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the new family business. Me coming from a DIII school, Im one of the youngest, unknown guys, lowest on the totem pole. He was there to support us. 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. I dont wear designer clothes. And thats what he, thats what we, created. Everyone is tight. He was a wheeler and dealer. It was really tremendous. We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League), at the point where I was playing, was propping up soccer in America, and outdrawing NBA teams in certain markets. Then-NBA commissioner David Stern called Jerry a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come.. When you add all those things up, you come up with why that series and that championships mean so much. When they were taking a break, let the women have center stage. 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. On the other hand, Jesse Buss is the Assistant General Manager of the LA Lakers. Joey Buss accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Phil Jackson. It was nice working for him. He did not yell and scream at me. He was a very intuitive guy, said Steiner. He was as down to earth and cool as everybody said he was. It was a way to motivate us to be efficient. Explore how the celebrity world connects. And hed say, I want you to come to Vegas in a week. Everywhere we went, everybody would holler our names. When he bought the Forum, it was called the Forum. That first one, we went to Palm Springs. I was happy to see the way that Dr. Buss and the franchise stuck by Earvin. In contrast, Buss sons are primarily absent from the narrative for the most part. He was a very, very, very generous man. It didnt have naming rights like Staples Center. I think theres a lot of money in it. They all mean a lot, but some mean a little bit more than others. Immediately when Dr. Buss bought the team, he invited me to the party, and he said, You know Jamaal, if Muhammad wont come to the mountain, the mountain will come to Muhammad. Theres a very subtle story there, because what he was saying is, we could both reach out. You have a right to express yourself. He took a drag of his cigarette, and he said, But when you say management thats me. And he didnt say anything after that. Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times from 2016-20. Just showed up and watched. And while his relationship with his siblings is strained, he shares with them a reverence for their father. We were so confident. The Sparks also experienced their share of success, winning two WNBA championships with such players as Lisa Leslie, Tamecka Dixon and DeLisha Milton-Jones. My thoughts and prayers are with the family & friends of Dr. Jerry Buss. Given that the Winning Time season finale takes place in 1980, only Johnny and Jim appear in the episode. Jerry always planned to pass down the Lakers to his children via a trust. So I was just wandering around, and I walked right by this one man who was wearing jeans and maybe an old sports jacket. It was a long time before the other franchises got wise like that. He wasnt born in Los Angeles, but it was his home, and he loved it here. The Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal tandem brought three more titles in the early 2000s. 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. And he would tell me where to go get the information. His passions, what brought him to the mindset of wanting to own a team and what he wants from a team, and then just L.A.; it was an all-new environment for me, and he wanted to make sure I knew about it and understand as much as I possibly could. Buss said that. I was a young player in Portland, and I knew about Jack Kent Cooke and what his reputation was, but we all heard about this man named Dr. Buss buying the Lakers, Kings and the Forum, and some real estate properties for what was an exorbitant amount of money at the time. He didnt walk around with a big hammer. What do you think. He had something written on it, but it was turned over. He then earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Southern California. We shared a hobby as coin collectors, and Dr. Buss owned some really important coins, and I was aware of that. Jerry's 66 percent ownership of the team passed to each of his six children via a trust, equating to 11 percent per child. Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who presided over a team that won 10 NBA titles and showcased some of the biggest names in professional basketball, died Monday. He had an appeal to the common man, and thats what I think when I look back at everything. Dr. Buss shared it with us in great style. Its one thing from your colleagues, its another when its your boss. And they said, Now the Dallas Mavericks come up. They said, Word is that the Lakers may trade James Worthy to Dallas for Roy Tarpley, a couple other players and a draft pick. My dad only missed the playoffs twice in his entire 34-year tenure as an owner. Discover Jerry Buss's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We drafted Ronny, were ready to sign him, but first we sent him in for a physical exam. Laker Girls. That was an absolutely incredible gesture on his part, which I always appreciated, to say the least. *In the 2004 Finals, Detroit beat L.A. 4-1. and Janie. It was just really cool. You saw his mannerisms go with every little gyration that was going on. The Lakers are on fire. Jim played an important role in the teams scouting decisions and worked his way up the sports teams hierarchy. I had someone in my mind, me coming from the South, who was going to be really distinguished and have a suit on, and youd be able to know who the owner was right away as soon as you seen him. That was wonderful, to get my game back in gear for the next five games (after the Memorial Day Massacre). I think theres a lot of money in it. And drafting Magic was huge. Fans could see celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the famous "Laker Girls" doing their dance routines. Jerry played an important role as owner of the Lakers, ensuring that basketball become more than a sport, but also a spectacle. There was nothing too distract them, the players, and the family, because it really was all about the Lakers, all about preparing for the games, all about having fun in the games, Showtime, all about having fun in Los Angeles, all about having fun as families. Johnny Buss, owner of the Ice House Comedy Club and co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, poses for a photo in front of a new neon sign inside the establishment's lobby in Pasadena, on Friday, Feb . He realized there was an opportunity there, that perhaps if he could meet with him, he could convince Jack Kent Cooke to sell him the team. His first investment in the 1960s was $1,000 in a West Los Angeles apartment building. It wouldnt just be me reaching out. Worthy, Riley, Magic, Cooper, and Buss Celebrate the 1987 Title. Any age group, any ethnic group. 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. Having played, and then him talking about little things inside of basketball, subtle things that you knew he wasnt just an owner up entertaining people during the games. I was a nervous wreck the entire game, and we won the game, and I delivered the best that I could at the time. 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. So he went to Jerry West, and said, weve got to get somebody to come and get us back to winning. I knew he and Magic were really close. As part of the deal to move the Lakers into Staples Center, Buss sold the Great Western Forum (which was later reverted to its original name). Read More: Where is Jerry Buss Daughter Jeanie Buss Now? 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. I think the operative words from Dr. Buss message to Kobe were, Trust me Ive done things in my life, where when I say Im going to work this thing out, trust me, were going to work this thing out. I never envisioned that his trust me would end up with the kind of deal that he pulled off getting Pau. The team folded in 1989 and the league folded three years later. After separation from Mueller, Buss dated Karen Demel and had two children: Joey Buss (born in 1985) and Jesse Buss (born in 1988). It wasnt even close. He went from playing, to (working with) Chick, to assistant coach to a head coach in what, two and a half years? Very happy.*L.A. Then due to (certain circumstances), Jerry wanted us to be co-coaches. But it was one of the toughest things Ive encountered physically, mentally and emotionally. If I just followed the blueprint he laid out for me, I was going to be successful, and I did. *Jan. 11, 1980: the Lakers won 123-100. That was really kind of troubled times for us as a franchise, and I didnt think they were doing whatever it took to win, and passed on some really good deals to get top players in. Have you ever seen anybody win the lottery? He was not nearly as animated in the other championships as he was in that one, for obvious reasons. Not only did Dr. Buss want a dance team to entertain on the court during halftime and quarter breaks, but he also wanted to show that there were talented young ladies who are great brand ambassadors. So its strange to have a guy whos your mentor, father figure and best friend all rolled into one And then when Jeanie called me (to share the news that he had passed away (one of the) toughest days in my life. I had no idea it was Dr. Buss. At that point, we seemed unbeatable. He brought Magic in, and they formed a bond right away. It was amazing. Shes trying to do the same thing her dad did, so thats great. I think the everyday element had taken its toll, so he probably was spending more time with his family and a little bit less with the team. Despite some setbacks in the years since she took over, with only one NBA Championship win in 2020, Jeanie is still the undisputed boss of the franchise. "My dream really was to have the Lakers and Los Angeles identified as one and the same," Buss said in a 2010 interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com. He was 80 years old. Dr. Buss was one of those guys. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Powered by Standing Stone Designs | Betty and I were friends from 6th grade and we always had a lot of laughs together. Thats how generous, and how giving and how much I dont want to say a fan he was a true, true owner of the game. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Jerry Buss' children intend on carrying out their father's succession plan for the Los Angeles Lakers following the iconic owner's death Monday. Id never encountered somebody with that type of money and power to be so easy to talk to. They wanted him to be happy with them. But Buss was wise to plan early for the team and make his wishes specific and legally binding. Pat learned his job on the fly. I was picking his brain, and he was helping me every time. We used to sit at his house and eat the same thing, Chinese chicken salad from California Pizza Kitchen, and wed sit there and just talk. Johnny never fully dove into his familys sports holdings, but he stuck around while his father lived. And thats what Dr. Buss did. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. He was in the entertainment business. He understood that I needed that, and I would have been lost out here in this big city. He really wanted to own the team.. Jerry Buss was the son of Connie Buss and Melvin "Red" Buss, who owned the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. But before we start streaming, let's learn a few things about the man who brought "Showtime" to Los Angeles. He was doing it because it was truly his passion. After a brief stint in the aerospace industry, Buss began working as a professor at the University of Southern California in the Chemistry department. Johnny says its all a misunderstanding. He has appeared in the GSN series High Stakes Poker and the NBC late-night series Poker After Dark. It wasnt that I was around Dr. Buss that much that I had to rely on him for something, but when you were around him damn he made you feel good. I read a biography on Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, and really got into collecting early gold coins, so I focused on it, and it was interesting talking to Dr. Buss about his collecting. Never, ever. 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. I just looked at him. The bigger, the bolder, the better. All those times we were together, I shared with him, I wanted to be more than just a basketball player. The Buss siblings had a meeting the week after Dr Jerry Buss death, to discuss how the Lakers would work going forward. Slow down. He was very patient and he loved timing things out, but not necessarily rushing to places. During the Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before the games. So I want you to play confident. Then at times, if I was struggling a bit later in the season, wed do it again. Im sure he had a lot of good conversations with Kobe at that time that helped him get his feet on the ground. Some might wonder if his death will bring radical changes to the ownership of the team, but according to his family, thats not very likely. Hed recommend books for me to read. I remember my son Thomas jumping in my arms, and he was five or six years old, and I was so tired, I could barely lift him. My last year when I retired (2004-05), I remember being a free agent, and one call from him made my decision easier when he told me, You started with the Lakers, you have to retire with the Lakers. That was my decision, trusting that guy, and man, it was a pleasure to play with him. He was a mentor to me in a lot of ways. In 1985, before we left (L.A. after Game 5), I told the dudes only take one set of clothes. He bought me dinner. Thats the kind of guy you want to partner with. And here Im trying to be a good employee and be able to inform him, and yet hes informing me of the changes he wanted to make. 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 . 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. Kinda rustic. 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