In celebration of HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, we’re taking a looking at the real-time characters behind the show. This is Dr. Jerry Buss.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the seventh most valuable sports franchise in the world. And while that didn’t happen overnight, the Lakers have long been an icon in the world of professional sports. Fans in LA and around the world owe a great deal of thanks to the man who made it all happen, Dr. Jerry Buss. From the Showtime Lakers through the Shaq and Kobe era and beyond, Buss and his daughter Jeanie were right there on the sidelines cheering on the Purple and Gold.
In 1979, Dr. Buss bought the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Forum, and. private ranch from businessman Jack Cooke. It was Buss who saw the potential for turning the NBA into a powerhouse of entertainment. When Dr. Buss died in 2013, the sports world mourned one of its true founding fathers. Said David Stern at the time, “the NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come”