When people talk about sports, they always argue over which players are the greatest and the astounding feats that some of these athletes are able to accomplish out on the court or field. Not often enough do fans talk about what goes on behind the scenes in a sports organization. How those great players end up on certain teams and who makes the decisions that build franchises is rarely that popular of a topic. With the passing of Dr. Jerry Buss this past Monday, the role of the owner should be getting more attention.
Buss was the charismatic mastermind behind the Lakers organization for the past three decades, buying the team in 1979 with the return on a real estate investment. He transformed the lackluster Lakers into the most successful basketball team in his 34 years and made the team a household name around the world. What he did for basketball was enormous. What he did for LA was invaluable.
Unlike many other owners, Buss brought a new methodology to the game that attracted both players and fans alike. He brought star power. He recruited exciting, talented players that would dazzle crowds and turned an ordinary basketball game into an experience to be remembered. With the allure of living in sunny Southern California and having Hollywood as their playground, Buss used Los Angeles to bolster desire to play for him within the league’s best competitors.
He wanted people to immediately associate the city of Los Angeles with his team and to do so he provided his players the platform to be celebrities, while also connecting with them on a more personal level. Being a Laker became an induction into an elite club, instead of just another organization. From Magic and Kareem to Kobe and Shaq, Buss had a way of building teams brimming with excitement and lore. He founded a tradition and an attitude within the Lakers that made winning championships a must and everything else just not good enough.
In the past three decades, Buss gave Los Angeles a sports team that it could continuously be proud of. Angelenos could never hold on to the success of the Dodgers, Kings, or Rams for long, but with the Lakers, winning was always possible. Over the 34 seasons Buss ran the Lakers, the team won 10 championships. The city was able to lay claim to a show that was not only entertaining to watch, but redeeming in its victories.
This Hall of Fame owner was able to encourage an undeniable sense of loyalty in his star players by giving them power in the organization and including them in vital decisions. Buss nurtured friendships with his players, most famously displayed when he and Magic Johnson would party together, but also shown in his care for those who wore the Laker jersey.
Buss kept his personal health problems out of the public spotlight over the past years and slowly transitioned leadership of the organization over to his children. Most of the responsibility has been granted to daughter Jeanie Buss, who runs business operations, and son Jim Buss, who runs the basketball side. In only this short amount of time, the effects of the waning influence from their father can be seen in the organization.
With the Lakers possibly losing out on a spot in the playoffs and Dwight Howard tentatively looking around for a trade, the absence of Dr. Buss will become even more apparent in the coming weeks. Following in the footsteps of a true basketball visionary will be exceedingly difficult for his children, and stressful as well on the fans of LA. With the results of the current season, Los Angeles hopes that the sloppy play is only a short bump in the success of their Lakers and that Jim did pick up some of his father’s savvy after all.
The respect for Buss throughout the sports world is immense—and rightly so. He expressed an aspect of belief and expectation in his players that fostered a culture of success for decades. He did not just throw money at players and sign contracts to bring skill into one arena. He created a Laker community that players would always feel a part of, extracting their full potential on the court and lifelong support when their playing days passed.
The statistics and accomplishments speak for themselves, but Buss’s Lakers did more than just win. They gave Los Angeles some sway in the sports world and a sense of identity when it came to standing behind a team. The city and its fans will always be indebted to Dr. Buss for his competitive spirit and his ability to put on a real show.
