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Rest In Peace, Dr. Buss

by


Dr. Jerry Buss, owner and patriarch of the Lakers’ organization, passed away this morning at the age of 80.

Recently, it had been reported that Dr. Buss was hospitalized with cancer. The fears were that this day was coming soon and reports were that family was bedside and that former players had visited him to pay their respects. Sadly, that day has come.

Buss was the man who built the Lakers into what they are today: the most successful professional sports franchise of recent modern history. He had the tremendous ability to provide a long term vision and the patience to execute a plan while mixing in a gambling spirit. That guidance and stewardship, which directly led to so much success, will be sorely missed.

Our condolences and most heartfelt wishes go out to the Buss family, the players, executives, team staff, and the extended Laker community. Today, we mourn the loss of a titan. An icon. The best owner in all of professional sports.

Rest in peace, Dr. Buss.

Laker fans from all over the world thank you for all that you’ve done to enrich our lives through the team that you guided so wonderfully.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Warren Wee Lim says

    I have that same feeling when I lost my grandpa some 2 years ago. Rest in Peace Dr. Buss. You will be missed.

  5. Warren Wee Lim says

    The city of Los Angeles ought to honor Dr. Buss with some sort of ceremony. I’ll find my own way to commemorate him in the Philippines, in our small town/city.

  6. Glove says

    RIP Dr. Jerry Buss. Thank you for all that you did for the Lakers. You will be missed. Thoughts are prayers to your family and friends. A sad day not just in Lakers Land but in basketball.

  8. Zirk says

    RIP Dr. Buss. Thank you for being the greatest owner in sports history and making all of us fans proud to be part of the Lakers family for all these years. You will be missed.

  12. KenOak says

    RIP Dr. Buss. A very sad day for the Lakers organization and the NBA. My thoughts go out to the Buss family.

  13. P. Ami says

    We should all be blessed with a long life full of successes and contribution to our community like Dr. Jerry Buss. One hopes his family is consoled by all the people who will join them in mourning their patriarch.

    We will be reminded of Dr. Buss’ reputation as a Poker player, for his sweet tooth for young ladies, for his boldness, and for the void he will be leaving in the league and sport we all love. David Stern, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant will be asked to say something about this man. As fans of the team he stewarded these last 30-odd years, I want to share my appreciation for Dr. Buss who always came off as the Lakers’ greatest fan. He took pride in his team like I have, passed that love on to his children as I have, he obsessed over his team as I have, and enjoyed it’s success like I have. In my opinion, we lost the GOAT today. His number now hangs in the rafters where it belongs.

    All of us here in LA, lets hang our Laker flags from our cars today. Dr. Jerry Buss has gone home.

  22. vhanz says

    “I just don’t want winners. I want champions.”

    -Dr. Buss.

    Damn! those words were legend. RIP Dr.Jerry Buss.

    Man, what a season…sigh

  27. david h says

    darius: the inevitable has happened for both buss and laker family and yet we are never quite prepared in ways we think we should be. saddened by the news.

    timing is everything and the opportunity is never more possible and memorable simultaneously. and what a tribute to the midas man when the lakers come out of the all star break and continue and improve upon it’s winning ways.

    sometimes in life we can only do so much. from up above, the possibilities are endless.

    Thank You Jerry Buss, shine on.

    Go Lakers

  31. Dont blame fish says

    Best owner in sports, never forgeting you, cause you give me (and everybody here) a lot of fun, thru your great basquetball team.
    Thank you Dr. Jerry Buss

  32. Chearn says

    My condolences to the Buss family and to his close friends.

    Dr. Buss was as much a part of the legendary mystique that exemplified Showtime as Magic Johnson, Worthy, Kareem, Rambis, Scott and Cooper.

    The landscape in Los Angeles is forever altered.

    You’ll be missed Dr. Jerry Buss!