Jerry Buss
Inducted:
2010
Stats
Born
January 27, 1933
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Died
February 18, 2013
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Position:
Contributor-Team Owner
College:
NA
Jerry Buss was one of the most influential owners in sports history and the driving force behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ rise as a global brand. Purchasing the franchise in 1979, Buss transformed the Lakers into a symbol of winning, glamour, and entertainment. Under his ownership, the team captured 10 NBA championships, spanning the Showtime era of the 1980s through the Kobe Bryant–Shaquille O’Neal dynasty of the 2000s.
Buss believed in star power, fan experience, and organizational stability, empowering coaches and players while redefining how professional basketball was presented. His vision helped elevate the NBA’s popularity during its modern growth period. More than wins, Buss created a culture of excellence that blended success on the court with innovation off it.
For his lasting impact on the league and the sport’s business side, Jerry Buss was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Buss' Notable Achievements
- Olympic Gold Medal (1992 Barcelona Games)
- Average Margin of Victory: 43.8 PPG (Olympic Record)
- Offensive Power: Averaged 117.3 PPG throughout the tournament
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)
- S. Olympic Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)
- FIBA Hall of Fame (Class of 2017)
- First USA Olympic team featuring NBA players
- Roster included 11 future Basketball Hall of Famers
Stats
NBA Team
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Sparks
NBA Stats
Years as Majority Owner:
34 (1979–2013)
NBA Championships:
10 (1980, '82, '85, '87, '88, 2000, '01, '02, '09, '10)
NBA Finals Appearances:
16
WNBA Championships:
2 (LA Sparks - 2001, 2002)