Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss — architect of “Showtime” basketball, which seamlessly blended high-flying hoops with Hollywood — died this morning following a lengthy illness.
He was 80.
The Lake Show boss had been the NBA’s longest -tenured owner, before passing away at 5:55 a.m. PST at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, according to hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart.
Buss, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
His passing was immediately listed as kidney failure.
“The NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come,” NBA commissioner David Stern said. “More importantly, we have lost a dear and valued friend.”
Buss had a golden touch from the moment he purchased the Lakers, who won the NBA in his first season in charge.
That 1979-80 Lakers team was led by rookie sensation Magic Johnson and Power Memorial Academy alum Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“He was a fun-loving guy but he was very competitive as well,” Johnson said. “He wanted to win championships and he brought us in all together to do just that.”
Even though Magic was busy each night working on his patented “triple-doubles” — at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game — even he noticed the non-basketball flair Buss cultivated.
Buss made sure Hollywood royalty, like purple-and-gold fanatic Jack Nicholson, were prominently seats on the Lakers celebrity front row.
“He was the first owner who cared about entertainment – let’s focus on the timeouts, the Laker Girls, all of these things that hadn’t been done before,” said Johnson, who called Buss a “second father.”
“He changed the scope of entertainment in sports. He was at the forefront of all of that. He was a great man and an incredible friend.”
The most famous Laker Girl of all — former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul — called Buss a “legend.”
“RIP Jerry Buss -I was deeply saddened to hear the heart-crushing news of his passing. He’ll always be a legend,” Abdul tweeted.
“My heartfelt condolences and prayers go to all of Jerry Buss’ loved ones. Such a terrible loss. I’m truly sorry.”
In his 34 seasons in charges, Buss’ Lakers also had six MVP players to go with the 10 titles. By comparison, in the 31 previous Lakers seasons, the Lake Show captured six titles and had two MVPs.
Buss purchased the Lakers, the NHL’s LA Kings and the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., in 1979 for what seemed to be a mind-blowing $67.5 million from Jack Kent Cooke.
That deal worked out OK for Buss.
The Lakers were valued at $1 billion last month by Forbes magazine. The Lakers and Knicks were the first two basketball teams to top the $1 billion mark in value, according to the financial mag.
As Buss brought Hollywood stars to Lakers games, he also spent big dollars to draw the game’s greatest players to Tinseltown.
Magic was followed by living legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to the Lakers stable of greats.
“His incredible commitment and desire to build a championship-caliber team that could sustain success over a long period of time has been unmatched,” said NBA great Jerry West, Buss’ longtime GM and current consultant with the rival Golden State Warriors.
“With all of his achievements, Jerry was without a doubt one of the most humble men I’ve ever been around. His vision was second to none; he wanted an NBA franchise brand that represented the very best and went to every extreme to accomplish his goals.”
Gerald Hatten Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933, and raised by his mom.
He grew up in Depression Era poverty but earned his way into the University of Wyoming where he got his science degree in 1953.
He moved to Los Angeles and earned graduate degrees in physical chemistry at the University of Southern California.
A friend urged Buss to try his hand at real estate and he made a fortune, giving him the money to buy Cooke’s Lakers.
He made the most of his high-flying Hollywood lifestyle, with gorgeous — always younger women — on his arm at seemingly every A-List LA event.
Buss was also an avid poker player, playing in numerous high-stakes games around town.
Buss is survived by six kids — sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse, and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel — and eight grandchildren.
Jim Buss is the Lakers executive VP of player personnel while Jeanie Buss, the longtime gal pal of former coach Phil Jackson, runs the team’s business side.
The Buss family is committed to owning the Lakers and has no plans to sell, a team spokesman said.