you know,my dad um he always loved all kinds of sports and um for us growing up sports was what we did as a family and his dream was to be able to have enough money to have season tickets for the Dodgers and the Lakers and whatever sporting event there was and for him to end up being the owner of the team really shows he was a fan first and I think that's why the fans could relate to him as an owner because he was one of them.
My name is Jeanie Buss,I am part owner and president,
also governor of the Los Angeles Lakers
uh in 1979.Um you know,my dad was excited about the idea that not only would he be buying the Lakers,but also the L.A.Kings hockey team and the forum where they played and he said imagine being able to go to any concert that you want to go to and sitting in the front row because you owned the building where they're playing and that's exactly what he did the very first night,the day of the press conference,he made sure he got a key because he wanted to be able to go into it any time he wanted and he took a chair and sat at center court
just and and just took it all in again,I think that that's why
the fans believed in him so much because he did exactly what you would do if you were a fan and the next day you woke up and you actually own the team,it's hard for me to believe that I own the Lakers,which this is a dream come true,
you know,Kareem Abdul Jabbar is really a big hero of mine
and of course that,that was very exciting for a teenager as I was a senior in high school,
I got to see,I got to see Elton john and the Eagles and
you know,every kind of event that you could imagine and um going to a Lakers game and seeing magic johnson and,and just,it was just,it was just fun,fun,addictive,fun,
mm hmm,
the Los Angeles,Lakers select Earvin Magic johnson,
it's hard to imagine what the draft was like now with so much media coverage,but you know,they weren't all in new york waiting to get drafted,you know,they drafted Magic johnson and they flew him out to Los Angeles,so it was going to be the first time that my dad ever met him,he came to our house,he rang the doorbell,I had the honor of opening the door and here was this kid with this smile that just blew you away.So I escorted him and Bill Sharman into the house and asked them if they'd like something to drink,made some small talk
and Magic said,you know,I'm really happy that I was drafted by the Lakers and I'm gonna play here for three years and then I'm gonna go play for the Detroit pistons because that's where I'm from.Like my like eyeballs grew out of my head.I couldn't believe what he said.And you know,and you,you've got to imagine I was 17 and Magic's 19.I mean,we're very close in age.He's just another teenager to me
and um,but he had this command and this vision of exactly who he was and what he,you know what he loved doing.And I wait,this isn't the plan.So I ran upstairs
to talk to my dad and say,you know,he just told me that
he's gonna play for three years and then he's gonna leave and my dad didn't miss a beat,didn't even stop what he was doing.He said,you know,
as soon as he puts on a Laker uniform,
walks out on that floor,
he's never gonna leave.
And that's exactly what's happened.Because,you know,magic could be the mayor of Los Angeles.He could be the governor of California.That's how much the state loves him and that's how much he loves this town.My dad knew he was the ultimate matchmaker.And uh,they really were.
I think the most special relationship between an owner and a player that's ever been and probably ever will be,
mm hmm,
mm hmm.
So as we played pool to four or 5:00 AM,
he was picking my brain on what I wanted to do after basketball
and I was telling him I wanted to be a businessman.So what he would do was put me in business situations and I didn't know he was doing that
to get me ready for life after basketball
and he became my advisor
and it was,it was tremendous because with him
and his expertise,
I knew I had a chance to be successful away from the basketball court.
My dad groomed me from a young age to be in the position that I'm in now.He encouraged me and taught me and growing up in it.I learned a lot.For example,when my dad was selling out the forum and back in
those days,
the rule was that you never put your home games on television and you know,my dad talked about starting a channel
that would show all the games,all the home games.And I was panicked because I said,well if if we do that,then no one's ever gonna come watch the team play,it's too easy to stay home and watch it.And he said,no,you have to think of it Jeannie as instead of of competing,we're actually just increasing the size of the forum because not everybody who wants to see the game can fit into the forum and we have to expand that.And,you know,it was that kind of thinking that and,and for me to,to experience it,that certainly has helped me as
an executive today and he knew I enjoyed it and he knew it was something that we could do together and um you know,I was one of those kids that would offer to bring donuts to the meeting,
I would bring the donuts in and instead of leaving I would sit in the corner and listen to what was going on.So he knew it was something that I was interested in and engaged in and you know,so it,it prepared me again for where I am today
on monday
we lost,
but we all know to be the greatest owner
in sports
ever.
He was brilliant and incredible owner,but he was even
a better person
with a great heart,
his vision has transcended the game
and we are all,
all spoiled
by his vision
and by
his drive to win,year after year after year.
I would like to ask all of you
to please join us in a moment of silence
Donner,
the great dr jerry buss.
The Lakers meant so much to my father and it was really important to him that we continue that that was his wish for us.He was very disciplined in how he set everything up with all my siblings having a role and teaching us well
and um
you know,I'm,I'm humbled by
Laker Nation,the fans of the Lakers because they are the best fans of any team in any city.Um they love this team,we want to make them proud,we want to make my father proud and we're committed to doing that and getting the team back on track.
I was thinking that when you watch the Lakers play,it's like watching a movie,every conceivable thing happens.It seems almost like it's a script sometimes.you know,my dad um he always loved all kinds of sports and um for us growing up sports was what we did as a family and his dream was to be able to have enough money to have season tickets for the Dodgers and the Lakers and whatever sporting event there was and for him to end up being the owner of the team really shows he was a fan first and I think that's why the fans could relate to him as an owner because he was one of them.
I was thinking that when you watch the Lakers play,it's like watching a movie,every conceivable thing happens.It seems almost like it's a script sometimes.