HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” introduced younger viewers to Dr. Jerry Buss, whom Kobe Bryant once called “the greatest owner in sports, ever.” Of course, that series had a, uh, flexible relationship with the truth, as it was a semi-fictionalized story that attempted to entertain rather than educate its audience.
Hulu’s “Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers” is taking a different approach. The 10-part documentary series, which is set to premiere with two episodes on Monday, Aug. 15, will detail the rise of the Lakers after Buss’ purchase of the franchise. It will feature “exclusive access to the Buss family and probing, revealing interview with players, coach and front office execs.”
Episode 1 of the docuseries will cover Buss’ deal to buy the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke. But before we start streaming, let’s learn a few things about the man who brought “Showtime” to Los Angeles.
MORE: How to watch Lakers documentary on Hulu
When was Jerry Buss born?
Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City.
He was raised by his mother, Jessie, who worked as a waitress. His father, Lydus, left the family when Jerry was an infant. (Jessie later remarried when Jerry was 12 years old.)
As a child, Buss spent time in Los Angeles and Kemmerer, Wyo. He lived a true rags-to-riches story, as he learned the value of hard work at a young age.
“I can remember standing in a [Works Progress Administration] line with a gunny sack, and I remember having to buy chocolate milk instead of white because it was one cent cheaper,” Buss told The Boston Globe in 1987.
Was Jerry Buss really a doctor?
Buss graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree. He then earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Southern California.
He initially worked in the aerospace industry before he built up his fortune alongside his friend and business partner, Frank Mariani, with real estate investments.
How much did Jerry Buss pay for the Lakers?
In 1979, Buss bought the Lakers, the NHL’s Kings and The Forum, where the Lakers and Kings played their games, from Cooke in exchange for $67.5 million, the Chrysler Building and other properties. Buss also received Cooke’s ranch in California, which was valued at $10 million.
The Lakers, Kings and WNBA’s Sparks later played their home games at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) starting in 1999.
How successful were the Lakers under Jerry Buss?
Very.
Buss made several key moves in his early years as the team’s owner, most notably selecting Magic Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. The Lakers quickly became a dynasty, as the dynamic duo of Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led Los Angeles to five championships in the 1980s.
The Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal tandem brought three more titles in the early 2000s. Bryant captured two more rings without O’Neal to close out that decade.
By the time his tenure as the Lakers’ owner ended, Buss had overseen 10 total title runs. But his impact went well beyond Los Angeles’ overall record.
Buss turned Lakers games into experiences. Fans could see celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the famous “Laker Girls” doing their dance routines.
“My dream really was to have the Lakers and Los Angeles identified as one and the same,” Buss said in a 2010 interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com. “When you think New York, you think Yankees. I wanted that to be the case here as well. That when you think L.A., you think Lakers. I believe I’ve accomplished that.”
When did Jerry Buss die?
Buss died of cancer on Feb. 18, 2013. He was 80 years old.
He had been in and out of the hospital for more than a year before his death.
How many children did Jerry Buss have?
Buss had four children with his wife, JoAnn Mueller: Johnny, Jim, Jeanie and Janie. (Jerry and JoAnn divorced in 1972.) He had two more children with his girlfriend, Karen Demel: Joey and Jesse.
Jerry always planned to pass down the Lakers to his children via a trust. At the time of his death, a Buss family spokesperson declared that the children had “no interest in ever selling the team.”
Jeanie currently serves as the Lakers’ owner and president.
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