The Lakers recently announced they will honor Phil Jackson with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena for his legendary contributions to the franchise, which include five NBA championships.
Subsequently, Khobi Price of the New York Post published an article that sparked a conversation that the late Lakers owner Jerry Buss is long overdue for a similar gesture from the franchise after winning 10 NBA championships, two WNBA championships with the Sparks, and making other contributions that helped shape the Los Angeles basketball culture into what it is today.
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The NBA legend Magic Johnson agreed with Price and took to social media to share the sentiment.
“He’s not only the greatest owner in NBA history, but he also has a strong argument for the greatest franchise owner in sports history.” Words from Khobi Price in his latest article in the NY Post – and he’s exactly right!
“I 100% agree that Dr. Jerry Buss is the greatest franchise owner in sports history and deserves a statue in front of Crypto.com Arena soon in his honor!” Johnson wrote on X.
After a 47-year association of his family with the franchise, Jerry Buss certainly deserves this honor. He purchased the franchise in 1979 and drove its value up from $68 million at the time to $1 billion near the time of his death in 2013.
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Magic Johnson was a key part of shaping Jerry Buss’ legacy with the Lakers. Johnson was drafted in the same year Buss was transitioning into the role of the Lakers’ owner (1979).
Reports suggest Jerry Buss pushed back when Jerry West suggested trading down in that year’s draft. As a result, he ensured Johnson landed with the Lakers, and the rest is history. They had a special bond and won five championships together, so Johnson is understandably pushing for this homage to Jerry Buss.
Given that the future of the Lakers’ ownership stakes is uncertain, and Jerry Buss’ family could be completely disassociated from the franchise, this could be one of the final decisions Jeanie Buss makes as team governor.
Five of Jerry Buss’ children have voted to sell their family’s minority share in the franchise to the new majority owners, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. But Jeanie Buss has taken the matter to court to stop the sale, claiming it goes against what her father wanted.
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With the court proceedings now pushed to December, Jeanie Buss is expected to remain team governor until then. And if she agrees to this public narrative, we may see her father’s statue outside the Crypto.com Arena among 14 other sporting legends.
Do you think Jerry Buss deserves a statue outside the Lakers’ home, the Crypto.com Arena? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
