Jerry Buss through the years

Jerry Buss and Magic Johnson.  (Ken Levine / Getty Images)

Jerry Buss, center, stands between Kobe and Vanessa Bryant after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics to win the NBA title in 2010. Kobe is holding up the trophy he won as series MVP.  (Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images)

Lakers owner Jerry Buss is interviewed after his team defeated the Indiana Pacers in six games to win the 2000 NBA championship.  (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

Coach Phil Jackson and owner Jerry Buss enjoy a Lakers victory party hosted by Buss and Jackson at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood on June 16, 2002. The Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Mike Brown, left, the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, laughs with team owner Jerry Buss after Brown’s introductory news conference at the team’s training facility on May 31, 2011 in El Segundo. Brown replaced coach Phil Jackson, who retired at the end of the season.  (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, right, gives a thumbs up as he walks with his son Jimmy Buss after the NBA basketball team owners meeting in Dallas on Sept. 15, 2011.  (LM Otero / Associated Press)

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss is doused with champagne as he holds the championship trophy after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, 106-93, in Game 6 to win the 1987 title.  (Lennox Mclendon / Associated Press)

Kobe Bryant, with his daughters Natalia, left, and Gianna, is congratulated by Lakers owner Jerry Buss after receiving the NBA Most Valuable Player award in Los Angeles.  (Ric Francis / Associated Press)

After winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award, Shaquille O’Neal poses with Lakers owner Jerry Buss at Staples Center in Los Angeles.  (Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images)

Lakers owner Jerry Buss and son Jim listen along with player Matt Barnes to new head coach Mike Brown during a news conference in El Segundo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ervin “Magic” Johnson, is greeted by Lakers owner Jerry Buss at a Staples Center news conference marking the 20th anniversary of Johnson’s retirement as a professional basketball player.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Jerry Buss, with Lakers legends Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Pat Riley at his side, speaks during his Pro Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement in Springfield, Mass.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)

Jerry Buss takes center stage, along with Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, during the Lakers’ ring ceremony after claiming their 16th NBA championship.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As owner of the Lakers, Jerry Buss would hold a private interview session with beat reporters before the season began.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A look at Jerry Buss’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was honored for his work as a television producer and for creating the concept of regional programming.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Jerry Buss, taking part in one of his favorite activities, plays in a World Poker Tour celebrity tournament at Commerce Casino.   (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

Jerry Buss holds aloft the NBA championship trophy after the Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers for the 1999-2000 title, the franchise’s first since the Showtime Era in the 1980s.   (Tom Hauck / Allsport)

Jerry Buss talks to Coach Pat Riley, who led the Lakers to four championships in the Showtime Era of the 1980s.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Hall of Fame guard Magic Johnson embraces Jerry Buss after the Lakers won the 1979-80 NBA championship, the first of 10 with Buss as the franchise’s owner.   (Gene Pushkar / Associated Press)

Jerry Buss greets Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a meeting in the offseason.   (Jose Galvez / Los Angeles Times)

Jerry Buss bought the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, along with the Forum, the NHL’s Kings (which he later sold), and a ranch in the Sierra Nevada for a total of $67.5 million.  (George Rose / Allsport)

Jerry Buss received a doctorate in physical chemistry from USC but it was a $1,000 investment in a Los Angeles apartment building that ultimately sparked a career in real-estate investment.  (Dave Gatley / Los Angeles Times)