The Los Angeles Lakers may be one of the most iconic NBA franchises right now, but that wasn’t the case during the 1970s. The Lakers, just like the entire league, were struggling to bring fans to their arena. Additionally, the Purple and Gold weren’t winning a lot of rings either.
Well, in 1979, Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Los Angeles Lakers and changed the fortune of the franchise. After becoming the owner of the team, Buss’ drafted an electrifying rookie in Magic Johnson.
It was the start of great things for the Lakers. Johnson helped the Lakers win five NBA Championships in the 1980s and utterly dominated the league. Evidently, Dr. Buss and Magic got pretty close to each other during their time together.
In fact, when Magic was diagnosed with the HIV virus, Dr. Buss apparently cried a lot over the news. Even after Johnson’s playing career was over, he still maintained a pretty close relationship with Dr. Buss.
Magic Johnson’s Last Words To Dr. Jerry Buss
If it weren’t for Jerry Buss, the Lakers wouldn’t probably reach the heights that they did. So when he passed away in 2013, it was an emotional time for everyone close to the franchise.
In a recent episode of the Lakers’ documentary, Magic revealed what the final thing he told Buss before the Lakers owner passed away was.
Magic Johnson on the last thing he said to Dr. Jerry Buss before he passed:
“ I love you, I’ll never forget you & it was difficult. It was difficult to see him lying in that bed & knowing we won’t have a conversation ever again,”!Says @MagicJohnson.#LakersDoc #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/wtLlf70Woj
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) October 3, 2022
“I love you, I’ll never forget you and it was difficult. It was difficult to see him lying in that bed and knowing that we won’t have a conversation ever again. That I could hug him. So I kissed him on his forehead and that was it.”
Dr. Buss was a father figure to Magic, and it must have been really difficult for him to see his death. But Dr. Buss left such an unforgettable legacy behind that he will always be a key figure in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers, no matter how many years pass down the line.
