A timeline of the Lakers' success (and challenges) under Buss family leadership

In 1979, when Dr. Jerry Buss bought his $67.5 million stake within the Los Angeles Lakers — which included a 13,000-acre ranch within the Sierra Nevada Mountains — there was little indication the franchise’s profile would globalize because it has within the many years since.

With Wednesday’s information that the late Buss’ daughter, Jeanie, is spearheading a record-breaking, $10 billion sale of the Lakers to outstanding financier Mark Walter, the franchise as soon as once more finds itself setting new requirements for basketball, on and off the court docket.

As The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov notes, though Walter will ultimately take over the staff operations, Buss is anticipated to “run the staff for a big variety of years after the deal closes.” Even as soon as the deal is full, the Buss household belief will keep an 18 % stake within the franchise whereas Buss stays the staff’s governor.

Nonetheless, the sale marks a drastic shift for the league as a result of arguably its most outstanding franchise will get a lift in assets after already having fun with unmatched success below Buss possession.

Within the 46 years because the acquisition, the Lakers’ outstanding peaks and gloomy valleys helped reshape a comparatively fledgling league earlier than Buss’ imaginative and prescient for “Showtime” basketball breathed new life into the NBA. The franchise’s success below the Buss household actualized within the type of 11 championships, 17 NBA Finals appearances, a practice of buying Corridor of Famers and landmark moments — good, unhealthy and susceptible — which have left indelible marks on the league’s historical past.

Let’s assessment a timeline of the Lakers’ greatest moments below the management of the Buss household:

Early days of Showtime

Though Jerry Buss paid massive bucks for the Lakers, his acquisition can be price little or no with out the apt star energy to actualize his imaginative and prescient. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was already within the fold, however drafting Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1979 offered the final word constructing block for arguably probably the most profitable championship stretch within the league’s post-ABA-NBA merger period.

The instant payoff of Johnson’s arrival stays unmatched. What number of 20-year-olds enter the league with a statistical baseline of 18 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and a pair of.4 steals per sport? Is it price mentioning that arguably the best level guard of all time technically performed out of place throughout his rookie season? (Shout out to the early Norm Nixon days!) It most likely wouldn’t shock you, seeing as Johnson changed an injured Abdul-Jabbar in Sport 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals by enjoying middle, securing the championship along with his junior sky hook and turning into (and remaining) the youngest NBA Finals MVP.

45 years in the past as we speak…

Rookie level guard Magic Johnson stuffed in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar AT CENTER in Sport 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals 🤯

The end result? 42 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST, & 3 STL because the Lakers secured the title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dv0z1ogLHG

— NBA Historical past (@NBAHistory) Could 16, 2025

Though the Lakers discovered nice success with their new-look roster and impressive possession, modifications nonetheless wanted to be made. Six video games into the 1981-82 season, Johnson expressed dismay over then-coach Paul Westhead, which paved the way in which for a 36-year-old Pat Riley to take over as head coach. Buss initially needed Lakers legend (and NBA emblem) Jerry West to just accept the lead spot, however his refusal opened Riley’s lane to guide “Showtime” basketball.

Underneath Riley, the Lakers went 50-21 en path to the 1982 championship and located a brand new identification.

Championship vitality

The Lakers’ 17 championships path solely the rival Boston Celtics for many in league historical past, however that title-hungry status wasn’t established till Buss took over. Their 11 titles since 1979 are by far probably the most of any staff, however it took distinct tweaks to put the Lakers atop the NBA hierarchy after many years of chasing the dynastic Celtics, who notched eight consecutive championships throughout Invoice Russell’s days.

Previous to Buss’ acquisition, the Lakers hadn’t notched consecutive titles since relocating to Los Angeles from Minneapolis. The arrivals of prospects like James Worthy (drafted No. 1 in 1982) and Byron Scott (No. 4 in 1983) breathed life into the Showtime paradigm. Veteran acquisitions like former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo bolstered a bench that supported an more and more sturdy beginning lineup. Swiss-Military knives like Michael Cooper had been the distinction between the Lakers being good and being unbeatable.

Throughout Riley’s eight-plus seasons as Lakers coach, together with the playoffs, they led the NBA in win proportion (.725), complete wins (635), playoff victories (102), NBA Finals appearances (seven) and championships (4). That included a run of 4 consecutive 60-win seasons as Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy every loved finals MVP honors throughout totally different title runs through a high-octane offense centered on flashy passes, treasured transition scores and an unmatched celeb presence on the sidelines, headlined by actor Jack Nicholson.

Regardless of such success, the Lakers ultimately wanted a change of guard. Abdul-Jabbar retired in June 1989, mere days after Los Angeles misplaced the finals to the upstart Detroit Pistons. That was the primary of a number of falling dominoes for the Lakers, who bid farewell to Riley as soon as he felt he’d executed sufficient in Los Angeles. On June 11, 1990, regardless of incomes Coach of the 12 months honors for the 1989-90 season, Riley stepped down as Lakers head coach with two seasons left on his deal.

Publish-Showtime period

Johnson remained within the fold because the face of the franchise, even when for less than a bit longer.

For the 1990-91 season, he completed second in MVP voting, earned the ultimate First Crew All-NBA nod of his good profession and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals earlier than a life-altering announcement shocked the sports activities world.

Months after a younger Michael Jordan skilled championship glory on the Lakers’ expense, Johnson found he was HIV optimistic throughout a bodily examination previous the 1991-92 season, main him to announce his instant retirement from the NBA. Buss and the Lakers caught by his facet as he turned the face of combating the illness.

On the time, the world was not conscious of the impression of HIV. Johnson confronted questions on his participation within the 1992 NBA All-Star Sport and his sexuality whereas dealing with the best problem of his private {and professional} life. Johnson stays in good well being and has been an enormous useful resource for HIV/AIDs training, having returned to the court docket for the top of the 1995-96 season to point out the world he may nonetheless command a basketball sport.

In his absence, the Lakers struggled to resemble something near their championship kind. A string of first-round playoff exits and postseason absences returned Buss to the drafting board as he and West, then the final supervisor, sought a brand new title-winning components.

Shaq and Kobe hit Hollywood

The summer time of 1996 stays arguably probably the most impactful in NBA historical past. The league itself stays spoiled by the riches of that 12 months’s draft class. The true gem stays 17-year-old Kobe Bryant, who was chosen thirteenth by the Charlotte Hornets earlier than West acquired the prospect through commerce (shout out to Vlade Divac!).

On July 18, 1996, the Lakers signed Shaquille O’Neal to a seven-year, $120 million contract, establishing arguably probably the most potent one-two punch the NBA has ever seen, even when it took a while to search out its footing. In O’Neal and Bryant’s first season collectively, O’Neal performed in solely 51 video games however completed ninth in MVP voting because the Lakers went 56-26 through the common season below head coach Del Harris. That season marked the franchise’s most profitable since 1990-91, however it ended humbly as a rookie Bryant shot 4 airballs in Sport 4 of the Lakers’ semifinals collection in opposition to the Utah Jazz, who went on to win the matchup in 5 video games.

Buss remained steadfast in re-establishing championship basketball in Los Angeles. The Lakers skilled a pair extra untimely postseason exits earlier than hiring Phil Jackson — then of six championships with Jordan’s Chicago Bulls — as head coach earlier than the 1999-00 season. Veteran additions of Brian Shaw, Ron Harper and A.C. Inexperienced (a former Showtime member, no much less) helped spherical out the Lakers’ roster.

By the top of that 1999-2000 season, O’Neal established himself because the league’s MVP, and Bryant started flourishing into an All-NBA mainstay because the Lakers gained their first championship since 1988. Their 67-15 regular-season document was their greatest single-season mark since a 69-win marketing campaign in 1971-72, signaling the early beginnings of a dynasty.

At season’s finish, although, Jackson took over the franchise’s staff operations and West stepped down from his front-office place.

The Lakers gained 11 fewer video games within the 2000-01 season, however their run by means of the 2001 playoffs stays a standard-bearer for basketball dominance. They went 15-1 that postseason en path to consecutive championships. Their .938 win proportion stays the second-best ever for a single playoff run, surpassed solely by the 2017 Golden State Warriors.

Notching a 3rd consecutive title by 2002 positioned the Lakers in distinct firm, as they turned the primary franchise since Jordan’s Bulls to take action. They continue to be the NBA’s most up-to-date three-peat champions, which may stay the case for some time, given the league’s newfound second-apron penalties.

On at the present time 25 years in the past… KOBE TO SHAQ.

The enduring alley-oop from the @Lakers duo was a part of a 15-point 4th quarter comeback in Sport 7 of the WCF!

LA would go on to win the primary championship of their three-peat 🏆 pic.twitter.com/T3DTjo7ZDG

— NBA Historical past (@NBAHistory) June 4, 2025

As these championship days subsided, new challenges arose, starting from contract disputes, preventing amongst gamers and coaches, free-agency acquisitions gone fallacious and a four-peat bid that fell brief within the 2004 finals in opposition to the Pistons.

One of many Lakers’ most evident challenges was Bryant’s sexual assault case stemming from a 2003 accusation in Eagle, Colo., the place he was arrested after a criticism by a 19-year-old lodge worker. The criticism accused him of a Class 3 felony, which is the second-most severe sexual assault cost in Colorado. Bryant turned himself in to Eagle County’s sheriff’s workplace on July 4, getting launched roughly an hour after posting $25,000 in bond. Earlier than the trial, Bryant’s accuser’s identify was erroneously leaked. As soon as the jury choice was full, she determined in opposition to collaborating within the trial, resulting in the felony costs being dropped. Bryant apologized to his accuser and her household however denied the allegations. A civil case was settled out of court docket after a 20-month authorized battle.

Furthermore, by the top of the 2003-04 season, it was evident the O’Neal and Bryant duo had run its course, resulting in O’Neal being traded to the Miami Warmth and Jackson stepping down as head coach earlier than penning a tell-all guide in regards to the Lakers’ chaotic marketing campaign, deeming Bryant “uncoachable.” The Lakers’ entrance workplace disputed Jackson’s interpretation.

Publish-Shaq period

The Lakers’ instant window after O’Neal’s departure was fragile. Bryant obtained his personal staff, and Jackson spent a season away from the Lakers earlier than returning to the sidelines with Lamar Odom and Caron Butler serving to bridge the hole to a brand new period.

Just like the early Nineteen Nineties, a few first-round playoff exits made the Lakers look within the mirror earlier than making a transfer.

Everybody remembers Bryant demanding a commerce in the course of a procuring plaza, which Buss was open to, however he satisfied Bryant to remain. By then, Bryant was enjoying arguably one of the best basketball of his profession (averaged 35.4 factors and completed fourth in MVP voting in 2005-06, completed third in MVP voting in 2006-07), however the Lakers’ last product remained uninspiring, an unbelievable feat for a staff that includes a participant able to dropping 81 factors or outscoring an opposing staff by means of three quarters.

Re-tooling round Kobe

On Feb. 1, 2008, the Lakers acquired All-Star massive man Pau Gasol in a commerce with the Memphis Grizzlies, bolstering a core jostling for a top-four seed within the West to a direct championship contender.

By the top of the 2007-08 season, barely a 12 months after Bryant demanded to be dealt, he earned MVP honors for the primary time in his profession because the Lakers made their first finals look in virtually half a decade, shedding to these pesky Celtics but once more however re-establishing one other window for competition.

Over the following two seasons, Bryant put the ending touches on his championship résumé by main the Lakers to back-to-back titles and notching the one two NBA Finals MVP awards of his profession. Jackson’s return to the sidelines reignited the Lakers’ championship glory, however these flames began to flicker shortly after.

On Could 9, 2011, simply after the Lakers’ three-peat bid was upended by a first-round sweep by the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson stepped down as Lakers coach, paving the way in which for the entrance workplace to usher in Mike Brown as the brand new lead voice. Within the ensuing seasons, the Lakers remained formidable with roster strikes — buying Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, bringing in former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni for a cup of espresso on the sidelines — however it wasn’t sufficient to place them excessive one final time.

The Lakers’ path turned much more unsure on Feb. 18, 2013, when Jerry Buss handed away on the age of 80 after an 18-month battle with most cancers. Within the month previous his dying, the Lakers had been valued at $1 billion, making them the NBA’s second-most helpful staff behind solely the New York Knicks ($1.1 billion). Though Buss’ dying shook the franchise and league, he was ready to make sure the Lakers remained within the household, equally dividing his 66 % controlling possession throughout his 11 youngsters and deeming Jeanie the Lakers’ governor at league conferences.

Publish-Kobe period

When Bryant completed his enjoying profession, he did so in a method solely he knew: scoring 60 factors on 50 pictures in opposition to the Utah Jazz and setting an NBA document for probably the most factors by any participant of their last sport. He had 37 factors by means of three durations however caught hearth within the last body, including 23 factors on 16 pictures, as Utah totaled solely 21, to shut out his profession. The second was electrical, particularly after he recovered from a career-altering Achilles rupture, a uncommon brilliant spot in an in any other case darkish interval for the Lakers.

On at the present time in 2016… Kobe Bryant capped off his legendary profession with 60 factors in his last sport. #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/CSzA97R5v8

— NBA Historical past (@NBAHistory) April 13, 2022

For the Lakers, “darkish” is graded on a curve, however lacking the playoffs in 5 consecutive seasons is a tough stretch for any franchise, particularly one which missed the postseason solely 5 occasions in its first 64 years of existence. In that point, the Lakers reduce their enamel making an attempt to carry extra star energy to Los Angeles till LeBron James signed in 2018.

From 2013 to 2018, the Lakers ranked twenty eighth within the NBA in win proportion (.348) however made sound use of their scouting division, which helped them stockpile promising expertise through the draft. The record of intriguing prospects to don a Lakers jersey within the final 10 to fifteen years is deep, headlined by Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Jordan Clarkson, Ivica Zubac and Larry Nance Jr.

Though few would take into account these gamers franchise-altering names, their developments had been promising sufficient to assist the Lakers retool their roster to not solely entice James to go West, however construct round him for one final window of competition below the Buss household’s watch.

New star energy

When the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis on July 6, 2019, championship hopes had been instantly restored, persevering with the franchise’s long-standing custom of chasing titles.

The duo of Davis and James helped re-establish the Lakers as title contenders throughout one of the difficult seasons ever. On Jan. 25, 2020, James handed Bryant for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring record. The celebration was brief. Bryant died in a helicopter crash hours later.

The Lakers used the facility of the second to chase their seventeenth (and most up-to-date) championship whereas within the NBA’s COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Fla. There, James turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to win NBA Finals MVP with three totally different franchises because the Lakers re-established their title-winning methods. Davis etched his identify in league lore due to his longstanding worth as a two-way power, main him to hitch James, Bryant, Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and different legends on the NBA High-75 record.

Davis’ presence additionally helped them snatch one other franchise-altering participant off the commerce market. The Lakers’ blockbuster acquisition of Luka Dončić in change for Davis on Feb. 2, 2025, encapsulated why Buss acquired the franchise many years in the past. Irrespective of how a lot cash one has, imaginative and prescient is paramount. The brilliant lights of Hollywood would enchantment to any big-name star, however it’s exhausting to think about a franchise in any sport that higher balances leisure, star energy and outcomes than the Lakers.

And all that whereas the staff itself, regardless of its world prominence, was a relative mom-and-pop store till this week’s record-breaking, $10 billion sale to Los Angeles Dodgers majority proprietor Mark Walter.

How will the Lakers look within the coming years? Dončić will likely be due a brand new contract quickly, JJ Redick is establishing himself among the many league’s most promising coaches and James stays an unmatched draw even in his superior years. The NBA’s upcoming collective bargaining settlement will even have its say — its newfound monetary penalties will be certain that.

Walter must regulate to main a basketball franchise’s payroll. Repeat bids are tougher with roster-construction limitations. Retaining big-name gamers for lengthy is more durable as a result of there are such a lot of alternatives for them away from the court docket, broadening their profession horizons.

For the current gripes about small markets and boring basketball, it’s exhausting to argue the NBA has established an unmatched world presence.

That doesn’t occur with out the Buss household crafting the Lakers right into a premier sports activities franchise, one formidable concept at a time.

A no-look go from Magic Johnson couldn’t match that imaginative and prescient.

(High picture: Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Photos)