Jerry Buss: LA Kings' Forgotten Connection

Hey guys, let's dive into a seriously fascinating piece of Los Angeles sports history that often gets overlooked – the connection between the legendary Jerry Buss and the Los Angeles Kings. You all know Jerry Buss as the mastermind behind the Showtime Lakers, the guy who turned purple and gold into a dynasty and brought Hollywood glamour to the NBA. But did you know he actually had a significant stake in the LA Kings hockey team? It's true! Before he became synonymous with basketball greatness, Buss was dabbling in the frozen sport, and it’s a part of his story that deserves way more attention. Think about it – the same visionary who revolutionized basketball was also involved with a completely different sport in the same city. This dual involvement shows the depth of his ambition and his understanding of the LA market. He wasn't just a basketball guy; he was a sports mogul with a broad vision. His involvement with the Kings wasn't just a casual investment; it was a strategic move that highlighted his belief in the potential of professional sports in Southern California. He saw the landscape, he understood the appeal, and he was willing to invest in multiple avenues to capture the city's attention. This early foray into hockey ownership offers a unique perspective on his entrepreneurial journey and how he built his sports empire. We’ll break down how this happened, what it meant for the Kings, and why it’s such a cool, albeit little-known, chapter in both Buss’s and the Kings’ legacies. It’s a story that proves great minds often have diverse interests, and sometimes, those interests intersect in surprising ways, shaping the future of sports in ways we might not even realize at first glance. So, buckle up, because we’re about to uncover a hidden gem of LA sports lore.

The Early Days: Buss and the LA Kings

Alright, let's rewind the clock a bit, shall we? Long before Jerry Buss was rocking the Forum with Kareem and Magic, he was making waves in real estate and science. But like many ambitious individuals, he had a broader vision for his impact, and that included the world of sports. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Buss became involved with the Los Angeles Kings. This was a crucial period for the NHL team, which had joined the league as an expansion team in 1967. The Kings were trying to find their footing in a city that was, at the time, much more passionate about baseball and, increasingly, basketball. Buss saw an opportunity. His background was in business and engineering, but his passion for winning and creating successful ventures extended beyond any single field. He acquired a controlling interest in the Kings, alongside entertainment mogul Jack Kent Cooke, who was also the owner of the Lakers at the time. This partnership is key, guys. Cooke was already a major player in LA sports, and bringing Buss in meant pooling resources and expertise. Buss wasn't just a passive owner; he was an active participant, bringing his sharp business acumen to the table. He understood the importance of marketing, fan engagement, and building a winning culture – principles he would later apply with incredible success to the Lakers. His involvement with the Kings wasn't about hockey expertise as much as it was about leveraging his business savvy to make a franchise thrive. He believed in the potential of sports franchises in Southern California, a region that was still relatively new to major professional sports leagues compared to the East Coast. The Kings, as one of the NHL's expansion teams, represented a chance to build something from the ground up, to capture a burgeoning market. His investment and leadership during this era helped shape the early identity of the Kings, even if their on-ice success was still a work in progress. It’s a testament to his versatility that he could be involved in both the burgeoning NBA and the developing NHL scene in LA simultaneously. This period underscores that Buss’s ambition wasn't confined to one sport; it was about building a sports empire in a city he clearly loved and understood. The Kings, during his tenure, became a testing ground for some of the innovative ideas he would later perfect with the Lakers, focusing on creating an exciting fan experience and a competitive team. It’s a period that truly highlights his foresight and his willingness to take calculated risks in the dynamic world of professional sports. His belief in the LA market and its potential for sports fandom was unwavering, making his ownership of the Kings a significant, albeit often forgotten, chapter in his illustrious career.

The Business Acumen at Play

Now, let's talk about Jerry Buss's business genius. When he got involved with the Los Angeles Kings, it wasn't just a hobby. Buss was a calculated risk-taker, and his approach to sports ownership was no different. He saw the Kings, much like he later saw the Lakers, as a business venture with immense potential. His background in mathematics and chemistry, coupled with his success in real estate, gave him a unique analytical perspective. He approached sports franchises with the same rigor he applied to developing properties or solving complex scientific problems. He understood that success on the ice, or the court, was directly tied to smart business operations, effective marketing, and creating a compelling fan experience. During his time with the Kings, he worked alongside Jack Kent Cooke, another titan of industry. This partnership was instrumental. Cooke brought his established presence and resources, while Buss brought his innovative thinking and drive. They aimed to make the Kings a competitive and popular team in a city that was still growing its appetite for hockey. Buss was particularly adept at understanding the economics of sports. He knew that profitability wasn't just about ticket sales; it was about building a brand, fostering fan loyalty, and creating a spectacle that people would pay to see. He wasn't afraid to invest, but his investments were always strategic. He looked for opportunities to maximize revenue streams and minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of the product. This meticulous attention to detail and long-term vision is precisely what would later define his ownership of the Lakers. The