Jerry Buss Dies: NBA World Reacts To Lakers Owner's Death

NBA World Reacts To Lakers Owner's Death

The death of Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss on Monday reverberated throughout the NBA and tributes and condolences came pouring in.

"We not only have lost our cherished father, but a beloved man of our community and a person respected by the world basketball community,” a statement released on behalf of the Buss family said, per the Lakers' official website.

Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke for $16 million in 1979. He also bought the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, the Forum sports arena in L.A. and Cooke’s California ranch in the same transaction -- for a grand total of $67.5 million, per Steve Springer of Yahoo! Sports. Since he assumed control, the Lakers have won 10 NBA championships while transforming into the city's most beloved franchise.

Late last week after reports came out that Buss had been hospitalized with an undisclosed form of cancer, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant reflected on his relationship with him.

"He's meant everything to me in my career in terms of taking a risk on a 17-year-old kid coming out of high school and then believing in me my entire career. And then for the game itself, the brand of basketball that he implemented in Showtime carried the league," Bryant said during All-Star Weekend, via the Los Angeles Times.

Here's how several in the NBA world -- both current and former players and some who had played for Buss -- reacted to the sad news.

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