Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, passed away early Monday morning after battling cancer and serious illness in his last few months. Buss' assistant Bob Steiner confirmed that he had died in Los Angeles.

During Buss' ownership of the Lakers in 1979 the team won 10 championship titles with the help of some of the greatest players of all time, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

At the time he bought the team his goal was to make the Lakers synonymous with the city, and many believe that he succeeded.

Buss is survived by his six children, half-sister Susan, half-brother Mickey and step-brother Jim Brown.

Source: hiphopwired.com