Before Jerry Buss turned the Lakers into Hollywood’s team, the franchise had a whole different vibe—more Mad Men than Entourage. The story of who owned the Lakers before Buss is a tale of midwestern grit, a savvy showman, and a family that held the reins during the team’s move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. It’s the kind of backstory that makes you appreciate the purple-and-gold dynasty even more.
The Gagnon Era: The Original Brains
The very first owner of the Minneapolis Lakers was Ben Berger, a local car dealer, alongside Max Winter, a sports promoter. But the real architect was Morris Chalfen, a businessman who actually had the original idea for the team—though he never got the public credit he deserved. Chalfen and Berger formed a tight-knit partnership, funding the team that would land the legendary George Mikan.
In 1956, Berger sold his share to a group that included Bob Short, a Minneapolis trucking magnate who would change everything. Short was a high-stakes gambler, both at the poker table and in business. He once said, “I never met a risk I didn’t like,” which would prove both a blessing and a curse for the Lakers.
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Enter Bob Short: The Showman Before the Showtime
Bob Short bought the Lakers for $150,000 in 1957—a bargain even by 1950s standards. He was the anti-Buss: flashy, loud, and more focused on the bottom line than the glamour of the game. Short’s first big move? Trading future Hall-of-Famer Clyde Lovellette for cash, because the team was hemorrhaging money in Minneapolis.
The Lakers were struggling in a small market, and Short knew the team needed a bigger stage. But here’s the fun part: Short wasn’t just an owner—he was a showman. He once hired a live bear to dance during halftime. Yes, an actual bear. The crowd loved it, but the bear nearly mauled a referee. That’s classic pre-Buss Lakers chaos.
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Practical tip: If you ever start a business, remember Short’s lesson—sometimes you have to pivot hard. He moved the Lakers to Los Angeles in 1960, a gutsy gamble that paid off. The rest is history, but not the history you know yet.
The Short Sales: A Family Affair (and a Near Miss)
Short didn’t just sell the team once—he sold it twice, in a way. In 1965, he was so cash-strapped that he tried to sell the Lakers to a group from Las Vegas. The deal collapsed when the NBA rejected the casino ties. Imagine Lakers games with neon lights and blackjack tables courtside—wild.
Two years later, in 1967, Short finally sold the team to Jack Kent Cooke, a Canadian-born entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. Cooke paid $5 million—a massive 33x return on Short’s original investment. Short walked away with a fortune, but he left behind a franchise still finding its identity.
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Fun fact: Short didn’t just own the Lakers—he also owned the Washington Senators baseball team later. He eventually sold that team too, but the Senators became the Texas Rangers. So you can thank Short for two major sports moves.
Jack Kent Cooke: The Man Who Built the Stage
Jack Kent Cooke was the architect of the Lakers’ cool factor. He bought the team with deep pockets and a vision: make Lakers games an event. He built the iconic Forum in Inglewood, complete with that famous purple curtain and the booming pipe organ. Suddenly, Lakers games weren’t just basketball—they were a party with celebrities, brass, and style.
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Cooke also signed Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, creating the core of a dynasty. But here’s the twist: Cooke was notoriously tight-fisted with player salaries, even as he spent millions on the arena. He once said, “I make money by being cheap, not by being generous.” That philosophy worked until the 1970s, when the Lakers hit a slump and Cooke lost his magic touch.
Cultural reference: If Cooke were alive today, he’d be the guy who buys a Michelin-star restaurant but charges you for tap water. Buss, by contrast, was the free-wheeling uncle who hands out caviar and champagne.
The End of an Era: Cooke Sells to Buss
By 1979, Cooke was in the middle of a messy divorce and needed to liquidate assets. He sold the Lakers—along with the Forum and the NHL’s Kings—to Jerry Buss for a stunning $67.5 million. It was the most expensive sports deal at the time. Buss, a real estate investor with a doctorate in chemistry, had the cash and the charisma to flip the script.
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Cooke walked away thinking he’d made a killing. Little did he know, Buss would turn that $67.5 million into a global empire worth billions. But that’s a story for another article—the one about magic, Showtime, and the rise of a basketball dynasty.
Practical tip: When selling something valuable, don’t just look at the price tag—look at the future potential. Cooke sold high, but Buss saw the future even higher.
Reflection for Daily Life
So, what can we take from the Lakers’ pre-Buss owners? It’s a reminder that every great success story has a few messy chapters. Bob Short’s flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants decisions, Jack Kent Cooke’s penny-pinching genius—these flaws and gambles are what made the franchise ready for Buss to sparkle. In your own life, don’t be afraid of the awkward, chaotic middle act. The team that wins the championship usually had a few owners who didn’t know what they were doing first. Keep the faith, pivot when needed, and maybe don’t hire a dancing bear for your next meeting. The magic comes later.