Jerry Buss memorial: Pat Riley, Norm Nixon talk about owner - Los Angeles Times
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Jerry Buss memorial: Pat Riley, Norm Nixon talk about owner

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Among the Lakers greats past and present to attend the memorial service for Jerry Buss on Thursday at Nokia Theater was former coach Pat Riley.

“I think he was an incredible person from the standpoint of how he related to everybody,” said the coach who helped cultivate the Showtime Era.

Former guard Norm Nixon, who was with the Lakers at the start of their championship run in the 1980s, also attended the service.

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Nixon was only 22 when Buss purchased the team, but he spoke about the new owner’s sensibilities.

Former forward Cedric Ceballos first met Buss as a boy when he was lucky enough to get a close-up view of a championship parade.

How close did Ceballos get? Buss gave him a high-five.

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