Jack Kent Cooke Ownership
The owner who brought the Lakers to The Forum and delivered the 1972 NBA title.
Jack Kent Cooke purchased the Los Angeles Lakers from Bob Short in September 1965 for $5 million. Under his ownership, the Lakers moved from the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena to The Forum and changed their colors to purple (which he called 'Forum Blue') and gold. The Lakers reached seven NBA Finals and won the 1972 NBA championship under Cooke's ownership.
- First Appears
- 1965
- Championships Won
- 1
Lore & Background
Cooke was a Canadian American businessman who built a broadcasting and sports empire. He owned the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Los Angeles Wolves (United Soccer), the Toronto Maple Leafs (IL), and the Washington Redskins (NFL). He also developed The Forum in Inglewood, California, and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (Northwest Stadium) in Landover, Maryland.
In Their Own Story
The air inside The Forum hummed with electric anticipation as Jack Kent Cooke stood courtside, his eyes scanning the crowd packed to the rafters. He had purchased this team not just for profit, but to create a legacy that would outlive him all. As Magic Johnson threaded a no-look pass to James Worthy for a thunderous dunk, Cooke smiled, knowing he had successfully turned a basketball franchise into a global phenomenon.
Reader's Guide
It only states that the Lakers won the 1972 NBA Finals and reached seven NBA Finals during his ownership.
Did You Know?
- Cooke purchased the Lakers in 1965, not 1971.
- The Lakers won the 1972 NBA championship under Cooke's ownership.
- Cooke owned the Washington Redskins after buying the Lakers; he purchased majority interest in the Redskins in 1974.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Los Angeles Lakers universe
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