Yesterday Los Angeles Lakers greats of both the past and present showed up to remember team owner Jerry Buss, who died Monday.

The two-hour private ceremony was held at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles and attended by an estimated 3,000 people.

"He cared about all his players, not just on the court but off the court as well," Magic Johnson said. "As men. As people."

Johnson was one of many to walk up to the podium to express what Buss meant to their lives. He was the last to speak, referring to Buss as a "father figure."

"I'm sure when he went to the gates and God met him, I know he said, 'I hope you have a basketball league up here,' " Johnson said. "And I know that he said, 'Wilt (Chamberlain), you're coming on my team.' He already hit Chick Hearn up, saying, 'You're going to be my announcer. Again, we're together.' But the one thing he better not do is get a point guard, because I'm going to see him one day soon."

Buss oversaw an unprecedented era of winning after purchasing the Lakers for $67.5 million in 1979, capturing 10 NBA championships and reaching 16 Finals in his 34 years as the owner.

Even with all his success as an owner, real estate mogul and professor of chemistry, each speaker praised Buss for his down-to-earth nature.

"Just being around him and just feeling the warmth in him, he was genuine," said former Lakers player and executive Jerry West, who was very emotional during his speech. "He was a man for all people."

Current Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said it was Buss who got him on board with Jackson coming back to coach the team in 2005-06, after he had written a scathing book that included pointed criticism of Bryant.

"He said, 'What do you think about bringing Phil Jackson back to coach you again?' " said Bryant, who then wriggled his body on stage to show just how uncomfortable he was with the proposition at the time. "I said, 'I don't know really how I feel about that, Dr. B.' He just looked at me and he just said, 'Trust me,' and I did and that has taken us to a whole 'nother level in winning another two championships, but that came from his vision."

All 10 of the NBA championship trophies the Lakers won since Buss bought the team adorned the stage, along with Buss' trophy commemorating his induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.