Larry Weinberg, a founding partner and one of the original owners of the Portland Trail Blazers, has died after a long struggle with bone marrow cancer, according to reports by multiple media outlets. He died Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 92.

Weinberg was a key figure in bringing professional basketball to Portland. He teamed with founding president Harry Glickman and investors Herman Sarkowsky and Robert Schmertz to secure expansion rights to an NBA franchise. They landed a team in 1970, and after struggling for the first several seasons, the Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1977.

The title run touched off “Blazermania,” and the ’77 championship remains the only one in franchise history.

“Under Larry’s ownership, the Portland Trail Blazers became the best franchise in the NBA,” Glickman said in a release. “Larry was a Blazer booster all his life and appeared at many playoff games even after he sold the club. He was a fine gentleman.”

Weinberg became the Blazers’ majority owner in 1975. He eventually sold the team to Paul Allen in 1988 for $70 million, according to The Oregonian. Allen owned the team until his death this past October.

— Bulletin staff report