Buss Brothers Depart Lakers
DOJO – The Los Angeles Lakers have announced the termination of Joey and Jesse Buss from their front office roles, ending their decades-long tenure in the team’s scouting department. The move comes as part of a wider organizational restructure following the sale of the Lakers’ majority stake to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
Statement From Joey and Jesse Buss
In a joint statement to ESPN, the brothers reflected on their 20 years with the team. “We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons,” they said. “Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way. We wish things could be different with the way our time ended with the team. At times like this we wish we could ask our Dad what he would think about it all.”
Roles and Achievements
Joey and Jesse Buss played key scouting roles for the Lakers, helping identify players such as Austin Reaves and Kyle Kuzma. Joey served as the alternate governor and vice president of research and development, while Jesse was the assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka. Despite their departures, both brothers will retain minority ownership stakes in the franchise.
Sale of the Lakers
The Buss family approved the sale of the Lakers’ majority stake to Mark Walter this year, with the deal valued at approximately $10 billion—the largest professional sports franchise sale in history. The family will retain a 15% minority share, while Jeanie Buss, the oldest sibling, remains as the team’s governor. Other family members, including Johnny, Jim, and Janie, hold advisory or charitable roles within the organization.
Next Steps for the Franchise
The firing of Joey and Jesse marks the first major front office move under Walter’s majority ownership. The Lakers are also letting go of several members of their scouting staff. Joey and Jesse recently launched a sports investment firm, Buss Sports Capital, which will focus on acquisitions and partnerships across the sports world.
