Jesse Buss revealed that his father, the late Dr. Jerry Buss, had mapped out a succession plan in which Jesse and his brother Joey would eventually oversee basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking after both brothers were dismissed from their front-office positions, Jesse Buss said the plan dated back to about 2010. According to him, Dr. Buss expected then–executive Jim Buss to step aside within five to seven years, with Jeanie Buss running the business side while Joey and Jesse controlled basketball decisions.
“It was to run the basketball operations department one day,” Jesse Buss said, adding that his father began integrating the brothers into day-to-day team activities more than a decade ago.
Jesse Buss acknowledged that vision never materialized. He noted his primary responsibilities centered on late-round draft picks and occasional input on free-agent moves and trade possibilities. “Oftentimes within the organization, it kind of felt like I was being treated like an enemy,” he said, emphasizing that his only goal was team success.
The comments come amid a sweeping reorganization following Jeanie Buss’s sale of a controlling interest in the franchise to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. Shortly after taking charge, Walter dismissed Joey and Jesse Buss and several members of the scouting department, moves that occurred while the team is enjoying a winning season.
Despite their removal from day-to-day duties, Joey and Jesse Buss remain minority shareholders in the Lakers.
The firings run counter to earlier remarks by president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who had said he did not expect major changes under Walter’s ownership.
Source: Lakers Nation
