Lakers Dismiss Joey and Jesse Buss from Front-Office Posts
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Los Angeles — November 20, 2025 (2:54 PM ET) — The Los Angeles Lakers have removed executives Joey Buss and Jesse Buss from their basketball operations staff, the brothers confirmed to ESPN on Thursday, describing the decision as effective immediately.
Joey Buss had been serving as alternate governor and vice president of research and development, while Jesse Buss held the title of assistant general manager. Over roughly 10 years in scouting roles, the pair helped unearth rotation players such as Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Max Christie.
“We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons,” the brothers said in a joint statement to ESPN. “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.”
Joey Buss also served as president and CEO of the South Bay Lakers, the club’s G League affiliate. Jesse Buss oversaw the draft process year-round in his role as director of scouting. Despite their dismissal, both will retain minority ownership stakes in the franchise.
Their older sister, Jeanie Buss, remains the organization’s controlling owner and primary governor. In September, Joey and Jesse Buss launched Buss Sports Capital, an investment firm focused on acquisitions and partnerships across the global sports industry.
The siblings are children of the late Jerry Buss, who bought the Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the Forum from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979 for $67.5 million. Earlier this year, the Buss family sold a majority interest in the Lakers to investor Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation; the NBA’s board of governors approved the transaction last month.
Source: ESPN
