The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, are once again undergoing significant change.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the team has dismissed Joey Buss, who served as vice president of research and development and alternate governor, and Jesse Buss, who held the role of assistant general manager.
Both had been integral to the Lakers’ scouting department for years, credited with identifying talent such as Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., and Max Christie.
In a joint statement, the brothers later expressed gratitude to Laker Nation: “We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons. 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.”
The move comes amid broader restructuring within the Lakers’ basketball operations department, including the recent $10 billion sale to now majority owner Mark Walter.
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While Jeanie Buss, their sister, remains the team’s primary governor and controlling owner, the decision marks a dramatic shift in the family’s influence over day-to-day basketball decisions.
Their departure ends a 20-season tenure, during which they carried forward the legacy of their father, Dr. Jerry Buss, who purchased the Lakers in 1979 and transformed them into a global powerhouse.
The Buss family has been synonymous with the Lakers for nearly half a century, with Jerry delivering 10 NBA championships across multiple eras until his death in 2013.
For the first time since Jerry purchased the team, the Lakers’ basketball operations will move forward without the direct involvement of his sons, representing one of the biggest shifts since Jerry’s passing.