Los Angeles Lakers Fire Executives Joey and Jesse Buss Amid Major Front Office Shakeup

Los Angeles, California — In a surprising development, the Los Angeles Lakers announced the termination of executives Joey and Jesse Buss from their front office roles on Thursday.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news on X, formerly Twitter. The Buss brothers expressed their gratitude in a statement, saying, “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.”

Despite their dismissal, the Buss brothers will retain minority ownership of the team. This change follows the recent sale of a majority stake to Mark Walter, CEO and chairman of TWG Global, who has been involved with the Lakers since 2021.

Walter brings a robust sports portfolio, including ownership of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and the Cadillac Formula One team. Known for his successful leadership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he helped secure three titles, expectations are high that he will instill a winning culture within the Lakers as well.

Joey and Jesse Buss held significant positions within the Lakers organization, with Jesse serving as co-owner, assistant general manager, and director of scouting, primarily focusing on the team’s draft process.

The front office reshuffle has surprised many considering the contributions the brothers have made to the franchise. As fans and analysts react, tensions may brew at family gatherings, as Jeanie Buss remains the team’s governor.

The Lakers are set to face the Utah Jazz again on Sunday following their recent victory.