Lakers Fire Joey, Jesse Buss Post-$10B Sale

A Historic Shakeup in Purple and Gold

The Los Angeles Lakers organization underwent a seismic shift on November 20, 2025, with the stunning announcement that Joey and Jesse Buss had been fired from their long-held front office positions. This move, confirmed by the team and the brothers themselves, comes just months after the franchise was sold in a record-breaking $10 billion valuation deal to majority owner Mark Walter, and amidst the Lakers' best start to a season in four years.

The Buss Brothers' Departure

Joey Buss (41), serving as the team's alternate governor and vice president of research and development, and Jesse Buss (37), the assistant general manager and director of scouting, were let go immediately. The Lakers also dismissed much of their scouting department alongside the brothers. Both Joey and Jesse confirmed the firings to ESPN's Shams Charania, expressing a sense of honor for their 20 seasons with the franchise but disappointment in how their tenure concluded.

"We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons," the brothers stated. "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."

Key Contributors to Lakers' Roster

Over the past decade, the Buss brothers were instrumental in building parts of the Lakers' roster, particularly through the draft and international scouting. Their fingerprints are on several key players who have contributed significantly, including Austin Reaves, Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., and Max Christie. Jesse, specifically, was lauded as the team's draft guru, playing a leading role in their draft strategy year-round.

The Lakers, currently tied for third in the Western Conference with an 11-4 record (their best start since the 2020-21 title season), have seen players like Reaves and Rui Hachimura – both identified or developed under the brothers' scouting acumen – play pivotal roles in this strong start.

The $10 Billion Sale and Family Dynamics

The firing occurs against the backdrop of the landmark $10 billion sale of the Lakers to Walter, approved by the NBA Board of Governors last month. As part of that deal, their sister, Jeanie Buss, negotiated to remain the Lakers' primary team governor for at least the next five years. Joey and Jesse will retain their minority ownership stakes but have clearly been pushed out of day-to-day operations.

Jesse Buss pointed to a long-simmering disconnect, particularly with his sister and team president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, dating back well before the sale. He told The Athletic, "She's fired everyone," referring to Jeanie Buss' history of removing family members from key roles. Jesse also revealed he has been battling an unspecified illness and receiving immunotherapy treatments, stating he "felt siloed" and "felt like the writing was on the wall" for some time.

A Legacy of Family Feuds and New Directions

This latest firing continues a pattern of intra-family tension within the Buss dynasty. Jeanie famously clashed with and removed her brothers Johnny and Jim Buss from basketball operations leadership in 2017, leading to a legal battle over control. The departure of Joey and Jesse marks another significant step in Jeanie Buss consolidating control under the new ownership structure.

The brothers had already signaled their next chapter, announcing the launch of Buss Sports Capital in September, an investment firm focused on sports acquisitions and partnerships. Their futures now lie firmly outside the Lakers' front office, though as minority owners and lifelong Lakers fans, Jesse stated he will "always root for this team."

What Comes Next for the Lakers?

With a reorganized basketball operations department led by Pelinka under the stewardship of Jeanie Buss and Mark Walter, the Lakers will look to build on their strong early-season form. The departure of the Buss brothers and much of the scouting staff signals a clear change in direction, likely towards a more centralized evaluation process under the new ownership. The impact on player development and future draft strategies will be closely watched by Laker Nation and the league alike.