The Los Angeles Lakers terminated part-owners Joey and Jesse Buss from their roles inside the team’s basketball operations department on Thursday morning, league sources told The Athletic.
Joey Buss had been serving as the Lakers’ alternate governor, vice president of research and development and president of the team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Jesse Buss had been the team’s assistant general manager and director of scouting.
Not long after the Lakers immediately terminated the brothers through team CFO Joe McCormack, The Athletic spoke with Jesse Buss about the decision, his diminishing role in the front office, the effects of an unidentified illness that has kept him away from gym at times and the future for him and the organization.
(Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity.)
You said the writing was on the wall when the team was sold this past summer. Why did you feel that way, like there would no longer be a place for you in the front office?
I think typically that’s how things go, and you know, whenever a franchise is sold, there’s a restructuring of the basketball operations department. Obviously, over the last two years, I’ve been dealing with quite a bit of health issues. I’m currently undergoing treatment for that. And I kind of noticed around the same time that things were different within our organization, within the front office and just the basketball operations department. I kind of felt siloed quite a bit, dating back to before, I guess, the 2023 draft. And I kind of didn’t think much of it.
But as time went on and there was a lack of communication between not only my sister and I, but the organization as a whole while I was combating various health issues, I kind of felt like the writing was on the wall. The sale of the team happening kind of more or less just solidified it in my mind. And I just more or less expected it. Obviously this is a job I’ve loved for a very long time. And I love this organization. I love the fans. I love the city of Los Angeles. It’s pretty much all I’ve known my entire life.
What’s been your favorite part of the job?
I think it’s just a camaraderie you build between people that are in similar positions across the league, not only within our own organization, but scouts across the league that you see oftentimes when scouting games. I love to be able to see a player from, when they’re first drafted into the NBA, grow and become even better players. That part of the job was always very exciting, just seeing the natural development of these amazing talents. It was just a wonderful thing to watch.
How have you tried to stay involved despite not being able to travel and do what you’ve wanted to do?
Yeah, I mean, luckily during COVID-(19) when we were pretty much unable to travel, we had to think of creative ways in order to stay engaged (for) the college season. The 2020-21 season progressed, and a lot of that was just done on film. So one of the silver linings of not traveling is I got to do additional film work, and just was able to stay up to date with my scouts in the day-to-day.
And my staff, obviously, made it easy to do the job because of how passionate they were. I know at times over the last decade, I haven’t necessarily always seen eye-to-eye with management and leadership when it comes to certain decisions that were made. But being able to communicate with my staff for the last two years and just talk about the game that we all love has been a great distraction for me.
Can you be more specific about ways you felt like your voice was heard before and was being heard less (now)?
More or less, you start to hear about what the team is doing through the media as opposed to being told by any member of the front office or organization. Not having any discussions in regards to player personnel, not communicating outside of my staff about the draft and ultimately watching decisions made that I wasn’t really informed of at the time. Obviously, I want what’s best for the Lakers, first and foremost, because this is a team I’ve watched my entire life and I’ve always loved. And I’m very happy to see them doing really well right now this season.
Is that bittersweet right now?
No, not at all. I don’t think it’s bittersweet because first and foremost, I’m a Lakers fan. When it comes down to it, even if I’m not part of the organization in any capacity, I’m always gonna root for this team. And obviously I root for players that Joey and I had a part of bringing in on the team, such as Austin (Reaves) and Rui (Hachimura).
What’s next for you in basketball?
As long as we still have our ownership shares within the trust for the Buss family, we’re unable to work for another (team) or, I guess, be a part of another NBA team in terms of basketball. But there’s basketball at every single level, and the youth basketball is something that I’ve really taken to, watching both my sons grow and develop, and love the game. And also, giving an opportunity for many kids who deserve the best coaching and development in the world because they have a bright future in the game.
As far as Buss Sports Capital goes, that’s something that Joey and I created, and we were fortunate enough to do so in order to look into other sports interests not just exclusive to basketball. We’ve already had many conversations with multiple teams from multiple leagues about potentially looking into things we could get into.
Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss announce the launching of their sports investment and strategic partnership company, Buss Sports Capital. Their roles with the Lakers remain unchanged. Press release here… pic.twitter.com/QU816eR17L
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) September 24, 2025
Today, you didn’t speak to your sister Jeanie or GM Rob Pelinka? Did they give you an explanation today?
No, I haven’t spoken to either of them in … five months.
Do you remember why?
Yeah. Jeanie informed me that there would be a vote on the sale of the team. And with Rob, he just informed me of who we would be drafting, which is pretty consistent with how it’s gone in the last couple years.
Do you think the sports capital group you started with Joey furthered any rifts with Jeanie?
I couldn’t answer that question. I think that’s something you’d have to ask Jeanie.
But it was meant, in no shape or form, to be a threat to her or any of my siblings. It’s just something that Joey and I wanted a partner on. And obviously, Joey and I, we’re best friends. Whatever he’s involved in, I want to be involved in, and whatever I’m involved in, he wants to be involved in. So it’s only natural that we continue working together in multiple different capacities, just like my dad would’ve wanted us to do.
You wondered what your dad would make of all of this. When you talked to him about his sort of vision for you and Joey with the organization, what was it?
It was to run the basketball operations department one day, and that was something that was discussed over 15 years ago. And what he had told me at the time was that he wanted Jimmy to retire at some point within the next five to seven years, so this was about 2010, and he started to slowly incorporate Joey and I into the day-to-day operations. And eventually, I think the plan was (that) Jeanie was gonna run the business side and Joey and I were gonna help run the basketball operations department.
Did you ever feel like it was close to seeing that vision fulfilled?
No, but at times, I think my involvement with the organization came in waves. Obviously, I think we were able to specialize in the later parts of the draft, and that was kind of like my niche within the organization, being able to give a large amount of input on who we selected with those picks. And I think at times, I was consulted on various free agent moves or potential trades that we were considering.
But oftentimes within the organization, it kind of felt like I was being treated like I was working against them. And, I guess you could say, like an enemy. But the only thing I ever wanted was the most success for this team. The credit, or whoever was involved with those decisions, it didn’t really matter as long as it was the best possible thing for the Lakers.
Since your dad purchased the team, it’s always been a family business. That’s had both positive and negative connotations. What do you think the Lakers organization will look like as it moves forward as not a family business?
I think Mark Walter has had a ton of success, obviously, in the sports landscape, and being able to see what he’s done with the Dodgers has been simply amazing. I think the Lakers are in great hands, honestly. Now, I think the team, as currently constructed, obviously it looks like that they could definitely make some noise this season. And it’s been an absolute thrill to watch them. I think JJ (Redick) is an absolutely fantastic coach and I think he’s proven that over the last year and some change.
And I hope going forward that Mark can kind of bring a lot of what he brought to the Dodgers. Because I think if the vision, more or less, is the same from what I’ve seen over the last 10 years, then it necessarily isn’t always going to lead to the success that Laker fans have become accustomed to when my dad ran the operations and owned the team.
Do you think there’s a way in which the Buss family can still maintain an active role in the Lakers moving forward? Can any of these bridges be rebuilt?
I wish them the best and at the end of the day. I love them because they’re my siblings, and I’m not exactly sure what went wrong along the way. I think that’s a question you’d have to ask them all individually. But at any point, if they need me for anything, any one of my siblings, I’m going to be there to support them.
