The bitter feud within the Buss family has reached a dramatic new chapter after brothers Jesse and Joey Buss were removed from their positions within the Los Angeles Lakers organisation, despite their sister Jeanie retaining power.
A Family Dynasty Fractured
The seismic shift comes just months after the children of former team owner Dr. Jerry Buss sold the legendary franchise to a new group led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. The staggering $10 billion sale was finalised in June, setting the stage for a significant organisational restructure.
On Thursday, the axe fell on Jesse and Joey Buss, who were fired from their scouting roles. This move stands in stark contrast to the fate of their sister, Jeanie Buss, who will remain as team president, a position she has held for years.
"Treated Like an Enemy": Jesse Buss Speaks Out
In a revealing interview with The Athletic, Jesse Buss did not hold back, expressing his profound disappointment and revealing a deep communication breakdown. He disclosed that he had not spoken to his sister Jeanie or Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka in five months.
"Oftentimes within the organisation, it kind of felt like I was being treated like I was working against them," Jesse stated. "And, I guess you could say, like an enemy. But the only thing I ever wanted was the most success for this team."
The brothers had recently launched their own venture, the Sports Capital Group, an investment firm. Jesse was quick to assert that this new business was not intended as a threat to his sister or siblings. He described it as "something that Joey and I wanted to partner on."
Health Issues and a Foregone Conclusion
Jesse described feeling "siloed quite a bit," a situation he believes began before the 2023 NBA draft. Compounding his professional struggles, he revealed he has been "dealing with quite a bit of health issues" during this turbulent period.
"I kind of noticed around the same time that things were different within our organisation, within the front office and just the basketball operations department," he explained. As the situation deteriorated, Jesse felt a profound "lack of communication" from both his sister and the organisation as a whole while he battled his health problems.
He saw the writing on the wall, admitting, "The sale of the team happening kind of more or less just solidified it in my mind." Despite the painful outcome, Jesse maintained that his late father's wish was for his sons to "run the basketball operations department," though he ultimately claims to want "what's best for the Lakers."
Ironically, the turmoil behind the scenes contrasts with the team's performance on the court. The Lakers are currently fourth in the Western Conference, sitting just three-and-a-half games back from the lead, suggesting the franchise remains in a strong competitive position despite the internal family conflict.
