Los Angeles, November 21, 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially dismissed Joey and Jesse Buss from their executive and scouting roles as part of a major basketball operations restructure under new majority owner Mark Walter. This marks a turning point in the franchise’s leadership as the Buss family’s long-standing management influence diminishes, despite their retention of minority ownership stakes.
Joey Buss, who held positions including alternate governor, vice president of research and development, and president of the South Bay Lakers (the team’s G League affiliate), and Jesse Buss, the assistant general manager and director of scouting, were key figures in the Lakers’ player development and scouting for over a decade.
Both brothers played instrumental roles in identifying and developing notable talents such as Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., and Max Christie. Their contributions helped shape the team’s roster through informed scouting and innovative player development strategies.
The decision to remove Joey and Jesse Buss is the first significant organizational change since Mark Walter acquired majority ownership of the Lakers. The reorganization also resulted in the dismissal of much of the scouting department, signaling a comprehensive reshaping of the basketball operations.
Details surrounding the firings were initially confirmed internally without a broad public announcement, and the Lakers’ organization has refrained from making extensive comments beyond acknowledging the departures. This approach underscores a deliberate and controlled transition period as the franchise moves in a new direction.
Despite losing their front office roles, the Buss family maintains minority ownership stakes in the franchise under Walter’s leadership, marking a significant shift from nearly five decades of family-dominated control to a new era reflecting Walter’s strategic vision.
The sale of the Lakers to Mark Walter was completed with NBA approval in October 2025, valuing the team at an estimated $10 billion. This historic transaction ended the Buss family’s majority ownership, which had steered the franchise for decades.
The removal of the Buss brothers from day-to-day basketball operations highlights an effort by the new majority owner to overhaul the front office structure and build a team environment aligned with his approach. This move may foreshadow additional changes in leadership and organizational strategy as the Lakers aim to redefine their competitive trajectory.
With the reputable scouting network dismantled and key family executives dismissed, the Lakers are poised for a fresh chapter in both basketball operations and overall franchise management under Mark Walter’s control, potentially altering the longstanding management culture that has characterized the team since the 1970s.