Jeanie Fires All Family Members! Inside Story of Massive Changes in Lakers' Front Office: The Buss Brothers Reveal the Firing Details

On November 21st, Beijing time, league sources confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers have dismissed executives Joey Buss, Jesse Buss, along with several members of the scouting department.

The Buss brothers remarked: "For the last 20 seasons, we've been fortunate to be part of this team, which we truly cherish. We appreciate Lakers Nation's unwavering acceptance of our family and their continuous support. We had hoped to part ways with the team in a different manner. At this moment, we really wish we could ask our father how he would view all of this."

The exact reasons behind the firings remain unclear, but Jesse Buss told The Athletic in an interview that he was not surprised by the decision. He also revealed long-standing disagreements with key stakeholders in the team—his sister (the longtime team owner Jeanie Buss) and basketball operations president Pelinka—stating that this divide had lasted for quite some time.“She fired all the family members,” Jesse Buss said when discussing Jeanie Buss’s relationship with other family members who worked for the team.

There had been public signs earlier that the Buss brothers were preparing for life after the Lakers. In September of this year, they announced the joint founding of a sports investment and strategic partnership company.

As a core figure in the Lakers’ draft strategy, Jesse Buss revealed that even before the team was sold to Mark Walter in 2025 (a deal approved by the NBA board last month, valuing the family at a record $10 billion), he had already sensed growing divisions.

According to insiders, as part of the deal, Jeanie Buss secured her position as the team’s operating executive for at least five years through negotiations. “I started feeling isolated around the 2023 draft,” Jesse Buss said in a phone interview. “At first, I didn’t pay much attention, but over time, not only did communication between my sister and me decrease, but overall internal communication within the team also diminished — during that period, I was also battling various health issues.” He added, “I had a bad feeling about it back then.”

Jesse Buss has been dealing with an undisclosed illness over the past few years and is currently undergoing immunotherapy.

“The sale of the team more or less confirmed this for me,” Jesse Buss continued. “So I was mentally prepared. Obviously, this was a job I loved for a long time. I love this team, the fans here, and the city of Los Angeles. It’s almost everything I’ve ever known.”

For over a decade, Joey Buss and Jesse Buss have been central figures in the Lakers’ scouting and player development departments, helping the team discover and nurture key role players such as Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., and Max Christie.Joey previously served as the team’s vice president and vice president of research and development, while Jesse was the head of scouting, playing a leading role in the team’s draft strategy.

In this season’s team media guide, Joey’s title was listed as vice president of research and development, and Jesse’s as assistant general manager and head of scouting.

The Lakers have started this season strongly, achieving an 11-4 record and tying for third place in the Western Conference, marking their best start since the 2020-21 season.

“I don’t see this as bittersweet because, first and foremost, I am a Lakers fan,” Jesse Buss said. “Even if I’m no longer affiliated with the team in any capacity, I will always cheer for this team. Clearly, I will also support players Joey and I helped bring in, like Austin and Rui (Hachimura).”

Both Joey and Jesse have spent their careers within the Lakers organization: Joey served as president and CEO of the team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, while Jesse has long been head of scouting and is regarded as one of the team’s core experts in player evaluation.