Mark Walter's Lakers Shakeup: Joey & Jesse Buss Fired as Family Rift with Jeanie Explodes

The $10 Billion Sale and Immediate Fallout

Mark Walter, owner of the LA Dodgers, stepped into the NBA spotlight by acquiring a controlling interest in the Lakers for a record $10 billion just weeks ago. The sale marked the end of the Buss family's decades-long majority stewardship, with Jeanie Buss expected to continue in her governor role but under Walter's majority rule.

Shortly after the deal closed, Walter initiated an organizational overhaul, firing Joey and Jesse Buss from their front-office roles. Both brothers—instrumental in Lakers scouting and player development, credited for franchise-defining picks like Austin Reaves and Kyle Kuzma—will retain minority ownership but now stand outside of daily team operations.

Family Feud Comes to a Head

The firings were more than corporate restructuring; they emerged from simmering family tension. Jesse and Joey Buss, sons of Lakers legend Dr. Jerry Buss, have long been positioned as key architects of the franchise's basketball operations. However, as Jeanie Buss increasingly consolidated power and led the team's business side, the sibling relationship deteriorated.

Jesse, in a candid post-firing interview, revealed:

"No, I haven't spoken to [Jeanie] in five months... She informed me of the pending vote on the team's sale, and Rob [Pelinka] only updated me on our draft picks, which has been the pattern over the last couple of years."

On whether Jeanie played a role in the firing:

"She's fired everyone," Jesse told The Athletic, making it clear he believed his sister orchestrated the clean-out of family from Lakers leadership.

Joey echoed the pain of the split:

"Dr. Buss' idea was for Joey and me to run basketball operations one day. But Jeanie has effectively kept herself in place with her siblings fired."

Succession Drama: Loyalty, Betrayal, and Future Moves

The Buss brothers' statements have pulled back the curtain on a family drama that rivals HBO's "Succession." Jesse openly speculated that he and Joey's entrepreneurial efforts, like founding Buss Sports Capital, had contributed to the family divide—though he insisted,

"Our intentions were never to pose a threat to her or my siblings. Joey and I are best friends, and we naturally want to collaborate in various endeavors, just as our father would have wanted."

The shadow of Jerry Buss looms large. According to Jesse,

"He envisioned us eventually running the basketball operations department, a discussion we had over 15 years ago."

Mark Walter's Vision and the Road Ahead

NBA insiders say Walter's ownership means "majority of the decisions" now lie with him. Despite initial promises to value Jeanie's expertise, the move to axe Joey and Jesse signals a clear break from the Buss family's old guard, with most of the Lakers scouting department also let go.

While Jeanie Buss is expected to remain the face of the Lakers, her role is now conditioned on Walter's organizational direction and decision-making.

Legacy and Uncertainty

The Buss family retains a minority stake—about 15%—but with the front-office purge and sibling fallout, the golden era of family rule over the Lakers appears definitively ended. For fans, the shakeup raises new questions about the franchise's future culture, stability, and alignment under Mark Walter.

As Jesse succinctly summarized:

"Thanksgiving may be a frosty affair in the Buss household next Thursday. One thing is for sure: Jeanie remains at the head of the table."