The feud between the Buss children remains a strong force – especially after brothers Jesse and Joey Buss were removed from their positions within the Los Angeles Lakers organization.
The Lakers were recently sold by the children of former team owner Dr. Jerry Buss to a new group led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter for $10billion back in June.
On Thursday, Joey and Jesse were fired from their scouting roles. However, it appears Jeanie Buss – who had been the team’s president for years – will remain with the team.
In an interview with The Athletic later that day, Jesse slammed his sister – revealing that he hadn’t spoken to her or Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka in ‘five months’.
‘Oftentimes within the organization, it kind of felt like I was being treated like I was working against them,’ Jesse said.
‘And, I guess you could say, like an enemy. But the only thing I ever wanted was the most success for this team.’
Brothers Joey (L) and Jesse (R) Buss have lost their jobs with the Lakers in a re-structuring
Meanwhile, longtime team president Jeanie Buss will keep a similar role after the team was purchased from her family by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter (R) earlier this year
Two months ago, the brothers launched their own investment firm, Sports Capital Group. Jesse maintained the venture ‘was meant, in no shape or form, to be a threat to her or any of my siblings’ and was only ‘something that Joey and I wanted to partner on.’
Asked if beginning the company ‘furthered any rifts’ with his sister, Jesse told the outlet, ‘I couldn’t answer that question. I think that’s something you’d have to ask Jeanie.’
While it’s common for a new ownership group to re-structure any company they purchase, Jesse said he felt ‘siloed quite a bit, dating back to before, I guess, the 2023 draft.’
He also told the outlet he’s been ‘dealing with quite a bit of health issues’ in that time: ‘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.’
As things progressed, Jesse felt ‘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,’ he said.
Jesse said that his late father’s wishes were to have his sons ‘run the basketball operations department’. However, he ultimately wants ‘what’s best for the Lakers’.
This year, the Lakers seem to be in a good spot amongst the NBA standings. Los Angeles is currently fourth – just three-and-a-half games back on the lead in the Western Conference.
