Buss Brothers Fired From Lakers’ Front Office Duties

The Los Angeles Lakers fired team executives Joey and Jesse Buss with immediate effect, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Joey Buss worked as an alternate governor and vice president of research and development. Jesse Buss’ position was assistant general manager. The brothers both worked with the Lakers organization throughout the past decade.

“We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons,” the brothers said to ESPN. “Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way. We wish things could be different with the way our time ended with the team. At times like this, we wish we could ask our Dad what he would think about it all.”

Jesse and Joey’s firings came a month after the NBA Board of Governors approved Mark Walter‘s purchase of a majority stake in the franchise, valued at $10 billion. Walter is also the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships in the past six seasons.

Jesse and Joey’s father, Jerry Buss, bought the Lakers in 1979. During his reign as owner, the team won 10 NBA titles and featured talent such as Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. When Jerry died in 2013, his daughter Jeanie Buss took over and is currently the team’s primary team governor.

The firings also signal movement in the front office and scouting positions following the change in ownership.

The Lakers, who sit third in the Western Conference with an 11-4 record, visit the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

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Article by Jake Iovine