Joey Buss and Jesse Buss are no longer part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ management following the team’s recent change in ownership, as reported by a source familiar with the situation speaking to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity due to the Lakers not formally announcing the dismissals. The departure of the Buss brothers follows their father’s legacy, Jerry Buss, who passed away in 2013.

The bus brothers acknowledged their exit in a statement to ESPN, ensuring they would keep their minority ownership stakes under the new majority owner, Mark Walter.

Jesse had served as the assistant general manager, while Joey held the role of alternate governor and vice president of research and development. The brothers expressed gratitude for the support from Lakers fans over the two decades they were involved with the organization, stating, “We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons. 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.”

Jerry Buss’s family has a long history with the Lakers, with several of his children having worked for the team at different times. Jeanie Buss took over as the Lakers’ governor after their father’s death, while Jim Buss was the executive vice president of basketball operations until Jeanie removed him in 2017.

Mark Walter’s acquisition of the Lakers was finalized three weeks prior, coming from a sale initially announced in June that valued the franchise at $10 billion. Jeanie Buss is expected to maintain her governor position for now, despite the fact that Walter, who is also the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has become the primary stakeholder.

The Buss brothers had previously invested significant effort into the Lakers’ scouting and player development, earning recognition for their success in drafts and signing free agents. Sensing shifts on the horizon for the team, they established an investment firm named Buss Sports Capital in September.