Joey and Jesse Buss Choose the Padres Over the Lakers — Was LeBron Really That Valuable?
The Buss family and the Los Angeles Lakers are moving into a new era, but Joey and Jesse Buss are not simply walking away from professional sports.
Instead, the two former Lakers executives are taking their talents to Major League Baseball.
Joey and Jesse Buss announced Wednesday that Buss Sports Capital has joined the new San Diego Padres ownership group led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. The brothers will serve on the ownership group’s advisory board, where they are expected to contribute their experience in player development, roster construction and payroll management.
The Padres ownership group completed its purchase of the franchise at a reported $3.9 billion valuation, a record for an MLB team. Major League Baseball unanimously approved the ownership transfer earlier this month.
For Joey and Jesse Buss, it is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable and complicated transition away from the Lakers.
Joey and Jesse Buss Have Found a New Home in Baseball
The brothers spent roughly two decades working inside the Lakers organization.
Joey Buss most recently served as an alternate governor and vice president of research and development, while Jesse Buss worked as an assistant general manager and was heavily involved in scouting and player evaluation.
They were credited with playing important roles in the development and acquisition of young talent during their time with the organization. However, both were dismissed by the Lakers in November 2025 following the franchise’s change in ownership.
Now, the brothers created Buss Sports Capital, with the stated goal of pursuing investment opportunities across the global sports landscape.
Why MLB Instead of the Lakers?
This is the part of the story that really caught my attention.
The Buss family spent more than four decades connected to the Lakers. Jerry Buss purchased the franchise in 1979, and his family helped turn Los Angeles into one of the most recognizable sports brands in the world.
Joey and Jesse weren’t outsiders looking for their first opportunity in professional sports.
They were Buss family members who had spent years working inside the Lakers organization.
Yet when presented with an opportunity to continue building their future in professional sports, they chose baseball.
That makes me wonder:
Was LeBron James really that valuable to the Lakers?
LeBron’s impact on the Lakers was enormous, and he helped bring the franchise another championship, became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and remained one of the biggest names in sports throughout his time in Los Angeles.
But the Lakers aren’t suddenly without a superstar.
They have Luka Dončić.
The Lakers Still Have Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić is already one of the NBA’s biggest stars and is widely viewed as the centerpiece of the Lakers’ future following LeBron’s departure for Philadelphia.
The Lakers’ new ownership group, led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, is inheriting a franchise built around one of the most talented young superstars in basketball. The deal values the Lakers at a staggering $12.5 billion.
So when I look at Joey and Jesse Buss moving into Padres ownership rather than attempting to remain involved with the Lakers, I can’t help but wonder whether the brothers simply saw a better long-term opportunity elsewhere.
Maybe this isn’t about LeBron, but realizing that the Lakers are no longer the Buss family’s playground.
The End of the Buss Era in Los Angeles
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979.
His family helped oversee championship teams featuring Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Now the future belongs to a new ownership group.
And Joey and Jesse Buss appear to have decided that their future belongs somewhere else.
Why the Padres Could Be a Great Opportunity
The San Diego Padres have made the postseason four times in the past six seasons. The club also plays in Petco Park, one of the sport’s most prominent downtown ballparks.
That creates an intriguing environment for the Buss brothers.
They know professional sports, roster construction, and player development.
But that experience doesn’t necessarily translate perfectly from basketball to baseball.
Bigger Than LeBron?
The Lakers still have Luka Dončić. They still have one of the most valuable franchises in sports, and the team still plays in Los Angeles.
But the Buss family is leaving.
And two of Jerry Buss’ sons who spent years working for the Lakers are now investing their time and money into the San Diego Padres.
That tells me Joey and Jesse Buss are thinking beyond the Lakers.
Maybe, after spending much of their lives in the shadow of the Lakers, they finally want to build something that belongs to them.
Whatever the reason, Joey and Jesse Buss joining the Padres ownership group is one of the more fascinating developments in the sports business world right now.
And yes, I still can’t help asking the question:
Was LeBron really that valuable to the Lakers — or was the Buss family’s time in Los Angeles simply coming to an end?
Because with Luka Dončić still wearing purple and gold, the Lakers have a future.
Joey and Jesse Buss just apparently decided they wanted to build theirs somewhere else.
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