The Buss family drama is back in the spotlight - and this time, it’s not about basketball strategy or front office decisions. It’s about trust, money, and a family legacy that’s starting to show some serious cracks.
A recent deep-dive into the inner workings of the Lakers’ ownership has revealed a rift among the Buss siblings, centered around the recent sale of a minority stake in the franchise to billionaire investor Mark Walter. At the heart of the issue: who knew what, and when did they know it?
According to the report, several of Jeanie Buss’ siblings - namely Joey, Jesse, and Janie - are questioning whether Jeanie, the controlling owner of the Lakers, was fully transparent in the lead-up to the sale. Their concern? That key figures in Jeanie’s inner circle, including longtime family confidants Kurt and Linda Rambis, as well as Lakers executives Joe McCormack (CFO), Dan Grigsby (chief legal counsel), and Tim Harris (president of business operations), were set to receive significant bonuses as part of the deal.
And we’re not talking about small checks here. Each of the four - Linda Rambis, McCormack, Grigsby, and Harris - were reportedly in line for $24 million payouts. Kurt Rambis was slated for $8 million.
Here’s where things take a turn from eyebrow-raising to downright surreal: the bonus amounts were allegedly symbolic tributes to Kobe Bryant, who famously wore jersey numbers 8 and 24 during his legendary Lakers career. That’s right - $24 million for four people, $8 million for Kurt. A nod to the Black Mamba.
Now, whether that gesture comes off as heartfelt or ham-fisted is up for debate. But for the Buss siblings, the symbolism didn’t soften the blow. It only deepened the sense that this deal - and the financial windfalls tied to it - was orchestrated behind closed doors.
Janie Buss, who has been vocal about her concerns, told ESPN that when she learned of the sale, she asked for specifics. Who was getting bonuses?
How much? She says she never got answers.
“I just want the truth,” she said. “I’m not saying they don’t deserve it.
What it comes down to is the negotiation should have involved all of us. Instead, the deals were made behind closed doors and then presented to all of us.”
That’s a powerful quote - and it speaks to a larger issue than just money. It’s about transparency, inclusion, and the erosion of trust within one of the most famous ownership families in sports.
The report also paints a picture of Joey and Jesse Buss being blindsided by their recent removal from Lakers executive roles. Janie and Johnny, the other siblings, were reportedly just as out of the loop. While each sibling still received a nine-figure payout from the sale, the way things unfolded has clearly left scars.
The Buss family has always been a unique part of the Lakers’ mystique - a blend of legacy, loyalty, and Hollywood-style drama. But this latest chapter feels different.
It’s not just about differing visions for the franchise’s future. It’s about fractured relationships and a growing sense that the family unity Dr.
Jerry Buss once prized may be slipping away.
And through it all, one thing’s clear: the Rambis circle came out of this just fine.