For Dr. Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers were meant to be a lasting family legacy. Instead, that vision slowly fractured the Buss siblings behind the scenes. While the franchise grew into a global powerhouse, internal divisions deepened. Today, only Jeanie Buss remains in control as governor, even after the $10 billion sale to Mark Walter. An ESPN report by Baxter Holmes now sheds light on just how bitter that fallout became.

Notably, in 2019, years before the sale, Jeanie and stepbrother Jesse Buss were on a call. This was when the Lakers’ governor had learned about her father’s promise to her mother, JoAnn. Notably, Jerry Buss promised not to have children with another woman. However, he found love with Karen Demel and had Jesse and Joey Buss. It did hurt JoAnn, but she later supported Buss and his two sons.

The agenda wasn’t to discuss the past on that call. That’s what made the words that came out of Jeanie Buss’ mouth all the more shocking. “You should’ve never been born,” she told Jesse, according to Holmes’ report.

Whoever got a whiff of the conversation had the same thoughts. “It’s mind-blowing that she would say that,” one member from the team told ESPN.

There was some divide between the two half-brothers and the Buss siblings. But Jesse and Joey didn’t choose their circumstances, nor did any of the other Buss siblings. It’s unimaginable to think that a sister would say something as such to her half-brother.

The report states that Jeanie Buss could have learned about the news shortly before her explosive remarks. Notably, Lee Klose, who was Jerry Buss and JoAnn’s first child, reached out to her explaining the situation. She discussed the same with her mother while she spent time with her at the hospital. Younger sister Janie confirmed the truth in the promise made between their mother and Jerry Buss.

Someone close to the family believes, “That was the beginning of the end.” The sale process showed some of those aftereffects.

Jesse, Joey didn’t want to sell the Lakers

In October, Mark Walter brought the Lakers. He paid a historic $10 billion to shift the Lakers’ management into new hands not named Buss. Jeanie Buss, the controlling governor, was excited about the decision. But it wasn’t a unanimous call.

Notably, Joey and Jesse both had voted against the sale to Walter.

Shortly after agreeing to terms, they were let go by the Lakers. Jesse Buss worked as an assistant general manager, and Joey Buss was the alternate governor. Their parting words to the Laker Nation had some disappointment. But more than that, they felt this wasn’t what their father would have wanted.

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“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,” they told ESPN.

All six siblings worked for the Lakers at one point. Sadly, the internal turmoil now sees only Jeanie Buss remain with the Lakers. What are your thoughts on the situation? Let us know your views in the comments below.