A new insider report suggests Mark Walter, the Lakers’ new majority owner, is already exerting significant influence over the team’s front office, playing a central role in the sweeping organizational shakeup that shocked the NBA world. According to the report, Walter has moved swiftly since taking control, overseeing the termination of Joey and Jesse Buss along with large portions of the scouting department.
Insiders describe Walter’s early decisions as deliberate and strategic. Rather than maintaining the existing Buss-family structure, Walter is steering the organization toward a more modern and corporate model. The changes are not being viewed internally as simple consequences of an ownership change — they are part of an intentional restructuring plan.
One of the most striking revelations in the report comes from a respected league insider, who stated, “Nothing Jeanie does is without consultation of Mark Walter.”
This suggests that Jeanie Buss, who remains team governor, is now closely aligned with Walter and no longer operating with the independence she previously held. Walter’s influence appears to extend into virtually every major basketball and business decision within the franchise.
The dismissal of Joey and Jesse Buss is particularly symbolic. Joey, who served as alternate governor and led the Lakers’ G League operations, and Jesse, the team’s influential assistant GM and director of scouting, were integral parts of the Lakers’ basketball identity. Their exit marks a clear turning point for the organization and represents a shift away from the Buss family’s historical control.
Overall, the developments suggest that Walter is not merely a passive owner — he is actively reshaping the Lakers according to his vision. With the front office now realigned under his leadership, the franchise appears to be entering a new era of structure, authority, and direction, one defined not by legacy but by Walter’s evolving blueprint for long-term success.
