In recent years, the ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers has seen several changes. Joey and Jesse Buss, children of Jerry Buss, have announced their entry into another major league sport. They are investing in a Major League Baseball team, which might surprise some fans.
Instead of the Dodgers, the Busses are acquiring a stake in the San Diego Padres. According to Dave McMenamin from ESPN, they are purchasing about 5% through their investment firm, Buss Sports Capital. This follows Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano’s group taking a major stake in the Padres.
Previously, the Buss family sold its majority stake in the Lakers to Mark Walter, who then sold the team to former Disney CEO Robert Iger and Josh Kushner. Given these connections, an investment in the Dodgers might have seemed more likely, but Joey Buss explained their long-standing affection for the Padres.
“We are honored to join Kwanza and José and have the opportunity to contribute to the future of a team that Jesse and I have loved since we were kids growing up in San Diego,” Joey stated. “Sports have been key to our family’s story, and great teams bring people together, cultivating lasting communities. Padres fans have built one of the most passionate followings, and we see a great chance to enhance this connection globally.”
The Busses aim to apply their Lakers experience to improve the Padres. “Joey and I learned from our father and spent nearly two decades building our careers in basketball operations,” Jesse Buss commented. “We understand what it takes to create a championship team and have applied those lessons to talent evaluation and long-term planning. Despite the differences in sports, we believe the principles of success are universal.”
Now, with this investment, the Busses are set to bring their unique perspective to the Padres, a team presently trailing the Dodgers in the National League West standings.
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