Recent changes in the ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers have left some of its former proprietors seeking new sporting ventures. Joey and Jesse Buss, children of the late Jerry Buss, are now stepping into Major League Baseball as they acquire a stake in the San Diego Padres. This surprising move, reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN, sees them purchasing around 5% of the Padres through their firm, Buss Sports Capital.
Their investment comes alongside the new majority stakeholders, Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano. This news follows the Buss family’s previous decision to sell its majority interest in the Lakers to Dodgers owner Mark Walter. Subsequently, Walter sold the team to former Disney CEO Robert Iger and Josh Kushner, related to the former U.S. President’s family.
While the Los Angeles connection might have suggested a tie with the Dodgers, Joey Buss explained their affinity for the Padres in a statement. He shared, “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.” He emphasized the role sports play in community building and the unique fan base the Padres have cultivated.
Jesse Buss highlighted their intention to apply strategies learned from their tenure with the Lakers to the Padres. “Joey and I had the privilege of learning from our father and then spending nearly two decades building our own careers in professional basketball operations,” he noted. They aim to leverage their experience in talent evaluation, roster construction, and long-term planning to benefit the Padres.
This new chapter begins with the Padres closely trailing Walter’s Dodgers in the National League West standings, setting the stage for an interesting rivalry.