The family that turned the Los Angeles Lakers into one of the world’s biggest sporting empires is considering investing in ASVEL. Who are Joey and Jesse Buss, and what is behind their interest in Tony Parker’s club?
Within just a few weeks, ASVEL went from dreaming of a record-breaking budget to being forced to significantly reduce its financial plans. The original €59 million project failed to secure the required guarantees, forcing the French club to present the country’s financial watchdog with a backup budget of approximately €24 million.
The development triggered the departure of several important players, including Sylvain Francisco, and created considerable uncertainty around the direction of the organisation.
Against this backdrop, the name of the Buss family has once again emerged. More specifically, Joey and Jesse Buss, two sons of the late Jerry Buss, have shown interest in acquiring a stake in ASVEL through their investment company, Buss Sports Capital.
No final agreement has been reached yet, but their interest is viewed as one of the potential solutions that could provide Tony Parker’s club with the financial support it desperately needs. Buss Sports Capital has been among the groups exploring an investment in the French organisation.
The family that built the modern Lakers
The Buss family’s history in the NBA began in 1979, when Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, the Forum and several other assets for $67.5 million.
Under his ownership, the Lakers became much more than a successful basketball team. Buss transformed them into a global sports and entertainment brand, successfully connecting basketball with Hollywood and laying the foundations for the iconic “Showtime” era.
During his 33 years as owner, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals 16 times and won ten championships, with legendary figures such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant leading the franchise through different periods of dominance.
Buss understood earlier than most that professional basketball was not only about winning games. It was also about entertainment, star power and building a brand capable of reaching audiences far beyond the court. That philosophy helped turn the Lakers into one of the most recognisable organisations in world sport.
Following Jerry Buss’ death in 2013, ownership of the franchise passed to his six children, with Jeanie Buss gradually assuming control of the organisation.
The family remained in charge until the controlling stake was sold to Mark Walter in a historic deal that valued the Lakers at approximately $10 billion. Members of the Buss family retained minority ownership shares, but the transaction effectively ended their 46-year control of the franchise.
Who are Joey and Jesse Buss?
Joey and Jesse are Jerry Buss’ two youngest sons and spent approximately two decades working within the Lakers organisation.
Joey Buss served as the Lakers’ vice president of research and development, while also holding the positions of president and CEO of the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s G League affiliate. His work focused heavily on player development and strengthening the connection between the two teams.
Jesse Buss, meanwhile, served as assistant general manager and director of scouting. He was considered one of the key figures behind the Lakers’ Draft strategy and their ability to identify valuable players without necessarily possessing high picks.
During that period, the organisation drafted or developed players such as Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac and Max Christie, while also discovering undrafted talents including Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso.
Following the Lakers’ change of ownership, the two brothers left their executive roles and launched Buss Sports Capital, an investment firm created to identify acquisitions and partnerships across the global sports industry.
Their ambition is not simply to invest money in established clubs. Joey and Jesse Buss want to build a new sporting portfolio and continue the legacy started by their father, using the experience and knowledge they acquired during their years with the Lakers.
Why are they interested in ASVEL?
The potential investment in ASVEL is not solely related to the EuroLeague. Joey and Jesse Buss are reportedly pursuing ownership opportunities connected to the planned NBA Europe competition and have already examined possibilities in markets including London, Manchester and Lyon.
Tony Parker’s club could provide them with an attractive route into European basketball. ASVEL operates in a major European market, plays its home games in a modern arena, competes in the EuroLeague and is controlled by a former NBA superstar with powerful connections on both sides of the Atlantic.
For the Buss brothers, ASVEL could become the foundation of a long-term European project and possibly a future entry point into NBA Europe. For Tony Parker, meanwhile, the involvement of a family that controlled the Lakers for 46 years could bring much-needed capital, basketball expertise and international influence.
The investment has not yet been completed and cannot be presented as a certainty. However, if negotiations eventually lead to an agreement, ASVEL will not simply be adding two new investors.
It will be bringing in two men who grew up inside one of the largest and most successful sporting organisations in the world—and who are now looking to build their own basketball legacy in Europe.
