Rob Pelinka’s position as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers appears to be secure, even as the franchise heads toward a new era of ownership.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported during an appearance on Hoops Talk with Allen Sliwa that Pelinka is expected to remain in his role as long as Jeanie Buss continues to lead basketball operations.
“So long as Jeanie’s in place, we also know that means that Rob Pelinka will be in place,” McMenamin said, via Larry Brown Sports. “Because Jeanie’s the one who has elevated him every step of the way … I don’t anticipate, certainly not in the short-term, the way the Lakers operate changing dramatically whatsoever.”
Jeanie Buss has publicly supported Pelinka through multiple seasons of roster changes, coaching turnover, and inconsistent on-court results since the franchise’s 2020 championship.
Pelinka, who took over full-time basketball operations after Magic Johnson’s departure in 2019, has received criticism for several high-profile moves, including the 2021 acquisition of Russell Westbrook and recent struggles to build a consistent supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Despite postseason disappointments in recent years, Buss has remained committed to Pelinka, extending his contract through 2026.
In June 2025, it was reported that the Buss family had agreed to sell majority control of the Lakers to Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ majority owner, in a deal valuing the franchise at $10 billion.
As part of the agreement, Jeanie Buss will continue to operate the team for “a number of years,” and the Buss family will retain a 15% stake—meeting the NBA’s minimum threshold for a principal ownership group.
Walter’s group is expected to gradually assume control of strategic and financial operations, but basketball decision-making is likely to remain under Buss and Pelinka in the near term.
With LeBron James turning 41 this season and the Lakers coming off another early playoff exit, the team faces pressure to reshape its roster under Pelinka’s leadership.
