A contested ownership shift
The proposed transaction would see Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger acquire the Los Angeles Lakers’ remaining 17.8 percent minority stake from the Buss family, a move valued at roughly $12.5 billion and contingent on approval by the NBA’s board of governors.
Jeanie Buss, who currently serves as governor of the franchise, has publicly rejected the sale, asserting that the vote by her siblings to approve it contravenes longstanding trustee agreements and would automatically remove her from the governorship, a position that requires at least a 15 percent ownership interest.
The dispute traces its roots to the death of Jerry Buss in 2013, whose vision of a family‑controlled basketball empire has since been eroded by internal disagreements over the team’s future direction.
Mark Walter, who previously purchased a controlling interest for $10 billion, abruptly transferred that stake to Kushner and Iger, a shift that would elevate the new owners to roughly 65 percent ownership while reducing Jeanie Buss’s share to under 15 percent.
Beyond the financial calculus, the conflict has manifested in legal filings and personnel decisions, including the 2017 dismissal of a senior basketball operations executive and subsequent lawsuits that allege breaches of fiduciary duty.
Legacy and broader implications
The Lakers’ storied history, marked by championships during the eras of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, adds a cultural dimension to the dispute, as fans and alumni watch closely for signs that the team’s competitive trajectory might be altered by new ownership.
What comes next
While the sale remains pending, the Buss family’s legal challenge underscores the importance of clear governance frameworks in professional sports, and the outcome could set a precedent for how minority stakes are transferred within NBA ownership groups.