The battle of the Busses over the future of their stake in the Los Angeles Lakers is officially becoming a legal matter. Again.
Jeanie Buss has petitioned a Los Angeles Superior Court to block her five siblings from selling the family's remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers, which she claims to be a scheme to remove her from her role as team governor, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Melody Gutierrez.
A court hearing is reportedly scheduled for Nov. 5.
The five other siblings — Johnny, Jim, Janie, Joey and Jesse — announced their intention to sell days after majority owner Mark Walter, who bought the lion's share of the team from the Busses last year, was reported to be selling his stake in the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, at a record valuation of $12.5 billion.
The five siblings reportedly voted to invoke a "tag-along" clause to sell their stake to Kushner and Iger, prompting a response from Jeanie's lawyer declaring any vote to sell as "void."

#stake #angeles

Sam Amick: Per sources, Jeanie Buss contends that the Buss family meeting which was called for ahead of the Iger-Kushner sale was re: the "last man standing" issue with the family Trust. This is Jeanie's attorney, Adam Streisand, detailing those "ongoing discussions" during an Aug. 19 virtual meeting between the attorneys. nytimes.com/athletic/75360 TheAthletic MelodyGutierrez
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Per sources, Jeanie Buss contends that the Buss family …

#sources #meeting #kushner

With five of the six Buss siblings looking to sell their 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger just 10 months after selling their majority stake to Mark Walter, it is unknown exactly who will be in charge of the storied franchise.
Jeanie Buss, who is the team's governor, is the one Buss sibling opposed to selling that minority share. If the Buss family sells its portion, she will lose her position as governor. Earlier this month, Walter agreed to sell his majority share to Kushner and Iger, and that sale is expected to become official within several weeks.
According to a report by Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to step in and help find some sort of solution to the Lakers' ownership saga.
"The Lakers' situation isn't as clear cut, with sources believing Commissioner Adam Silver -- who has always been close with Jeanie Buss -- will try to help smooth over the Buss family chaos."
If Silver does step in, it is unclear what that would entail. There have been other NBA franchises sold in recent months, and the new owners of those teams haven't necessarily been better than the previous owners. For example, Thomas Dundon, who bought the Portland Trail Blazers last year, has taken very aggressive measures to cut costs, while the Celtics traded away five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown earlier this summer under the new ownership regime of William Chisholm and Aditya Mittal.

#silver #iger

Right now, it isn't clear whether Josh Kushner and Bob Iger will end up buying only Mark Walter's majority share of the Lakers, or if they will also purchase the minority share the Buss family continues to currently own. Walter, who bought his majority stake last year from the Buss family, agreed to sell it to Kushner and Iger last week, and five of the six Buss siblings, except for Jeanie Buss, voted to sell their 17.8% stake to Kushner and Iger on Monday.
In Walter's brief time as the team's majority owner, the Lakers have started to build out their business and basketball operations and move past being operated in a manner akin to a mom-and-pop store. But that process isn't complete, and NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said on "The Hoop Collective" podcast that the franchise is now in a "hiring freeze."
"The crazy thing here is that the Lakers were in the middle of this makeover for their team," said Windhorst. "… I know of one guy who was a front office guy who was in the middle of leaving one team to go to the Lakers, and now all of a sudden they're in a hiring freeze."
In recent months, the Lakers brought in former NCAA ****** le-winning coach Tony Bennett to be a draft advisor and Rohan Ramadas to be an ****** istant general manager in charge of ****** ytics and handling the salary cap, among others.
General manager Rob Pelinka said a few months ago that the team intended to hire two ****** istant general managers, but it hasn't brought on board that second ****** istant GM yet.

#iger #windhorst

Mark Walter has agreed to sell his majority ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers just a little more than one year after buying it, a fascinating development with several side stories likely to continue unfolding over the coming months.
The deal will also — maybe — end the Buss family's 47-year run as stewards of the franchise. At least that's what five of the six Buss siblings are hoping for. They've voted to sell their roughly 18 percent share in the team. Since the lone holdout is Jeanie Buss, the most powerful of the bunch, the five-against-one showdown kind of feels like a coin flip. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, the feds continue to dig into Walter's sprawling business empire from multiple angles. You can read all about that here, and about some of Walter's countermoves here.
We'll touch on the saga a little bit in this week's quiz, with a whole lot more along the way. So enjoy, and make sure you try out our Connections: Sports Edition game, too!
Mark Walter agrees to sell Lakers one year after buying the franchise

#walter #little

The Los Angeles Lakers sale to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner will continue, but Jeanie Buss is considering all options to prevent her family from selling their remaining share.
The Buss family still owns 17.8% of the Lakers, but Jeanie's five siblings are trying to sell their remaining ownership stake to the Iger and Kushner-led ownership group.
Jeanie is trying to block the sale of the family stake to retain her powers as the team's Governor, but is also exploring an alternative measure which could safeguard her position for the rest of her life.
The Athletic is reporting that Jeanie would be open to exploring a scenario where she is the one who purchases the family's shares instead of them selling it to Iger and Kushner.
"Jeanie, meanwhile, clearly has no intention of selling her shares before the rest of her governorship is up. Could there be a way for the rest of the siblings to sell and Jeanie to remain as governor?… Per a league source, Jeanie would be open to exploring that scenario."

#iger #selling

The NBA world is watching as Jeanie Buss tries to stop the Buss family stake in the Los Angeles Lakers from being sold. As per their latest statement, her other siblings are intent on selling, though.
The Los Angeles Lakers are always in the headlines, but the current situation is tumultuous even for them. With Mark Walter selling his majority stake in the franchise, it seems the Buss family are also on their way out.
A report from Shams Charania on Monday suggested that the Buss siblings had agreed to sell their remaining 17.8 percent share to the new owners. However, Jeanie Buss' lawyer immediately made it clear she was trying to stop it.
Jeanie and her siblings have had many issues over the years. And as she has seemingly publicly made her stance clear, so too have her siblings now doubled down on theirs.
Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

#jeanie #siblings

The Los Angeles Lakers have certainly been going through lots of changes over the past year and a half or so. After they traded for new franchise player Luka Doncic in early February of 2025, the Buss family, which had owned the team since 1979, agreed to sell a majority share of it to Mark Walter, and that sale became official in October.
Last week, Walter agreed to sell that share to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. The Buss family currently owns a 17.8% share of the Lakers, but on Monday, five of its members voted to sell that remaining stake to Kushner and Iger.
The one dissenter in the Buss family when it comes to selling that remaining stake is Jeanie Buss, the team's governor. According to an ESPN report, her five siblings feel she showed too much haste in making that initial sale to Walter last year.
"Last June, the Buss family made the decision to sell to Mark Walter at a valuation of $10 billion, a then-record for a U.S. professional sports franchise. Multiple Buss siblings, however, felt frustrated at Jeanie and misled by her over what they believe was a rushed sale, sources close to the process told ESPN. Those siblings felt pressured to vote 'yes.'"
Dr. Buss, the late father of the Buss siblings, first purchased the team in 1979, and it won 10 NBA championships before he died in 2013. The younger Buss became its controlling owner following his passing.

#sell

On Monday came the stunning news that five of the six Buss family siblings had voted to sell their remaining share of the Los Angeles Lakers that they hadn't sold to Mark Walter last year. They agreed to sell that remaining stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who had already agreed to purchase Walter's majority share last week.
The lone dissenter among the Buss siblings is Jeanie Buss, the governor of the team. The other five issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating their decision to sell, per ESPN.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives," the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
It was Dr. Jerry Buss, the late father of the six Buss siblings, who first purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. In the 34 years he owned the team, it won 10 NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals 16 times, transforming it from a bridesmaid franchise into the gold standard of basketball.

#remaining #decision #tuesday

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Five of the six children of former Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss still intend to sell their remaining minority ownership of the NBA team despite the opposition of their sister, Jeanie.
Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss reiterated their stance Tuesday in a statement issued to ESPN, saying they "remain united in that decision. ... We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
The five Buss siblings said Monday they had voted to sell the family trust's remaining 17.8% stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who are acquiring majority ownership from Mark Walter.
Jeanie Buss announced her intention to fight back against the plan later Monday through a letter from her attorney, Adam Streisand. Jeanie Buss claims the siblings can't sell the trust's ownership shares without her approval.
If the five siblings are able to sell their remaining ownership, Jeanie Buss would no longer be able to serve as the Lakers' governor, a position she is scheduled to hold until at least 2030 under the deal struck with Walter last year when he purchased majority control of the team at a valuation of $10 billion.

#five

Every so often, the six children of Jerry Buss that make up the family trust have a public dispute over the Los Angeles Lakers that reminds us how little they see eye-to-eye when it comes to their father's vision for the team he bought in 1979.
The latest instance came Monday when ESPN's Shams Charania reported the Buss siblings agreed to sell their remaining 17.8 percent stake in the Lakers as part of Mark Walters' sale to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, effectively removing Jeanie Buss as governor of the team... only for an attorney for Jeanie to write a letter contesting the sell.
"This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious 'information' to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss's chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father's wishes," the letter read.
In essence, a year after the Buss' sold their majority stake to Walter -- a process many of the siblings were frustrated by and one that allowed Jeanie to remain governor through 2030 -- the siblings have now voted to sell their remaining stake without the blessing of Jeanie. Thus, we're headed for another public family feud.
And can they please spare us this time? I would love nothing more than if the Buss' could settle their differences privately for once.

#jeanie #siblings #public

Following Mark Walter's sale of a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, the Buss family reportedly agreed to sell their minority stake as well. However, Jeanie Buss isn't having any of it.
Jeanie Buss has been Governor of the Los Angeles Lakers since 2013, following the passing of her father, Jerry Buss. In 2025, the Buss family sold their controlling share in the Lakers to Mark Walter.
Just a year on, things have changed drastically. Walter has sold his majority share in the franchise to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner at a $12.5 billion valuation.
And on Monday, Shams Charania reported that the Buss siblings were selling their remaining 17.8 percent minority stake to the new owners too. However, Jeanie is not willing to let this happen.
Photo by Julian Hamilton/WireImage

#mark #however #walter

On Monday, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who agreed to purchase the majority share of the Los Angeles Lakers that Mark Walter bought last October, became set to also purchase the share of the team that the Buss family still owns.
The family voted to sell its stake in the franchise to Kushner and Iger, but that transaction has hit a snag because Jeanie Buss, the governor of the Lakers, is contesting that vote, according to ESPN.
"Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is contesting her siblings' vote to sell the family's remaining 17.8% share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer obtained by ESPN," wrote Ramona Shelburne.
"ESPN's Shams Charania reported earlier Monday that the Buss family voted to sell their remaining shares to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at the same $12.5 billion valuation that Mark Walter agreed to last week. They believe they have the right to sell based on a tag-along provision that had been included in the previous sale to Walter in June 2025. Sources told ESPN that provision gave the family rights to tag along on any sale and valuation Walter secured for his shares."
Per the original transaction involving Walter, Kushner and Iger, Buss was set to remain the Lakers' governor through 2030. But if the Buss family is to sell its stake, she would no longer hold that role.

#buss #iger #sell

Despite reports that the Buss family has voted to divest itself of its remaining ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, team governor Jeanie Buss claims she's not going anywhere.
Ramishah Maruf and Matt Egan of CNN report that Buss's attorneys have contacted her siblings — Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse — in the aftermath of that ESPN report.
Apr 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and husband Jay Mohr attend the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
"On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake," read the letter from attorney Adam Streisand.
Streisand also reportedly told CNN that the sale was "falsely reported" by ESPN and that "this is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious 'information.'"

#buss #espn #imagn

When the family met to discuss it Tuesday, no mention was made of Walter's impending sale to Kushner and Iger. One family source told ESPN that meeting "spooked" everyone and prompted new calls among the five siblings to sell the remaining family shares. Multiple family sources told ESPN a previous vote several months ago had been taken and only three siblings had then voted to sell. This time, after Walter's sale, two more siblings joined in the vote to sell, with Jeanie Buss abstaining from the vote, sources told ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Buss family meeting left everyone 'spooked', prompted new push to sell remaining shares

#family #vote #meeting #spooked

Jeanie Buss was the lone sibling who did not vote to sell the team Monday, and multiple sources told ESPN that she did not even respond to the family vote on whether to sell the team.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jeanie Buss was the lone sibling who did not vote to …

#jeanie

Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is contesting her family's plans to sell sell its remaining shares in the NBA team to new majority owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger.
In a letter obtained by USA TODAY Sports and first reported by CNBC, Buss' attorney Adam F. Streisand refuted an earlier report from ESPN that all six siblings – Jim, Johnny, Janie, Jeanie, Joey and Jesse – had voted to sell their 17.8% ownership stake and that Jeanie was effectively out as team governor. He ****** erted that any such vote "would be and is void ab initio," or completely null and void from the moment it was made.
Streisand maintained that Jeanie Buss remains the controlling owner of the Buss family's stakes, citing a 2017 court order – also obtained by USA TODAY Sports – that established the co-trustees of the JAB Trust must "take all actions reasonably available to them" to ensure Jeanie Buss is elected controlling owner every year for the remainer of her lifetime. Selling their shares below the required 15% for Jeanie Buss to serve as the face of ownership would, Streisand says in the letter, violate the order.
LAKERS: Buss family intends to sell remaining stake despite Jeanie Buss' opposition
Jeanie Buss attorney letter by schristie

#buss #letter

An attorney for Jeanie Buss says she will fight her siblings' plan to sell their 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to former Disney chief executive Bob Iger's new majority ownership group, according to multiple media reports on Monday.
The tale began with reports from The Athletic, ESPN, USA Today and Los Angeles outlets citing a Buss family statement after Iger and Joshua Kushner paid a record $12.5 billion for the team last week from prior majority owner Mark Walter.
"We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction," the family statement said.
"We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can."
But that was not the end of the story as a lawyer for Jeanie Buss, a co-trustee in the family trust that holds the Lakers interest, wrote a letter to her siblings that was obtained by CNBC and ESPN.

#family #jeanie #trust #siblings

Despite the Lakers being sold twice in the last year, the franchise cannot escape Buss family drama.
Not long after ESPN reported Monday that the Buss family will sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers to incoming majority owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, CNBC published a letter from Jeanie Buss's lawyer arguing her siblings don't have the right to compel the family to exit.
Jeanie Buss has remained team governor since her family sold a majority stake to Mark Walter last year at a then-record $10 billion valuation. But according to ESPN, the Buss Family Trust decided "as a family" to sell its remaining shares, a move that would mean Jeanie Buss no longer holds the requisite-size stake to stay on as team governor (under NBA rules, the governor must own at least 15% of a franchise).
ESPN reported "at least" five of the six Buss siblings voted to exercise what are known as "tag-along" rights, which are meant to protect minority investors by allowing them to sell their interest in a franchise when control changes hands. At least four votes in favor were required, ESPN said.
"We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can," ESPN quoted the "Buss family" as saying.

#buss #family #espn #Lakers

Well, it didn't figure that a $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers would go off without a hitch. However, the problem doesn't stem from the megabucks portion of the business move.
On Monday it was revealed the Buss family was going to sell its 17.8% of the team, too, to Bob Iger and Jared Kushner. The reports said four of the six Busses had to approve it and that seemed to be the way to push Jeanie Buss out of her position of ownership and the team's governor.
Not so fast, says the longtime NBA exec.
"No sale of the JAB Trust's 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss. Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner," her lawyer Adam Streisand says in a letter obtained by CNBC.
"Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court," he says.

#buss #angeles #jeanie #ownership

The Buss family's attempt to sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers has hit a snag. Despite reporting that all six Buss siblings had agreed to sell their shares in the team, there is one that is reportedly contesting the sale: Jeanie Buss, the eldest Buss daughter and the CEO and governor of the team.
In a letter obtained by multiple outlets, Buss' lawyer Adam Streisand wrote that she was opposed to selling the team, and that "any 'vote' by any of the Buss siblings would be and is void" given that it would violate requirements of the Buss's trust, which owns the shares of the Lakers.
A statement attributed to the Buss family earlier on Monday indicated that they had decided to sell the remaining minority ownership of the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner as part of the larger sale of the team. A group led by Iger and Kushner agreed to purchase the team from Mark Walter last week, just one year after Walter bought the majority stake from the Buss family.
In the letter, which was posted in full by CNBC, Streisand wrote to three law firms representing Jeanie's siblings — Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse — and urged them to walk back the deal.
Streisand accused ESPN's Shams Charania of "falsely" reporting that all six of the Buss siblings had voted to sell the stake, and accused Joey and Jesse Buss of "leak(ing) false, defamatory and pernicious 'information'" to Charania "for the malicious purpose of doing harm" to the Lakers' organization.

#buss #team #walter

Ramona Shelburne: Also: Am told by multiple sources that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss did not vote to sell. The other five siblings did.
x.com
Ramona Shelburne: Also: Am told by multiple sources that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss did not vote to sell. The other five siblings did. — 8/17/2026 x.com
Ramona Shelburne: Adding to this important piece of information from mcten This vote to sell family shares has been open since Tuesday. There was a previous vote several months ago, as well from what I understand. — 8/17/2026 x.com
Darius Soriano: 17.8% of $12.5 billion is about $2.25 billion. that's more than steve ballmer paid for *all* the clippers. — 8/17/2026 x.com

#sell #buss #told #multiple

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers, the American businessmen announced Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the transaction told UPI the agreement is worth $12.5 billion, which would set a record for the highest-priced sale of a North American sports franchise.
Lakers majority owner Mark Walter purchased a controlling interest in the storied NBA franchise from the Buss family in October. That purchase helped the Lakers set a record franchise valuation of $10 billion.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world," Kushner and Iger said in a joint statement.
"We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."

#iger #highest

Billionaire Mark Walter is reportedly selling the Los Angeles Lakers to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner for a record-breaking $12.5 billion.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss," Kushner and Iger told ESPN in a statement Wednesday. "Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."
The pair had been involved in the NBA's expansion process in Las Vegas before unexpectedly shifting their focus to the Lakers and making an aggressive offer to buy the team, sources told ESPN. The shocking sale comes just one year after Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, acquired a controlling stake in the Lakers from the Buss family for an estimated $10 billion valuation, setting a record at the time.
"Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family," Walter, who purchased the franchise just last year, said in a statement to ESPN. "I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead."
Walter, 66, has investments across several professional sports teams. Through TWG Global, he has interests in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, Premier League soccer club Chelsea and the Professional Women's Hockey League. He also owns several auto racing teams through TWG Motorsports, including Cadillac's Formula 1 team.

#fans

In a stunning turn of events, billionaire Mark Walter is selling the Lakers to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capital executive Josh Kushner in a deal reportedly worth $12.5 billion, less than 14 months after Walter reached an agreement to acquire the iconic NBA franchise.
The latest sale adds about $2.5 billion to the Lakers' valuation since Walter and his partners acquired them from the Buss family and sets a valuation record for a control sale of a U.S. pro sports franchise, topping Walter's own mark from last year.
Walter, however, has since come under federal investigation for alleged tax fraud involving insurance companies he controls. There are separate probes underway by U.S. prosecutors and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.
It is unclear to what degree that situation is connected to the Lakers sale, if at all, but the reselling of the franchise still represents one of the most surprising events in recent sports history.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world," Iger and Kushner said in a joint statement. "We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."

#buss #angeles

The Lakers are being sold to American businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for over $12 billion, a record-breaking price, multiple sources told ESPN.
The businessmen were involved in the expansion process in Las Vegas, but in a stunning turn, they pivoted to make an aggressive offer to buy the Lakers from Mark Walter, who had purchased a controlling interest in the team from the Buss family last year for a franchise valuation of approximately $10 billion.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss," Kushner and Iger said in a statement. "Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."
Walter, Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, has been the Lakers' majority owner since last October when his bid was unanimously approved by the NBA Board of Governors.
"Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life -- an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family. I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead," Walter said in a statement.

#buss #fans

In the second sale of the Lakers in less than a year, Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner are set to take control.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles," stated Josh Kushner and Bob Iger to ESPN.
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#Lakers #jerry

Unhappy LeBron James' free agency explodes as about a dozen teams call Rich Paul originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers with an official farewell from the team. Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss thanked him for "eight years with the Lakers, including the ******* le he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances," closing the book on a run that ends without another ring.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, James and the front office never lined up on what it actually takes to contend, and that gap is why he's walking away now instead of returning for a ninth season.
And the goodbye was barely finished before the phone started ringing. Charania reported that roughly a dozen teams reached out to agent Rich Paul with pitches and proposals the moment free agency officially opened.
"Rich Paul his agent got pitches from about a dozen teams when free agency opened up with offers and proposals on what it would look like for LeBron to come to their team," Charania said. "He wants to go somewhere where it's a chance at a championship. Something he felt was not going to be keeping him happy if he stayed in LA. Whether you have a minimum, exception, or salary cap ******* e, you're going to be involved."

Right after LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not be re-signing with them in free agency, team governor Jeanie Buss issued a statement in which she said the franchise will always be thankful for his time with it and will always consider him "a cherished part of the Lakers family."
James may be moving on to another team, but he doesn't seem ungrateful for the eight years he spent with the Lakers. He took the time to respond on X (formerly Twitter) to Buss' statement and thanked her for being able to play for the storied club.
James arrived in 2018 when the franchise was at a historic low point. At the time, the Lakers had missed the playoffs five times in a row, and their front office didn't exactly have a sterling reputation across the NBA.
He immediately made them relevant again, even though they missed the postseason again in his first year with them. In the summer of 2019, Los Angeles traded for superstar big man Anthony Davis, and he helped James deliver the team's 18th NBA championship in the duo's first season together.
Since then, L.A. has made it past the first round of the playoffs only twice and has failed to win any games past the first round in all but one postseason. Still, James has left an indelible mark on the franchise, and he will be regarded as one of the better players in its history, even if he won't rank nearly as high as a few others.

LeBron James is returning to the NBA for a historic 24th season; however, he won’t be suiting up in the purple and gold. The 41-year-old—arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time—recently informed his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, that they could navigate free agency without him in mind, as he won’t return to the California-based team for another spin around the block. Instead, he’s instructed his agent, Rich Paul, to speak with interested teams and get back to him with offers so he can make his decision. Earlier today, the NBA champion broke his silence on his exit, thanking the fandom for their support.
James is leaving the Lakers, according to ESPN‘s Shams Charania. He reportedly told the LA-based team earlier today that they can move forward without him, as he won’t be back for another season.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the ***** le he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said. “We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”
James has been resting since the Lakers were bounced from the NBA playoffs in early May 2026. A source close to the elite athlete said that when he returns to the league for his 24th season, he wants to play “meaningful, competitive basketball.”
While it’s unclear where James will land, the insider said that James has instructed his longtime agent, Paul, to speak with interested teams and report back so that he can decide how to move forward.