The Buss family’s decades-long ownership of the Lakers is facing another major turning point, with five siblings backing a sale of their remaining stake to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. The proposed transaction would remove the family from Lakers ownership entirely, but Jeanie Buss is publicly and formally challenging the move.
The dispute means the ownership transition is not yet settled, even as the NBA prepares to review the larger deal. Any final change in control will ultimately depend on whether legal challenges are resolved and the NBA’s Board of Governors approves it.
The Buss family is trying to exit the Lakers
The latest development centers on the 17.8% stake still held by the Buss family after Mark Walter acquired majority control in 2025. According to ESPN and The Athletic, Jeanie Buss’ siblings have agreed to sell their remaining interest to Iger and Kushner, who last week agreed to buy Walter’s controlling stake in a deal that still needs NBA approval.
Five siblings, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse Buss, have publicly backed the sale of the family’s remaining ownership, a decision that would end a relationship that began when Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979. Jeanie Buss, however, is opposing the transaction, with her attorney arguing that the family trust requires approval from its co-trustees, including Jeanie, before the remaining shares can be sold.
Why Jeanie Buss is fighting the sale
The disagreement is especially important because Jeanie’s ownership stake has been directly tied to her role with the Lakers. NBA rules require a team governor to maintain at least a 15% ownership interest, and the family’s remaining stake was structured around keeping Jeanie in that position.
When the Buss family sold majority control to Walter in October 2025, the NBA approved the transaction and confirmed that Jeanie would remain governor for at least five years.
The proposed sale of the remaining 17.8% would change that equation. If completed as described, Jeanie would no longer have the ownership stake required to remain the Lakers’ governor, making her future role a central issue in the dispute.
Fun fact: Buss’ ownership helped define the modern Lakers identity, with the team becoming closely associated with Hollywood, star power, and an entertainment-driven game presentation.
The Lakers already changed hands once
This latest fight comes less than a year after the Buss family ended its majority ownership. The NBA approved Walter’s $10 billion acquisition in October 2025, making it the largest professional sports franchise sale at the time.
The deal ended 46 years of Buss family majority control, with Walter saying he intended to preserve the Lakers’ legacy and work alongside Jeanie. Now, Walter is preparing to sell the franchise again. Iger and Kushner have agreed to a $12.5 billion valuation, which would establish another record for a U.S. professional sports team if the transaction receives NBA approval and closes.
Interesting fact: After Jerry Buss died in 2013, the family trust held roughly 66% of the Lakers, divided among his six children. That structure eventually became central to the decisions surrounding the 2025 sale and the current dispute over the remaining stake.
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner would lead the next era
Iger brings decades of experience in the entertainment and sports business after serving as Disney’s chief executive. Kushner, meanwhile, is the founder and CEO of Thrive Capital and has previously held minority interests in other NBA franchises.
Their proposed acquisition has attracted attention partly because neither man is taking over after a long period of traditional Lakers involvement. Instead, the team is moving from a family-controlled structure to a new ownership group after two major transactions in roughly a year.
Luka Dončić is now the centerpiece of the roster, while LeBron James left the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers in June 2026 after eight seasons in Los Angeles. This shift marks a bold new chapter for one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
The family’s Lakers era was historic
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million as part of a larger deal that also included the Los Angeles Kings and the Forum. Under his leadership and later through the family trust, the Lakers became a global sports powerhouse.
The Buss family oversaw 11 of the Lakers’ 17 NBA championships, including titles won during the Showtime era, the Kobe Bryant years, and the 2020 championship led by James and Anthony Davis. Jeanie Buss also became the first female controlling owner to win an NBA championship when the Lakers captured the 2020 title.
What happens next for Lakers ownership?
The Buss family’s remaining stake has not simply changed hands without resistance. Five siblings support the sale, while Jeanie is challenging whether the transaction can proceed under the family trust.
The larger $12.5 billion transaction involving Walter, Iger, and Kushner also remains subject to NBA approval. That means the Lakers’ ownership picture could still change before the deal is finalized, with the trust dispute adding another layer to an already extraordinary period of transition.
For Lakers fans, the bigger story is the end of a family era that shaped the franchise for nearly five decades. The next chapter is being written by new investors, but the extent to which the Buss family leaves Los Angeles remains unresolved.
TL;DR
- Five Buss siblings support selling the family’s remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers.
- Jeanie Buss is challenging the proposed sale and says trustee approval is required.
- Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to acquire the Lakers at a $12.5 billion valuation.
- The larger transaction still requires NBA approval.
- A completed sale would end the Buss family’s ownership of the Lakers.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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