Lakers sale to Kushner and Iger proceeds despite Buss family dispute

Mark Walter intends to transfer ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion to a consortium led by Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, and the deal is unlikely to be derailed by recent Buss family turmoil. The family released a statement saying it would sell its remaining 17.8% trust stake, a move Jeanie Buss immediately challenged through her attorney, who cited a 2017 court order requiring co-trustees’ approval and a minimum 15% family ownership.

One outlet reported that five of six Buss siblings voted to invoke “tag-along” rights, but legal experts dispute whether a simple majority suffices. The dispute centers on Jeanie Buss’s role as “controlling owner” versus her official title of governor, a distinction that affects her ability to stay on the team’s front office after the sale. While the family fight continues, two insiders confirm it does not jeopardize the Kushner-Iger acquisition, though the precise closing date remains unclear. Representatives for the involved parties have not provided comments.