Metta World Peace says his bid for a Lakers minority share was turned down

Metta Sandiford-Artest told the California Post that he reached out to Mark Walter immediately after Walter secured the Lakers for a $10 billion valuation and asked to buy a 1% minority share, but the request was denied. He explained that he expected the franchise’s worth to increase further, especially after Walter agreed to sell his stake to former Disney chief Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner for a record $12.5 billion, a deal pending NBA Board of Governors approval.

Walter is currently under federal and SEC investigation for alleged loan fraud. Sandiford-Artest, a two-time Laker and 2010 champion, also said his offer to acquire a stake in the BIG3 league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz was turned down, despite the league’s plan to go public later this year. He expressed disappointment but highlighted his confidence in the Lakers’ future valuation, likening it to Disney’s scale. The former player praised the organization’s mental-health initiatives and the support he received from Jeanie Buss and other executives.