NBA commissioner may intervene as Lakers ownership dispute deepens

The Buss family is on the verge of fragmenting its ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, as five of the six siblings look to sell their combined 17.8% stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Jeanie Buss, who serves as the team's governor, is the lone sibling resisting the transaction and would forfeit her governing position if the sale proceeds. Meanwhile, Mark Walter is set to transfer his controlling share to Kushner and Iger within weeks, completing a broader reshuffling of the franchise’s control.

According to a report by Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to intervene and seek a solution to the ongoing Buss family dispute, though his exact role has not been defined. Recent examples of NBA team sales, such as the Portland Trail Blazers under Thomas Dundon and the Boston Celtics under William Chisholm and Aditya Mittal, have produced varied outcomes, prompting worries that profit motives could outweigh championship ambitions for the Lakers.

Critics have long questioned Jeanie Buss’s management since her father Dr. Jerry Buss passed away, but she has consistently emphasized winning as a priority. The potential commissioner involvement adds another layer of uncertainty to the franchise’s future direction.