Buss Family Clashes Over Lakers Sale; Jeanie Buss to Contest Siblings' Ownership Plan

Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is reportedly challenging her siblings' decision to sell their 17.8% minority ownership stake in the NBA franchise to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. This dispute follows a recent agreement where Mark Walter sold his majority interest in the Lakers to Kushner and Iger for a record $12.5 billion. Buss's attorney contends that a prior court order and the family trust's terms require her approval for any such sale to maintain her position as governor, which necessitates at least a 15% ownership share under NBA rules.

Reports indicate that a majority of Jeanie Buss's siblings voted in favor of selling their shares, though she disputes claims of unanimous family consent and has accused some siblings of leaking misleading information. Losing the family's remaining stake would effectively remove Jeanie Buss from her role as the team's governor, a position she has held since her father Jerry Buss's passing in 2013. The proposed sale to Kushner and Iger, including both Walter's and potentially the Buss siblings' shares, remains subject to approval by the NBA Board of Governors.