Jeanie Buss, who serves as the governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, is actively opposing a proposal put forward by her brothers and sisters to dispose of the family’s remaining 17.8 percent stake in the storied franchise. The dispute has emerged at a time when a high‑profile transaction is already in motion: Josh Kushner – the brother‑in‑law of former President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared – and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced earlier this month that they intend to acquire a controlling interest in the Lakers at a valuation of roughly $12.5 billion (about £9.3 billion). This price would set a new benchmark for any professional sports team sale. Kushner and Iger are reported to be purchasing roughly 65 percent of the organization from billionaire investor Mark Walter, who also holds a share of the Los Angeles Dodgers and partners with Chelsea FC chairman Todd Boehly on that baseball venture.
If the deal also secures the Buss family’s residual shares, the new ownership bloc would control about 83 percent of the Lakers, effectively consolidating the majority of voting power in the hands of the Kushner‑Iger partnership. Jeanie Buss has been the Lakers’ governor since 2013, a role she assumed after the death of her father, Jerry Buss, who originally bought the team in 1979 and built it into a global brand. In 2022 she shepherded the family’s decision to sell a controlling stake to Mark Walter for a reported $10 billion, a deal that was structured to keep her in the governor’s seat through 2030.
Under the NBA’s ownership rules, the governor must retain at least a 15‑percent equity position to remain in the role, so the earlier sale was carefully calibrated to preserve her authority while unlocking significant cash for the family trust. The current push by her siblings to off‑load the remaining trust shares to the Iger‑Kushner consortium would trigger a breach of that 15‑percent floor, effectively ending Jeanie’s tenure as governor.
The Buss family released a statement on Monday indicating that they had collectively decided to sell the remaining trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. The statement read: “We love the Lakers, Lakers fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.” However, Jeanie’s legal counsel, attorney Adam Streisand, responded swiftly. In a letter addressed to the representatives of her five siblings, Streisand asserted that any attempt to sell the family trust’s stake would be “void” and contrary to the fiduciary duties of the co‑trustees. He warned that the co‑trustees are obligated to vote in a manner that preserves the minimum 15‑percent ownership threshold, thereby ensuring Jeanie Buss can continue as the controlling owner.
Any deviation, Streisand argued, would constitute a breach of trust, a violation of fiduciary duty, and could be held in contempt of court. The Lakers, with 17 NBA championships—11 of which were won under the Buss family’s stewardship—have been the focal point of intense intra‑family conflict since Jerry Buss passed away. The feud intensified in 2017 when Jeanie terminated her brother Jim Buss from his position as head of basketball operations, a move that was followed a week later by a lawsuit filed by Jim and another brother, Johnny, who sought to remove Jeanie as the controlling owner.
More recently, in November of the previous year, siblings Joey and Jesse Buss were also dismissed from their front‑office roles within the organization. The proposed sale to Kushner and Iger still requires approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors, a process that could take several months and involves a thorough review of the buyers’ financial standing and compliance with league ownership rules.
Adding another layer of complexity, Josh Kushner’s name was previously linked to a controversial proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in FIFA’s competitions to private investors. The plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, was meant to bring new capital into the sport but faced fierce criticism and boycott threats from continental confederations, including UEFA. Kushner’s venture‑capital firm, Thrive Eternal, was slated to lead the investor group before the proposal was abandoned amid the backlash.
The broader context of the transaction reflects a growing trend of billionaire‑driven consolidation in professional sports. The $12.5 billion price tag not only eclipses previous NBA franchise sales but also signals how valuable media rights, global branding, and ancillary revenue streams have become for teams like the Lakers. For the Buss family, the decision to retain a minority stake versus exiting entirely hinges on both financial considerations and the desire to preserve a legacy that spans four generations.
If Jeanie Buss remains in her governor role, she would continue to oversee basketball operations, marketing initiatives, and community outreach programs that have become synonymous with the Lakers brand. Her continued presence could also provide stability during the transition period, reassuring fans and sponsors alike.
Conversely, a full sale to the Kushner‑Iger group would likely usher in a new era of strategic direction, potentially leveraging Iger’s entertainment expertise and Kushner’s tech‑focused investment approach to further globalize the Lakers’ reach. In summary, the dispute over the remaining Buss family trust shares underscores the delicate balance between family legacy, corporate governance, and the massive financial stakes involved in modern sports ownership.
While the legal battle unfolds, the NBA, the Lakers’ fan base, and the broader sports business community will be watching closely to see whether the historic franchise remains under Buss family influence or transitions to a new ownership consortium that could reshape its future for years to come.