Jeanie Buss reportedly opposing family sale of remaining Lakers ownership stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger

Hours after her siblings announced their intent to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to the new majority ownership group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, Jeanie Buss — the team’s current governor — said through her attorney that she will contest any attempt to sell.

The public feud between the Buss siblings and their attorneys erupted just five days after Iger and Kushner agreed to purchase the controlling stake in the Lakers last week for a record $12.5 billion.

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Of the six Buss siblings, which include Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse, all but Jeanie are reportedly in favor of selling the family stake to Iger and Kushner — a decision that would end Jeanie’s role as the team’s governor. To maintain her governorship, Jeanie Buss and her siblings must own at least 15% of the team.

ESPN and other outlets shared a statement credited to the “Buss family.”

“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker 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,” the statement said.

The original deal had Iger and Kushner buying around 65% of the franchise from Walter; adding the Buss family shares would raise that ownership stake to around 83%.

NBA writer Yaron Weitzman reported the five other Buss siblings sent Jeanie signatures stating they wanted the family to sell its shares, triggering the addition of a “tag-along” clause. However, in a letter obtained by CNBC, Jeanie’s lawyer Adam Streisand says that she has not agreed to sell the team and that any vote to sell “would be and is void.”

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The Buss family took control of the Lakers in 1979, leading to the rise of the franchise and the Showtime era. The Buss’ majority ownership ended last year, when the family sold the controlling stake to Mark Walter in a $10 billion deal, but the family retained a 17.8% minority stake.

Following Iger and Kushner’s surprise agreement to acquire the team, Jeanie Buss —…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/jeanie-buss-reportedly-opposing-family-sale-of-remaining-lakers-ownership-stake-to-josh-kushner-and-bob-iger-193752611.html

Author : Kari Anderson

Publish date : 2026-08-17 19:37:00

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