The $5 billion sale of an 83 percent stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner sits in legal limbo following a family feud within the Buss dynasty. Jeanie Buss, the Lakers president and controlling owner, and other members of the Buss family are now contradicting earlier statements from Dr. Jerry Buss's other offspring about proceeding with the deal.
The transaction, which would have made the former Disney CEO Iger and venture capitalist Kushner majority stakeholders in one of basketball's most valuable franchises, hangs in uncertainty as representatives from Jeanie Buss's camp push back against claims from other family members that signaled moving forward. The silence from the Thrive Capital camp suggests negotiations have stalled or shifted direction entirely.
This dispute reflects deeper tensions within the Buss family regarding the franchise's future. The sale represented a generational transition for the storied NBA franchise, bringing fresh capital and tech-world perspectives to the organization. However, internal disagreement over the terms or the wisdom of the sale itself appears to have derailed momentum.
The Lakers remain one of basketball's crown jewels, with a legendary history anchored by Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. Any change in ownership structure carries massive implications for the team's direction, front office operations, and long-term competitive positioning in an increasingly expensive NBA landscape.
For Iger, the potential acquisition represented another entertainment empire expansion beyond his Disney tenure. For Kushner, it offered entry into elite sports ownership. But without full family backing, the deal faces substantial obstacles.
The dispute underscores how complex sports ownership changes become when founding families retain significant stakes and competing interests. Resolution likely requires negotiation among multiple Buss heirs with different visions for the franchise's governance and commercial future. Until the family reaches consensus, the Lakers' ownership structure