Jeanie Buss is suing her siblings over the planned sale of the Buss family’s remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, putting the franchise’s decades long family ownership era at risk. Buss, the longtime Lakers governor, is challenging the decision to sell the family’s 17.8 percent minority stake. The dispute could also determine whether she remains in her position with one of the NBA’s most iconic teams. Five of the six Buss siblings reportedly voted in favor of the sale. Buss opposed the decision and is now attempting to stop the transaction through legal action. The case centers on ownership rights, a family trust and NBA rules governing team governors. The outcome could have major consequences for the future leadership of the Lakers.
The Buss family currently holds a 17.8 percent minority stake in the Lakers. Five siblings reportedly supported selling the stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who are preparing to take control of the franchise. Jeanie Buss has rejected the proposed transaction and argues that the sale should not move forward. Her legal challenge focuses on the conditions attached to the family trust that controls the ownership interest. Her attorney maintains that approval from the trust’s co trustees is required before the stake can be sold. The dispute therefore involves both family governance and NBA ownership rules. It could ultimately determine whether Buss retains a formal role with the Lakers.
NBA ownership requirements are another important part of the dispute. A team governor is required to retain at least 15 percent ownership of the franchise. If the Buss family’s entire 17.8 percent stake is sold, Buss would no longer meet that threshold. That could force her to give up her position as the Lakers’ controlling owner. The issue adds significant importance to the legal battle because the dispute is not simply about the family’s financial stake. It could directly affect who represents the Lakers under the NBA’s ownership structure. The legal proceedings could therefore influence both the transaction and the team’s future leadership.
The dispute comes only weeks after another historic Lakers ownership agreement. Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to purchase the franchise from Mark Walter at a reported valuation of $12.5 billion. That figure would surpass the previous reported valuation of $10 billion. The transaction still requires approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors. The proposed change in ownership would represent a major transition for one of the most valuable and recognizable franchises in professional sports. The Buss family’s legal challenge now adds another layer of uncertainty to the process. Any delay could affect the timeline for the new ownership group to take control.
The latest conflict is also another chapter in years of tension within the Buss family. Those disagreements followed the death of longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss in 2013. Jeanie Buss has previously faced disputes with several of her siblings over control of the franchise and team operations. The family has remained connected to the Lakers for decades, making the current dispute particularly significant. If the proposed sale goes through, the Buss family’s direct ownership era could effectively come to an end. That era began in 1979 when Jerry Buss purchased the franchise. For Jeanie Buss, however, the legal fight could determine whether she remains involved in the Lakers’ leadership under the new ownership group.
