Jeanie Buss Blocks Siblings' Bid to Sell Lakers Stake to Iger

A high-stakes family dispute over one of the most valuable franchises in professional sports burst into the open this week as Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss moved to block her siblings from selling the Buss family's ownership stake to a group that reportedly includes former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner. Through her attorney, Jeanie Buss made clear she has not consented to any sale — and that any vote by other family members purporting to authorize one is legally void.

The conflict cuts to the heart of how family-owned sports franchises navigate succession and internal governance. Jeanie Buss has served as the controlling governor of the Lakers since the death of her father, legendary owner Jerry Buss, in 2013. That position has historically given her substantial authority over major franchise decisions, including any potential ownership transfer — authority she is now invoking directly against her own family.

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The prospective buyers represent a notable pairing of entertainment and finance power. Bob Iger, who transformed Disney into a global media giant across two separate stints as CEO, has long been rumored to have ambitions in sports ownership. Joshua Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and a prominent venture investor, has similarly been expanding his footprint in high-value asset classes. Together, they would represent exactly the kind of deep-pocketed, media-savvy ownership group that the NBA has historically favored.

What makes this dispute particularly consequential is what it signals about the broader challenge of multigenerational sports ownership. Franchise valuations have soared to levels that create enormous financial pressure on heirs who may not share the same emotional attachment to a team that the founding owner did. The Lakers, perennially one of the league's marquee franchises, are worth billions — a figure that can make even the most loyal family members reconsider holding an illiquid asset indefinitely.

For now, Jeanie Buss appears intent on preserving family control, and her legal posture suggests this dispute is far from resolved. The NBA would ultimately need to approve any ownership change, adding another institutional layer to what is already a complex intra-family standoff. Continue reading at US Top News and Analysis.