The Los Angeles Lakers franchise is embroiled in renewed family tensions following reports that the Buss family intends to sell its remaining 17.8% ownership stake. This stake, previously held by the family, was reportedly set to be sold to the new majority owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, who acquired the majority last week at a $12.5 billion valuation. Jeanie Buss, the current team governor and Jerry Buss’s chosen successor, has opposed the sale, contending it cannot proceed without unanimous approval from the family’s co-trustees, including herself, under court orders preserving at least 15% family ownership for her to maintain her governance role.

Jeanie Buss’s legal team sharply criticized siblings Joey and Jesse Buss, accusing them of leaking misleading information to the media to undermine her authority. Despite reports from ESPN that five of the six Buss siblings voted to trigger “tag-along” rights allowing the minority owners to sell their shares alongside the majority, Jeanie’s advocates claim the sale was unauthorized. They emphasize Jerry Buss’s original succession plan, which positioned Jeanie to lead the Lakers, and argue continuing family ownership is necessary to uphold that vision.

The backdrop to this dispute includes last year’s landmark $10 billion sale of a majority Lakers stake to Mark Walter, which led to Joey and Jesse Buss losing their front office roles. Since then, Joey and Jesse have launched their own investment firm, Buss Sports Capital, and reportedly explored an NBA Europe franchise, highlighting contrasting visions within the family. Walter’s quick sale of the team to Kushner and Iger sparked further uncertainty, coming amid federal investigations into Walter’s business affairs.

Amidst this complex ownership transition, neither the NBA nor representatives for the Buss siblings have commented on the conflict, and Jeanie Buss’s camp insists she remains the controlling owner of the Lakers. The family divisions cast a shadow over the historic franchise just as it enters an era under new majority ownership, with Jeanie signaling her unwillingness to cede control without a fight to protect her stake and the franchise’s legacy.