Overview
- The Buss Family Trust was reported to have voted to sell its 17.8% Lakers stake to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner under a tag‑along right, with at least four of six siblings approving the move, according to multiple reports on Monday.
- Jeanie Buss, through lawyer Adam Streisand, sent a letter contesting the reported vote and argued that the 2017 Los Angeles County Superior Court order and the trust’s co‑trustee structure prohibit any sale without co‑trustee approval.
- Five siblings — Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse — issued a public statement saying they remain united to sell and intend to proceed through the appropriate process.
- The deal is not final because the NBA Board of Governors must approve the ownership change when it meets Sept. 15–16 and Kushner must divest his minority Miami Heat stake before closing; selling the Buss block would give Iger and Kushner about 83% ownership and drop Jeanie below the NBA’s 15% governor threshold.
- The dispute follows last year’s sale of majority control to Mark Walter and rests on how tag‑along contract rights, the JAB Trust mechanics and the 2017 court settlement interact, a legal question that will decide whether the Buss era of Lakers control truly ends and how quickly ownership can transfer.