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2h ago

Kushner Set to Be Lakers Governor as Iger Seen as Minority Operational Lead

The arrangement would give Kushner final authority over the team while a court fight over the Buss family trust will decide whether Jeanie Buss keeps the ownership needed to remain governor.

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Siblings Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat), from left, sit in the front row during a press conference announcing new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham at the UCLA Health Training Center, Image 2 shows Jeanie Buss attending the statue unveiling for former Lakers coach Pat Riley
May 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Jay Mohr and Jeanie Buss attend game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Bob Iger and Maverick Carter sitting courtside at a basketball game, Image 2 shows NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking to the media at the NBA Cup, Image 3 shows Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball downcourt while being guarded by Ziaire Williams of the Brooklyn Nets

Overview

  • Mark Walter has agreed to sell his majority Lakers stake to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a reported $12.5 billion, and the transaction remains under review by the NBA.
  • Multiple reports say Kushner is expected to be the controlling shareholder and team governor, which by NBA rules requires him to hold at least about 15 percent of the franchise.
  • Bob Iger is widely described as a minority owner who would play a prominent day-to-day, public-facing management role but would not hold final authority as governor.
  • Jeanie Buss has filed court action to block her siblings’ planned sale of the family trust’s 17.8 percent stake, and her petition hearing has been continued to December 8; that litigation could determine who represents the Lakers on the NBA Board of Governors.
  • The ownership uncertainty has paused hiring for senior basketball-operations roles, and it follows Walter’s 2025 acquisition and an internal push to import Dodgers-style, analytics-driven structures that some staff reportedly resisted.