Josh Kushner and Bob Iger reportedly buying Los Angeles Lakers for $12bn
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Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger are reportedly buying the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12bn, according to ESPN. If completed, the deal would set a new valuation benchmark for a major sports franchise and transfer stewardship of one of the NBA’s most prominent teams soon after its previous sale.
Billionaire Mark Walter bought a majority stake from the Buss family last year in a transaction valuing the Lakers at $10bn, approved by the NBA’s board of governors in October. Kushner and Iger said they aimed to build on the Buss family’s legacy and compete at the highest level; the Lakers have won 17 NBA titles, most recently in 2020, and are now led by Luka Dončić after LeBron James’s departure.
- Kushner and Iger reportedly plan $12bn-plus Lakers purchase.
- Deal would exceed last year’s $10bn valuation.
- Lakers remain an NBA powerhouse led by Luka Dončić.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best-known teams in the National Basketball Association, the leading men’s basketball league in the United States and Canada. Based in Los Angeles, they have won 17 league championships and have long been associated with star players including Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The Buss family controlled the team for decades after Jerry Buss bought it in 1979, helping turn it into a major sporting and commercial brand. Mark Walter, a businessman who also has interests in other Los Angeles sports teams, bought a majority stake from the family last year.
Josh Kushner is an investor and founder of the investment firm Thrive Capital, while Bob Iger is best known for leading Disney for many years. Their reported involvement would bring together finance and media experience in a team whose value is shaped by its sporting success, global profile and position in the large Los Angeles market.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters would argue that investment by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger could give the Lakers exceptional financial resources, commercial expertise and leadership experience while preserving the ambition expected of a historic franchise. A higher valuation can also reflect confidence in the team’s global brand and the NBA’s long-term appeal, potentially supporting investment in facilities, talent and fan engagement. Their stated commitment to the Buss family legacy offers reassurance that new stewardship need not mean abandoning the club’s identity.
The case against
Critics would argue that a $12bn deal further illustrates how elite sport is becoming an asset class for the very wealthy, potentially widening the distance between owners, players and ordinary supporters. They may question whether ever-rising franchise valuations encourage decisions driven by media rights, sponsorship and resale value rather than ticket affordability, local connection and competitive balance. The speed of another prospective ownership change after the previous majority sale could also raise understandable concerns about continuity and accountability.
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