Jeanie Buss petitions court to block ‘devious’ siblings from selling Lakers stake

Key Points:

• Jeanie Buss has filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to block her five siblings from selling the family’s remaining 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, accusing them of secretly orchestrating a sale to remove her as team governor.
• The petition alleges breach of fiduciary duty by co-trustees Joey and Janie Buss, calls for their removal, and accuses the siblings of contempt of court and violating a 2017 court order that mandates Jeanie remain the controlling owner.
• Jeanie argues the sale makes no financial sense given the Lakers’ increasing value and claims her siblings’ actions are motivated by animosity rather than financial necessity, aiming to uphold her late father Jerry Buss’s legacy.
• The dispute follows news that Mark Walter was selling the team to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, a move Jeanie says came as a surprise and was done without her consent despite a previous agreement ensuring her governorship.
• A court hearing is scheduled for November 5, with the ongoing family feud highlighting deep divisions over control of the iconic franchise amid a high-profile ownership transition.