Lakers sold at $12.5 billion valuation: NBA execs, agents react

Key Points:

• The Los Angeles Lakers ownership changed hands twice within less than a year, first from the Buss family to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation in October 2025, then from Walter to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation in 2026.
• Walter’s quick sale, yielding a $2.5 billion profit in 14 months, may have been influenced by a federal investigation into his company, TWG Global, which faced scrutiny over undisclosed loans and an SEC probe.
• Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, new owners with strong NBA and business ties, have committed to keeping Jeanie Buss as acting governor for now, signaling some continuity in Lakers leadership, though future changes remain uncertain.
• Superstar Luka Doncic was not consulted about the sale but is expected to engage with the new owners soon; players generally focus on team resources to win rather than ownership changes.
• The sale could impact NBA expansion plans, as Iger and Kushner had been pursuing a Las Vegas franchise before acquiring the Lakers, and the league is prioritizing expansion fees and growth in Europe over immediate new teams.