The Buss Family Civil War: A Threat to the Lakers' Stability
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
What looks like a sibling rivalry over minority shares is actually a high-stakes battle for the governance of basketball's most iconic franchise.
As Sportsnet first reported, the Los Angeles Lakers are facing a renewed internal war between the children of former owner Jerry Buss that threatens the franchise's leadership stability.
Five of Jerry Buss's children—Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey, and Jesse—have declared their intent to sell the family trust's remaining 17.8% stake in the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, who are currently acquiring majority ownership from Mark Walter. In a statement to ESPN, the siblings confirmed they remain united in this decision.
**OPINION:** This isn't just a financial transaction; it is a tactical strike against Jeanie Buss. By offloading these shares, the siblings are attempting to dismantle Jeanie's authority over the organization.
Jeanie Buss is fighting the move. Through a letter from her attorney, Adam Streisand, Jeanie claims the siblings are prohibited from selling the trust's shares without her consent. If the sale is finalized, she would be stripped of her role as the Lakers' governor, a position she was scheduled to hold until at least 2030 under a deal struck with Mark Walter.
The financial stakes are immense. When Walter purchased majority control last year at a $10 billion valuation, the Buss siblings reportedly earned nearly half a billion dollars each. With Walter now flipping his ownership to Kushner and Iger, the team's valuation has climbed to $12.5 billion.
This dysfunction is rooted in a history of conflict following Jerry Buss's death in 2013. Jeanie fired Jim as head of basketball operations in 2017, leading to a lawsuit by Jim and Johnny to oust her as controlling owner. More recently, Joey and Jesse were fired from front-office positions last November.
Adding to the volatility, Sportsnet reports that majority owner Mark Walter is currently under federal investigation for tax issues, leaving the 17-time NBA champions in a state of perpetual instability.