Jeanie Buss Fights Family Sale of Lakers

Jeanie Buss is engaged in a legal battle to prevent her siblings from selling the remaining 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers. A petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday claims Buss was neither consulted nor informed about the proposed sale by her co-trustees, Joey and Janie Buss. Buss's legal team argues that the Lakers represent a valuable growth asset with continuously increasing value, making a sale at this time detrimental.

The petition further requests the removal of Joey and Janie Buss as co-trustees and seeks a contempt of court ruling against them for their alleged defiant behavior. A hearing on Buss's petition is scheduled for November 15, 2026. If the sale proceeds, Jeanie Buss would lose her position as Lakers governor and controlling owner, as a minimum of 15% ownership is required for these roles.

Despite the family selling a majority of its Lakers holdings to Mark Walter in June 2025 for $10 billion, Jeanie Buss, who secured a five-year governor term from that deal, views this ongoing dispute as deeply personal. The petition asserts that her siblings' actions are driven by animosity towards her and a disregard for the trust, a 2017 court order, their fiduciary duties, and Dr. Jerry Buss's intentions.

Major stakeholders Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, who acquired over 63% of the Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion on August 12, have previously expressed support for Jeanie Buss's continued role as controlling owner. Iger stated in August that he and his partners have enormous respect for Buss and intend to honor prior agreements. Their purchase is expected to receive approval from the NBA Board of Governors on September 15/16, 2026, though the internal family dispute casts a shadow over the team's ownership.