Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are part of the ownership group that has purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion. The deal marks a significant turn for Iger, who previously stated that rooting for the Lakers was "not in my DNA."
Iger shared his aversion to the Lakers in a January 2021 appearance on "The Old Man and the Three" podcast, hosted by current Lakers head coach JJ Redick. He explained that after moving to California in 2000, his lifelong fandom of the New York Knicks prevented him from supporting Los Angeles's NBA powerhouse.
"I couldn't root for the Lakers very easily," Iger told Redick. "It just was not in my DNA."
Instead, Iger adopted the Los Angeles Clippers as his preferred team, citing their more affordable ticket prices as an additional reason for his choice. "Their seats were a lot cheaper than the Lakers," he said.
The acquisition by Iger and Kushner comes as billionaire Mark Walter's business empire reportedly faces federal scrutiny. Walter's group had agreed to buy the Buss family's controlling stake in the Lakers in June 2025 at a valuation of approximately $10 billion. Just 14 months later, the franchise is being sold for $12.5 billion, a rapid turnaround that has drawn attention given the ongoing investigations into Walter's investments.