Jeanie Buss Accuses Siblings of 'Cloak and Dagger' Tactics in Lakers Sale Dispute
The Los Angeles Lakers governor is asking a judge to block the sale of family shares, alleging her siblings are undermining her role as team governor.
Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss has accused her five siblings of employing "cloak and dagger" tactics in their ongoing dispute over the sale of the family's stake in the NBA team. In a legal filing on Wednesday, Buss asked a California judge to void the transaction, asserting that her siblings' actions violate a 2017 court order.
The six Buss siblings have been at odds over the sale of their collective 17.8 percent ownership in the Lakers. Investor Joshua Kushner has agreed to purchase outgoing owner Mark Walter's majority share at a valuation of $12.5 billion. However, Jeanie Buss contends that the planned sale of the family shares by her siblings—Jesse, Joey, Janie, Jim, and Johnny Buss—breaches a 2017 court order requiring the family to maintain at least a 15 percent stake in the franchise.
Buss's legal reply alleges that her siblings have portrayed themselves as victims while engaging in a "cloak and dagger, backroom 'votes' and 'resolutions"' intended to pressure her. Her attorneys claim that the siblings' actions are driven by an inability to accept her continued involvement in the Lakers' future.
NBA rules stipulate that a team governor must hold at least a 15 percent stake in the franchise. If the sale of the family shares is finalized, Jeanie Buss would lose her position as governor.
According to the filing, each of the six siblings stands to gain $371 million if the family sells its entire stake. This potential sale is supported by Jesse, Joey, Janie, Jim, and Johnny Buss. In previous filings, the siblings' attorneys have argued that Jeanie's attempt to block the sale lacks merit and accused her of prioritizing her personal interest in remaining controlling owner.
Jeanie Buss's legal team countered these claims, stating that her actions are aligned with the directives of her late parents, who established the trust governing the family's ownership. She is also seeking the removal of Janie and Joey as co-trustees.
Kushner, along with former Disney executive Bob Iger, is set to acquire approximately 65 percent of the Lakers from Walter. If the Buss family sells its remaining shares, Kushner and Iger would collectively own about 83 percent of the team. The NBA Board of Governors has already approved the sale to Iger and Kushner.
This legal battle follows Jeanie Buss's role in facilitating the family's major sale to Walter in 2025, who purchased the team at a $10 billion valuation. Buss claims this previous deal led to jealousy among her siblings. The current proposed sale to Kushner and Iger occurred at a significantly higher valuation, with reports indicating projected future worth of the Lakers could reach $30 billion within the next decade.
Jeanie Buss, along with minority owners Patrick Soon-Shiong and Ed Roski, believes retaining their stake is a sound investment. Her filing argues that keeping their remaining interest is particularly beneficial for the trust beneficiaries, especially since other trustees have already sold a majority of their holdings. Buss's continued role as Controlling Owner and Governor would offer further advantages to the trust beneficiaries.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 8 in Los Angeles Superior Court.