The Buss family’s long-running internal conflict has resurfaced, creating new uncertainty around the Los Angeles Lakers’ ownership.
Days after Mark Walter agreed to sell the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner for $12.5 billion, reports said the Buss family voted to sell its remaining 17.8% stake. That would end the family’s 47-year ownership involvement and potentially remove Jeanie Buss as governor.
Former Lakers champion Mychal Thompson called it “a sad day for us Laker faithful,” while Magic Johnson initially posted about the family’s legacy before deleting his message.
However, Jeanie reportedly opposed the sale and is challenging her siblings’ votes.
Her attorney Adam Streisand called the vote “void” and accused Joey and Jesse Buss of a “years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious ‘information’ to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carried out her father’s wishes.”
Streisand argues the stake cannot be sold without approval from co-trustees Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss and cited a 2017 court order requiring the family to maintain at least 15% ownership.
“Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court,” Streisand wrote.
The dispute continues years of tension between Jerry Buss’ children and leaves Jeanie’s future as Lakers governor potentially dependent on another legal battle.
Latest Buss family drama is like a real-life episode of ‘Succession’ https://t.co/E79XXGLXgI pic.twitter.com/qGHBLhKH3j
— New York Post (@nypost) August 18, 2026
