Jeanie Buss Challenges $12.5 Billion Lakers Sale as Mark Walter's 14-Month Tenure Drew Backlash
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 18
Jeanie Buss Challenges $12.5 Billion Lakers Sale as Mark Walter's 14-Month Tenure Drew Backlash
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 18
Summary
$12.5 billion is the agreed price for Mark Walter's sale of the Lakers to a Bob Iger-Josh Kushner group, but Jeanie Buss moved to challenge the majority-stake deal through her lawyer hours after it was announced.
14 months after buying control at a $10 billion valuation, Walter is exiting after a tenure The Athletic said was marked more by business changes than basketball moves.
More than 40% season-ticket increases and multiple rounds of layoffs helped create what one league source called a "weird vibe" inside the organization.
The Lakers also moved their G League affiliate to Coachella Valley, a step that reportedly frustrated basketball staff by separating developmental players and coaches from the parent club.
That ownership fight lands after a second-round sweep by Oklahoma City and LeBron James's exit to Philadelphia, leaving the next owners to steady a franchise now built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.