Buss Siblings File Against Jeanie to Push Through $12.5B Lakers Sale

The fight over control of the Los Angeles Lakers escalated dramatically on Wednesday, as five of the six Buss siblings formally opposed governor Jeanie Buss's attempt to block the sale of the family's remaining stake in the franchise. The filing, reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday morning, calls her legal challenge "legally and factually baseless." Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss voted to sell the trust's 17.82% stake to the Josh Kushner–Bob Iger group, who agreed to acquire the Lakers from Mark Walter at a staggering $12.5 billion valuation. Their 36-page response takes aim at a 2017 court order that Jeanie's lawyer, Adam Streisand, claims prevents the sale without her consent — the siblings argue the order never limited beneficiaries' right to terminate the trust. The stakes are existential for Jeanie Buss. She filed her own 97-page petition to block the deal back in August; a court hearing once set for November 5 has been pushed to December 8. Under NBA rules she needs at least 15% ownership to remain governor — and the trust holds just 17.82%. Selling the whole stake would end her control of the franchise her father built. An NBA Board of Governors vote is expected in November, with the Kushner–Iger group positioned to take control soon after. One of sports' most valuable properties is now one courtroom away from changing hands.