The Buss family might be tearing itself apart over who actually owns the Los Angeles Lakers! Despite pretty serious reports that the Buss family had already voted to sell off their remaining ownership in the team, governor Jeanie Buss is making it crystal clear: she is absolutely not going anywhere. This isn’t just some rumor; it’s a full-blown battle, and it’s already getting messy.
The Legal Bombshell That Just Dropped
Jeanie Buss’s attorney, Adam Streisand, isn’t holding anything back. He’s reportedly been in contact with her siblings , Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse , right after an ESPN report about the supposed sale hit. And Streisand’s demands are wild: he wants them to publicly state that Jeanie Buss is the *Controlling Owner* of the Lakers. Seriously, he’s demanding they back off this whole “vote” to sell the family’s 17.8% stake.
This entire sale? Streisand told CNN it was “falsely reported” by ESPN. But then he unloaded a truly shocking accusation: he claims Joey and Jesse Buss have a “years-long pattern” of leaking “false, defamatory and pernicious ‘information.’” Can you even imagine that kind of drama at a family Thanksgiving? Streisand isn’t just talking, either; he’s threatening court action , contempt charges and injunctions , if the siblings try to push this sale through. This isn’t just a squabble; it’s a legal showdown.
Other Buss Siblings Are Ready to Bail
Here’s where it gets even crazier: the *rest* of the Buss family seems totally ready to peace out. They actually issued a statement confirming their plans! “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” their statement read. They even added the classic “we love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.” Sounds like a polite way of saying “we’re out!”
That Bob Iger group, which includes Josh Kushner, is apparently trying to buy a majority stake in the team from Mark Walter, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And they’re also eyeing these Buss family shares. But it all clearly depends on what happens in this massive family feud.
The Ultimate Question: Who’s in Control?
At the heart of Streisand’s argument is one simple, yet explosive, claim: Jeanie Buss is the controlling owner of the family’s stake, and it absolutely cannot be sold without her permission. Period. He didn’t just hint at it; he flat-out declared that any “vote” by the other Buss siblings regarding the sale to Iger and Kushner would be “void” from the very beginning. That’s a mic drop moment, telling you everything you need to know about where Jeanie Buss stands.
So, what’s next for the Lakers? Will this turn into a full-blown court battle? Can the Buss family untangle this mess, or are they headed for a total legal knockdown? This isn’t just about money; it’s about control over one of the biggest franchises in sports. We’ll be watching every twist and turn of this wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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