The Buss family drama over the Lakers’ future just hit DEFCON 1, with five of the six siblings formally filing opposition this week to Jeanie Buss’s claim that they can’t sell their shares without her say-so. This isn’t just some Thanksgiving dinner spat, folks, this is a full-blown court battle for control of one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.
The Legal Blockbuster Hits Court
So, here’s the deal: Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse Buss, the five siblings who want out, just put it all on paper, calling Jeanie’s petition “legally and factually baseless.” These five already voted to fold their piece of the Lakers into the massive $12 billion sale to the group led by billionaire Joshua Kushner and former Disney big shot Bob Iger. Jeanie, on the other hand, wants the family to hold onto their shares and keep some ownership slice of the team. She’s even hoping to retain a role in the organization herself.
Their attorneys didn’t mince words, making it crystal clear that these five siblings are laser-focused on getting this transaction done. They’re making sure all beneficiaries, Jeanie included, are treated equally. This filing was a necessary move to protect their interests and keep the whole deal on schedule. Jeanie, through her lawyer Adam Streisand, already tried to block the vote and the sale in Los Angeles Superior Court. She’s challenging the vote’s validity based on her read of the trust and some older lawsuits. But the other five? They’re confident they only need four votes and two-thirds of the co-trustees to force this sale, and guess what? They’ve got it, with Jeanie being the only trustee standing in the way.
Who’s Really Running the Show For a $12 Billion Team?
This isn’t small potatoes. The Buss family still owns a hefty 17.8% of the Lakers through a trust that includes all six siblings. They own this as a group, meaning it’s all or nothing for that stake. Five of them voted to use a tag-along clause, basically hitching their wagon to Mark Walter’s larger sale of the franchise. If that goes through, it would officially end the Buss family’s ownership of the team, a legacy their father Jerry started way back in 1979.
Initially, when the team sale was announced, Bob Iger himself said Jeanie could stay on as the team Governor, that’s the official go-between for the team and the NBA. But apparently, that’s shifted, because reports say Kushner himself will be taking over as Governor. And honestly, when you’re shelling out $12 billion for a team, you kinda expect to be calling the shots, right? This family spat isn’t gonna stop the big picture sale though. That’s still on track, assuming the Board of Governors signs off, whether the Buss family’s shares are part of it or not.
So, what’s next in this wild family saga? There’s a hearing already on the books for December 8. That’s when we’ll see if the Buss siblings can truly force this sale and officially close the book on an era, or if Jeanie Buss has another card up her sleeve. It’s a battle for a massive stake in an iconic team, and it’s far from over.
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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