The Los Angeles Lakers are officially off the market, AGAIN. Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger just dropped a staggering $12.5 billion to buy the iconic NBA franchise from Mark Walter, marking the largest sale of a professional sports team in history. This wild transaction comes barely a year after Walter himself purchased the team for $10 billion, showing that in today’s sports economy, nothing stays put for long.
That’s One Fast Flip: Who Are These New Owners?
Talk about a quick turnaround! Mark Walter, who also owns MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, bought the Lakers in June 2025. Now, just 14 months later, he’s selling them for a cool $2.5 billion profit. Kushner, the younger brother of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared, is no stranger to the NBA game; he was previously a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies and snagged a stake in the Miami Heat last year. His wife, supermodel Karlie Kloss, even has a limited partnership in the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Iger, meanwhile, brings some serious corporate muscle from his time leading Disney. The duo initially scoped out an expansion franchise in Las Vegas, but pivoted hard to grab the Lakers instead. “As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Kushner and Iger stated. They’ve promised to build on the Buss family’s foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve the team, fans, and city of Los Angeles. That $12.5 billion price tag blows past other valuations, too; for context, our very own Seahawks were valued at $9.6 billion, the Celtics at $6.1 billion. This Laker deal is truly in a league of its own.
A Tall Task for Luka Dončić and the Crew
While the owners’ suite gets new faces, the Lakers on the court are already dealing with massive changes. LeBron James bolted in free agency after eight seasons to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving Luka Dončić to lead the charge. Dončić, alongside Austin Reaves and newly acquired big man Walker Kessler, now shoulders the immense pressure to get the purple and gold back to title contention. Since their 2020 championship, the Lakers have won only three playoff series and advanced past the second round just once. That’s a rough stretch for a team with 17 championships, second only to the Boston Celtics’ 18. With serious questions about their depth and Western Conference giants like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs looking absolutely unstoppable, Dončić has a truly tall task ahead. FanDuel gives the Lakers the sixth-best odds (+2500) to win the West, which tells you everything about the climb they face.
With new ownership firmly in place, the spotlight shines even brighter on Luka Dončić and his squad. They’ve got depth issues and absolute titans in the West, making that path to contention a brutal climb. Kushner and Iger have stated their commitment to competing, but the heavy lifting on the court starts right now for Dončić and the crew as they navigate this fresh era.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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