The Buss siblings officially threw down the gauntlet this week, filing formal opposition to Jeanie Buss’s claim that they can’t sell their minority stake in the Lakers. This isn’t some quiet family disagreement, either. It’s the latest blast in an ownership battle that’s been brewing for months and, honestly, it’s not going away anytime soon. This whole mess just keeps screaming one thing: someone is actually trying to do what’s best for the Lakers, and it sure doesn’t look like Jeanie.
The Fight for the Lakers’ Future Is Heating Up
Remember that joint statement from the Buss siblings back in August? The one that said, “Our focus has always been what we believe is the best for the Lakers…” Yeah, that was when it became clear a fight was coming over the family trust’s share in the team. Now, they’ve made their intentions to sell their stake official. This isn’t necessarily about the new owners, Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, because let’s be real, they’re bringing their own baggage. This is about the Buss family finally moving on from the franchise. Call it cashing out, call it spite, call it pettiness. Whatever the motivation, their actions are pointing toward a solution that actually serves the team.
Compare that to Jeanie Buss’s message. Her lawyer’s letter was all about court orders mandating that the family vote for her to stay the controlling owner. It painted her as the hero swooping in to save the day from her “scheming” family. It even suggested that the family trust’s best interest is to hold onto its stake because franchise values are skyrocketing. Does any of that sound like someone whose main concern is the purple and gold? One side is making moves that, intentionally or not, serve the Lakers, even if they’re getting a massive payday. The other side? Not so much.
The “Messy Exit” Era Was Inevitable
Dr. Jerry Buss’s time as owner was incredibly fruitful for the Lakers, no doubt about it. But the era of his children? It’s been far from that. Sure, the team snagged a title under their watch, but get this: the Buss family has made twice as many court appearances in that same timeframe. Twice as many! The league has just completely outgrown the way the Buss family operates. Financial issues have become a bigger and bigger problem in recent years. It really seemed like the sale to Mark Walter could have been the perfect, graceful exit, letting them fade into the background. But that was always a pipe dream, right?
Honestly, there was only one way the Buss family was ever going to leave the franchise, and “graceful” was never going to be the word for it. A messy, unceremonious, totally contentious exit? That’s far more fitting for the Jeanie Buss era we’ve seen. This latest drama isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Though, credit where it’s due, the Buss siblings are publicly leaving the door open for this whole thing to end amicably, as they told The Athletic just this week. We’ll see how that plays out, because right now, it feels like this is just the beginning of a long, drawn-out battle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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