# Lakers shockingly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion

**URL:** <https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835>\
**Category:** Sports\
**Created:** [August 12, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835 "2026-08-12T14:52:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/1 "2026-08-12T14:52:53Z")

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> **[Lakers shockingly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion](https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/sports/lakers-sold-to-josh-kusner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-billion-in-nba-shocker/)**
>
> There’s a new Lakers owner — again.

I can’t wait to read the takes in the Los Angeles Times, especially Bill Plaschke. Almost all Lakers fans were happy when the Dodgers’ owners bought the Lakers. For some reason I don’t think people will be as excited about this.

On a related point, I expect this to come up too. Whether or not it actually has any bearing on this, I have no idea.

> **[Lakers Owner Mark Walter Linked To Federal Investigation Involving His Companies](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/lakers-owner-mark-walter-linked-174535259.html)**
>
> Federal authorities are reportedly investigating companies linked to Walter, though no wrongdoing has been alleged or charged.

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**Author:** ![brobbs](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/brobbs/32/4993_2.png) [@brobbs](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/brobbs)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/2 "2026-08-12T15:30:53Z")

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> [@wmj](#):
>
> For some reason I don’t think people will be as excited about this.

Same here.

> [@wmj](#):
>
> [https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/lakers-owner-mark-walter-linked-174535259.html](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/lakers-owner-mark-walter-linked-174535259.html)

Definitely doesn’t seem shady or convenient… 😒

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/3 "2026-08-12T16:00:14Z")

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> [@brobbs](#):
>
> > [@wmj](#):
> >
> > For some reason I don’t think people will be as excited about this.
> 
> Same here.

Here are some early comments from Reddit. Not everyone is happy.

https://embed.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1vmf37g/shelburne_the_los_angeles_lakers_are_being_sold/?embed=true&ref_source=embed&ref=share

Like I said, I am waiting for Bill Plaschke’s column. He is always full of hyperbole and I expect a good serving of it here.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/4 "2026-08-12T20:28:45Z")

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Just an update, but as of now Bill Plaschke has yet to write anything about this. Usually you can expect to hear from him within a couple of hours max when something like this breaks. He must be totally caught off-guard and not know what hyperbole to write.

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**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/5 "2026-08-12T21:01:44Z")

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Finally, just a bit later than normal:

> **[Commentary: Too many questions, not enough answers. Lakers sale doesn’t pass...](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2026-08-12/too-many-questions-lakers-sale-does-not-pass-smell-test)**
>
> Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner have no history in L.A. They have no experience. They have no credibility. This isn’t Disney. This isn’t some hedge fund.

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**Author:** ![brobbs](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/brobbs/32/4993_2.png) [@brobbs](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/brobbs)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/6 "2026-08-13T00:01:28Z")

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> [@wmj](#):
>
> Finally, just a bit later than normal:
> 
> [Commentary: Too many questions, not enough answers. Lakers sale doesn’t pass smell test](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2026-08-12/too-many-questions-lakers-sale-does-not-pass-smell-test)

I’m not going to read the whole article, but the preview that shows up in the link sums it up nicely.

I predict this will work as well for these two dingbats as Trump’s casino worked for him.

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**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/7 "2026-08-13T00:31:30Z")

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My favorite Bob Iger sports-related story goes back to when he was pushing the football stadium project for the Raiders and Chargers in Carson, CA. That did not go over well.

> **[Disney's Bob Iger isn't funny in the eyes of NFL owners](https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2016/02/13/did-bob-igers-jokes-help-rams-move-to-l-a/81090371007/)**
>
> There's nothing worse and more awkward than a failed attempt at humor. Everyone has that friend who tries to be funny but stumbles at every attempt to tell or make a joke. By the time he explains  himself, it's too late and he becomes the joke. Bob...

_On behalf of Carson, Iger went next. He tried to “break the ice,” he says now, with a joke about how in his 42 years at ABC and Disney, he had paid more money to the NFL than anyone else. The quip was met with blank stares. For about 20 minutes, Iger spoke with a slideshow behind him, then ended with another prepared line, a spin-off of the famous commercial of the Super Bowl MVP shouting, “I’m going to Disney World!” “I hope I’m going to the NFL!” Iger said. Again, silence. After Iger left the ballroom and returned to his suite, [Jerry] Jones said, “He said he paid us. Last time I checked, that money is coming from Disney shareholders, not him.”_

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/crparrothead/32/6648_2.png) [@crparrothead](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/crparrothead)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/8 "2026-08-17T23:58:59Z")

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[https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nba/article/jeanie-buss-rips-siblings-attempt-to-sell-lakers-minority-stake-in-scathing-letter-from-lawyer-225906012.html](https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nba/article/jeanie-buss-rips-siblings-attempt-to-sell-lakers-minority-stake-in-scathing-letter-from-lawyer-225906012.html)

Not so fast.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/9 "2026-08-18T02:28:29Z")

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That does not affect the majority share sale. It only affects the 18% share that the Buss family retained after the sale to Walter. They can either keep that minority share under the new ownership group or sell it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/10 "2026-08-18T19:16:39Z")

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And, speaking of Buss family drama:  
[https://www.espn.com/nba/story/\_/id/47594947/inside-jeanie-jerry-buss-family-infighting-drove-10b-sale-los-angeles-lakers-mark-walter](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47594947/inside-jeanie-jerry-buss-family-infighting-drove-10b-sale-los-angeles-lakers-mark-walter)

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**Author:** ![mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/mcarley/32/5644_2.png) [@mcarley](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/mcarley)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/11 "2026-08-18T22:20:08Z")

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> [@wmj](#):
>
> And, speaking of Buss family drama:  
> [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/\_/id/47594947/inside-jeanie-jerry-buss-family-infighting-drove-10b-sale-los-angeles-lakers-mark-walter](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/%5C_/id/47594947/inside-jeanie-jerry-buss-family-infighting-drove-10b-sale-los-angeles-lakers-mark-walter)

Wow, that looks like a treatment for a network soap drama.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/12 "2026-08-19T12:56:59Z")

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And, this keeps getting bigger:

> **[Mark Walter's LA Lakers sale covered 1/3rd of $20 billion debt, could be...](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mark-walter-la-lakers-sale-104457752.html)**
>
> Mark Walter's history of big spending might finally be catching up to him! 👀

If he has to sell the Dodgers, there will be a lot of Dodgers fans with heartburn. For that matter, there will still be a few with heartburn regardless. If what is written about Walter’s debts is true, it does not look good.

Edit: This is not a good look either:

> **[Mark Walter tried selling lucrative Dodgers, Lakers TV deals for lump-sum to...](https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/mark_walter_tried_selling_lucrative_dodgers_lakers_tv_deals_for_lump_sum_to_repay_20_billion_debt/s1_17664_44192756)**
>
> LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter's legal troubles forced him to seek potential one-time lump-sum payments for a cash boost from local broadcast partners.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/user_avatar/discourse.thelastforum.com/wmj/32/1794_2.png) [@wmj](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/u/wmj)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://discourse.thelastforum.com/t/lakers-shockingly-sold-to-josh-kushner-bob-iger-for-historic-12-5-billion/109835/13 "2026-08-19T17:19:43Z")

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On a related point, I can’t help but wonder if their decision to defer most of Shohei Ohtani’s payments until 2034 has something to do with this. When he signed that contract, a lot of local pundits were talking about how brilliant the Dodgers were with this approach. Now, I am waiting to see what these pundits say.

> **[The jaw-dropping amount of deferred money LA Dodgers and Mark Walter owe...](https://www.hitc.com/the-jaw-dropping-amount-of-deferred-money-la-dodgers-and-mark-walter-owe-shohei-ohtani/)**
>
> The jaw-dropping amount of deferred money LA Dodgers and Mark Walter owe Shohei Ohtani