Los Angeles Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss is taking her siblings to court to block the sale of their remaining 17.8 percent stake in the franchise. This legal move threatens to end the Buss family's 47-year ownership era with a messy, public feud over a $12.5 billion takeover led by Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger. The team's recent on-court struggles, including a 110-115 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 12, 2026, and a 1W-4L record in their last five games, form a turbulent backdrop to this off-court drama.
What is the legal battle about?
Jeanie Buss filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to stop her five siblings from selling their minority shares. The franchise was left to Jerry Buss's six children via a family trust when he died in 2013. After selling their majority stake to Mark Walter last year, five siblings voted to sell the remaining shares. Jeanie, the 64-year-old controlling owner and team governor, calls their actions 'devious' in court documents obtained by the Daily Mail. She will lose her governing position unless she retains at least 15 percent ownership, something she is fighting to keep.
A close observer told the Daily Mail, 'It's definitely a lot of chaos. It's probably not going to get sorted out anytime soon.' The process of removing the Buss name from the franchise they built is turning ugly. Jeanie believed she would be Governor of the team indefinitely, but the new sale has changed everything drastically.
Why does this matter for the Los Angeles Lakers?
Jeanie Buss's identity is tied to the Lakers, and a sale could redefine the team's legacy. A second source said, 'Her identity has been the Lakers and now all that is changing and causing a major rift with her family that she is going to battle for a long time.' The Lakers' success traces back to her father, Jerry. If the sale goes through and the team's new identity fails to win, Jeanie may feel it tarnishes her legacy.
The family spokesperson said in 2013, 'The family has no interest in ever selling the team.' However, the siblings later revealed that selling was discussed immediately after their father's death. Jeanie was considered the 'swing vote' for over a decade before finally agreeing to sell the majority stake. Her brother Johnny told ESPN, 'I really have no idea why Jeanie decided to do this. Truthfully, if she did have a reason, I didn't want to hear it.'
What comes next for the franchise?
Legal battles and backdoor meetings are expected in the coming months. The source added, 'Jeanie is not going to go away silently.' This internal conflict arrives as the team looks to improve its recent form, which includes losing its last four games. Fans tracking the team's progress can check upcoming matchups on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
The $12.5 billion takeover by Kushner and Iger hangs in the balance pending the court's decision. This feud concludes a complex 47-year period that included 11 NBA championships. Jeanie Buss's fight is not just about ownership percentage but about preserving her father's vision and her own life's work with the iconic franchise.
