Los Angeles Lakers Set for New Era After Record $12.5 Billion Sale

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into another major chapter, but this time the biggest change is happening away from the basketball court.

Businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger have agreed to acquire control of the Lakers at a reported valuation of $12.5 billion, according to The Associated Press. If completed, the transaction would become the highest-valued team sale in sports history.

A Historic Valuation

The Lakers were already one of the most valuable franchises in professional sports. The latest agreement takes that value to another level.

Mark Walter acquired a controlling stake in the franchise from the Buss family for a reported $10 billion in 2025. The new agreement would therefore represent another enormous change in ownership in a remarkably short period.

The transaction still needs approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors before it can be completed.

Who Are the New Buyers?

Josh Kushner is the founder of Thrive Capital, a venture-capital firm, while Bob Iger is one of the most recognizable executives in the entertainment industry after leading The Walt Disney Company.

For Lakers fans, the combination brings together two people with very different backgrounds but significant business experience.

The agreement has also attracted attention because the Lakers are one of the NBA’s most globally recognized franchises, with a long history of championships and legendary players.

Lakers Already Going Through Major Changes

The ownership news comes during an especially eventful period for Los Angeles.

The Lakers have already undergone significant changes on the basketball side. Luka Dončić remains the centerpiece of the team’s future after his blockbuster arrival, while LeBron James has moved to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season.

That means the franchise is entering the new season with changes in both its ownership structure and its roster.

What Could This Mean for the Lakers?

The immediate impact of the ownership change remains uncertain because the agreement still requires league approval.

However, the Lakers’ enormous global profile means the new ownership group will face expectations from fans who want the franchise to remain a championship contender.

For Los Angeles, the next few years could be about building around Dončić while establishing a new direction at the ownership level.

One thing is already clear: the Lakers are entering a new era, and the price tag attached to that era is historic.

What Happens Next?

The next major step is NBA approval of the proposed transaction. Until that process is completed, the agreement should be viewed as a pending change of control rather than a finalized ownership transfer.

For Lakers fans, the focus will now turn to two questions: what the new ownership group plans for the franchise and whether those plans can eventually produce another championship.

This article was independently written for Next Play Report using publicly available reporting. It does not reproduce or copy another publication’s article.

Sources: Associated Press and Reuters reporting.