Jeanie Buss recently opened up about the pivotal decision to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, emphasizing her late father Jerry Buss's vision for the franchise. In a candid conversation on CNBC, Buss highlighted that maintaining the Lakers' status among the NBA's elite was at the heart of the sale to billionaire Mark Walter.
Jerry Buss, who passed away in 2013, always prioritized keeping the Lakers at the pinnacle of the NBA. Jeanie noted, “To stay at the top of the NBA, you need to have the resources.
You need to have everybody pulling together.” This sentiment was crucial in the family's decision to sell nearly half of their 66 percent ownership to Walter, valuing the team at a staggering $10 billion.
The sale, finalized in October 2025, reduced the family's stake to about 17 percent, allowing Jeanie to continue as the team's governor under league regulations. The transition saw five of the six Buss siblings stepping away from their roles, with Jeanie retaining leadership through a new five-year contract. According to an ESPN source, this move underscored a significant internal shift, with Jeanie making decisive changes to the team’s management structure.
Jeanie emphasized that the decision was a collective one, deeply rooted in the best interests of the Lakers and their devoted fanbase. “It’s about the Lakers and the greatness and what the fans expect,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, Buss expressed optimism about the Lakers' future, highlighting the stability that the partnership with Walter brings as the team transitions towards building around Luka Doncic. At the same time, she left the door open for LeBron James, who is entering the final year of his contract, reinforcing her commitment to the franchise by stating, “I’m not going anywhere.”