“It’s like déjà vu all over again.” No, we’re not saying that. Jeanie Buss is. The Los Angeles Lakers governor’s latest court filing opens with the famous Yogi Berra quote. The Buss siblings are once again set for a clash in a LA courtroom. Why? Jeanie has filed an explosive 97-page petition to block her five siblings (Joey, Janie, Jesse, Jim, and Johnny) from executing their secret agreement.

The fiasco occurred on August 11, only a day after NBA headlines broke the news that Mark Walter was selling his Lakers ownership to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger. Jeanie’s siblings had also collectively signed a resolution to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% stake. Upon hearing about it, Jeanie immediately refuted it, and her attorney, Adam Streisand, issued a letter and deemed the sale void.

That family matter is now in court, with Jeanie’s team filing a petition, accusing her brothers and sisters of engaging in “devious” conduct to undermine her governorship. Jeanie is asking the court to not only void her siblings’ votes, but to hold them in contempt for violating a prior court order, remove co-trustees Joey and Janie Buss for “breach of fiduciary duty,” and seek financial damages.

Highlighting the personal rift, Jeanie’s petition pulls no punches regarding the siblings’ personal motivations: “Their conduct is not driven by financial necessity but by animosity toward Jeanie and in willful disregard for the (Trust), this Court’s 2017 Order, their fiduciary duties, and Dr. Buss’s express intent.”

As detailed by NBA Insider Sam Amick, the filing establishes a firm timeline with a hearing scheduled for November 5. The petition alleges the Buss siblings had declared their intent to “move forward” with the sale and “refused” to withdraw their position even after “Jeanie offered to work cooperatively” toward a solution.

“Jeanie never agreed to any sale, was never consulted, and was never even informed,” the petition explicitly states.

Jeanie also spoke about the Lakers’ “continuously skyrocketing value” in her petition, arguing that selling their family stake doesn’t make any financial sense right now. Her goal is to carry out her father’s legacy and create value for fans. The Buss family’s stake will reportedly “only rise” under the new ownership.

“Jeanie thought she had put all of her siblings’ scheming and manipulations behind her in 2017,” her petition includes. “Sadly, that was not the case — and Jeanie must respectfully request relief from this Court a second time.”

The filing paints a picture of a severely fractured family executing a backdoor maneuver without consulting the team’s governing leader! But you’d be surprised to know that isn’t the only move the Buss siblings have made in the sports ownership market. Before that, though, let’s understand the Lakers-Buss situation better.

This is the second attempt by Jeanie’s siblings to reportedly strip her of control following their failed 2017 coup. After Jeanie had fired Jim as executive vice president of basketball operations, Jim and Johnny countered by calling for a board meeting to try to elect a new board of directors. The brothers reportedly excluded Jeanie from their list, and if approved, that would’ve blocked her out.

But Jeanie and her legal team immediately filed for a temporary restraining order to block the proposed board meeting. Jim and Johnny canceled their request soon after, and Jeanie also withdrew the restraining order. Years later, Mark Walter sought to sell the Lakers and found a new ownership duo. But it appears to have given the family another opportunity to throw Jeanie out of her seat.

Under NBA governing guidelines, a franchise governor must hold at least a 15% ownership stake in the team to maintain voting rights and operational authority. By attempting to sell the family trust’s entire 17.8% stake, Jeanie argues her siblings are intentionally forcing her below the NBA’s mandatory threshold.

Even buying the minority owners’ shares won’t get Jeanie to 15%. Moreover, minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong declared his intent to align with his friend Bob Iger.

Jeanie’s petition outlines five specific Causes of Action, most crucially asserting that a 2017 court order requires the trustees to take all necessary steps to ensure her position as Controlling Owner.

This legal showdown stems from the fallout of majority owner Mark Walter’s surprise announcement that he is selling his majority stake to billionaire venture capitalist Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger at a record $12.5 billion valuation. He sold it just 14 months after buying the team for $10 billion.

Under the proposed terms of that transfer, Jeanie was expected to remain governor for at least four more years. But, behind the scenes, her five siblings signed a resolution and issued a statement that prominently left out Jeanie.

“Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.”

With a formal court hearing now set for November, the legal maneuverings will determine whether the legacy of Dr. Jerry Buss remains under his designated successor’s control or undergoes a permanent restructuring. Two of the Buss siblings, however, appear to have moved forward with their financial dealings.

Buss brothers invest in LA’s biggest rival!

Buss Sports Capital, owned by Jesse and Joey Buss, has joined the San Diego Padres ownership group that includes husband-and-wife controlling owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. Although not officially confirmed, the LA Times suggests that popular reporting indicates the Buss brothers’ stake is 5%.

“Sports have always been a part of our family’s story, and great organizations have a unique ability to bring people together and create a lasting sense of community,” Joey said in a statement. “The Padres are on the cusp of something special, and through Buss Sports Capital, we look forward to bringing our experience and perspective to the ownership group and doing our part to build on the strong foundation already in place.”

This move was unexpected, given the Buss family’s association with LA and the Padres’ generational heated rivalry with the Dodgers. It also puts the Buss brothers in direct competition with former Lakers owner Mark Walter.

In his statement, Joey said he and Joey grew up in San Diego, which was the primary reason behind their investment.

Dave McMenamin of ESPN also noted that Jeanie’s brothers continue to pursue an ownership stake in the upcoming NBA Europe league.