For Jeanie Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers represent far more than a basketball team. They carry her family’s legacy, triumphs, setbacks, and defining moments. That attachment has sparked questions about her grip on the franchise. Some see loyalty, while others see obsession. But one perspective cuts deeper, suggesting Buss possesses an invaluable experience that could make her impossible to replace within the franchise.
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5-time NBA champ Derek Fisher shared his insights. “It’s not just the Buss name, right, that Jeanie would be able to continue to bring to discussions, conversations, meetings. It’s the perspective; it’s the actual life experience of growing up with a front row seat to a team owner.” He added, “That navigated situations at the highest level, led teams to world titles, and then became a part of the business.”
Fisher also said, “And has that experience, has sat in the room at Board of Governors meetings with other NBA team owners and the commissioner of the league as well. And so, it’s hard to, not replace, but it’s hard to find that type of experience and add it to when you’re now becoming a steward of one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world.”
Jeanie Buss stands at the center of the Lakers’ modern story. She inherited the franchise after her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, died in 2013 and later secured full control following a 2017 family and legal settlement. As team governor, she also speaks for Los Angeles among NBA owners. In 2020, Buss made history as the first woman controlling owner to lead a team to an NBA championship, collecting her sixth ring overall.
Therefore, many often refer to her as the matriarch of the league. And rightfully so. But the NBA might lose the only female owner. Moreover, the Lakers cannot afford reckless experimentation during this major transition from Mark Walter to Josh Kusher-Bob Iger.
They need a clear, proven plan. Experienced advisers can help identify what has worked, what has failed, and what adjustments are necessary. Their knowledge can reduce mistakes and provide valuable guidance when making crucial decisions.
4% shareholder Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and other seasoned figures could become important resources for Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Their familiarity with the league’s inner workings could help the new leadership understand each stage. They can offer perspective during the ownership transition and guide the proposal through the approval process. However, approval alone will not guarantee success.
The majority of NBA owners must first support the proposal. After that, Kushner and Iger must deliver on their vision. Having people who have successfully managed similar challenges could make that execution far smoother.
Legal experts offer their insights on the Jeanie Buss drama
To understand the dispute, The Athletic spoke with nine attorneys. Most have backgrounds in trust and estate laws. They offered insight into the legal issues and what could come next.
“I think everyone has a perfect right to be kind of confused about this. Because as a trust and estates professor, I’m a little confused about this,” one of them said. “We’re all kind of in the dark.”
Uncertainty remains as three arrangements now collide. The trust needs 4-of-6 Buss children to approve it. The 2017 ruling protects Jeanie Buss as controlling owner. Mark Walter’s 2025 deal lets Jeanie stay governor for five years. Meanwhile, the NBA rules reportedly require a team governor to maintain at least a 15% ownership stake in the franchise.
The Buss family trust’s remaining 17.8% interest is therefore central to the dispute. If that stake is sold in full, Jeanie Buss would no longer meet the ownership threshold required to remain the Lakers’ governor.
Now, without a settlement, the dispute could become a lengthy legal fight. Such cases may take years, although arbitration could speed things up. A quick court order could also freeze the proposed sale. Moreover, the unusual trust adds another wrinkle. Its last person standing rule eventually shifts shares to surviving beneficiaries. That creates pressure to sell sooner.
Ultimately, the Lakers’ ownership transition remains far from settled. Jeanie Buss’s future with the franchise, the fate of the Buss family’s legacy, and the direction of the new ownership group will depend on how the ongoing dispute is resolved.