Lakers Sale 2026: Buss Family Court Date Set for Dec. 8

Mark Walter agreed to sell his Lakers stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation, and a court date set for Dec. 8 now hangs over the Buss family's piece of the deal, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. The story ran Tuesday morning, Oct. 27. The Lakers are 3-0 and play Portland tonight.

Lakers Sale 2026: How the Deal Came Together

ESPN says the deal came together in 72 hours. Kushner and Iger first called a financial source on Aug. 7, Kushner made the offer to Walter on Aug. 9, and an agreement was reached by the evening of Aug. 11. News of the sale broke on Aug. 12.

The $12.5 billion valuation is a 25 percent increase in 14 months. Walter bought his first 27 percent of the franchise at a $5 billion valuation in 2021, and ESPN reports the sale would yield him nearly $4 billion. Jeanie Buss sold the majority stake to Walter in 2025 at a $10 billion valuation, a deal that was expected to give each of her siblings about $800 million and kept her as controlling owner for five years.

The dates in ESPN's account, in order:

Sept. 18, 2025: the FBI raid at Midway Airport reported by the Wall Street Journal

Aug. 7, 2026: Kushner and Iger first call a financial source

Aug. 9, 2026: Kushner makes the offer to Walter

Aug. 11, 2026: agreement reached in the evening

Aug. 12, 2026: news of the sale breaks

Dec. 8: court date, if there is no settlement

The Buss Family Dispute

The open question is the family's remaining 17.8 percent. Per ESPN, five of the six Buss siblings voted to sell that stake. Jeanie Buss did not vote and is contesting the sale. A court date is set for Dec. 8 if the sides do not reach a settlement. ESPN reports each sibling could gain an additional $371 million if the full stake is sold.

As a check on the reported figures: six siblings at $371 million each is about $2.2 billion, which is what 17.8 percent of a $12.5 billion franchise comes to.

Sources told ESPN they expect the NBA to approve the Kushner-Iger purchase by the end of the year or early next year.

Walter's Federal Investigations

ESPN reports that Walter is under multiple federal investigations and cites a Wall Street Journal report of an FBI raid on Sept. 18, 2025, at Chicago's Midway Airport. Walter's company, TWG, has denied wrongdoing. ESPN's headline refers to uncertainty that still looms over the sale.

The Luka Doncic Angle

ESPN calls Kushner and Iger the fifth team owners Luka Doncic has had in three years, across two franchises. After the deal was announced, Doncic posted on X: "I've gotten used to big changes over these last few years."

The Betting Impact

The sale is an ownership story, not a roster move. What the standings show is a team off to a fast start. The Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 on Oct. 21, the Clippers 125-117 on Oct. 23 and Utah 132-123 on Oct. 25, according to ESPN's schedule page. Those margins were 22, 8 and 9 points, a combined 39 over three games. Across the three games the Lakers averaged 128 points and allowed an average of 115, arithmetic from the scores above. At 3-0 they sit fourth in the Western Conference standings, half a game behind the three teams that are 4-0: Houston, Oklahoma City and Memphis.

Per ESPN's championship market, which names DraftKings as the provider but carries no timestamp, the Lakers are at +2500. That is roughly a 3.8 percent implied probability. It ties them with two other teams on the board, and eight teams are listed shorter.

Treat that number as a snapshot, because the feed does not say when the price was set.

What to Watch Next

The schedule is the nearest decision point. The Lakers host Portland tonight. The Trail Blazers are 2-0 and sit fifth in ESPN's Western Conference standings, one game behind the 4-0 teams. After that the Lakers visit the Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Golden State on Friday, Oct. 30. Toronto visits on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Off the court, the dates are the Dec. 8 court date and the NBA's approval, which ESPN reports is expected by the end of the year or early next year.

For the Lakers' price against the full field, see StatSniper's NBA championship odds board. The full ownership story is on ESPN. StatSniper's AI sports picks page covers the nightly slate. See also Chad.

FAQ

Who is buying the Lakers in 2026? Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, per ESPN, buying Mark Walter's stake at a $12.5 billion valuation.

When is the Buss family court date? Dec. 8, if the sides do not reach a settlement first, per ESPN.

How much is the Lakers sale worth? A $12.5 billion valuation, per ESPN, up 25 percent in 14 months. Walter's first 27 percent stake was bought at $5 billion in 2021.

Who controls the Lakers now? Per ESPN, Mark Walter bought the majority stake from Jeanie Buss in 2025 at a $10 billion valuation, and the agreement kept Buss as controlling owner for five years.

When is NBA approval of the Lakers sale expected? Sources told ESPN they expect approval by the end of the year or early next year.

What are the Lakers' championship odds? +2500 per ESPN's DraftKings championship feed, which carries no timestamp.

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