Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma didn’t hide his surprise after learning the franchise is changing hands once again. Reacting on X, Kuzma wrote: “Nobody flips a crown jewel in 14 months because it’s going well,” raising questions about why Mark Walter would sell one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises so quickly.
Nobody flips a crown jewel in 14 months because its gong well🤯 https://t.co/LtjucZ08Ax
— kuz (@kylekuzma) August 12, 2026
Walter agreed to purchase a controlling stake in the Lakers from the Buss family in 2025 at a valuation of roughly $10 billion. Now, just 14 months later, he has agreed to sell the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner for a record $12.5 billion, a deal that still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors.
The rapid turnaround has sparked widespread speculation across the NBA, particularly as Walter’s business empire remains under federal scrutiny. While no charges have been filed, the timing of the sale has fueled questions about the reasons behind the transaction.
Kuzma’s comments carry extra significance because of his history with the organization. Drafted in 2017, he spent his first four NBA seasons with the Lakers and played a key role in the team’s 2020 NBA championship, averaging 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists across 276 games in purple and gold.
In 2021, Kuzma was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles. Despite his departure, he has repeatedly expressed how much his Lakers years meant to him, saying he will always be “cemented as a Lakers champion.”
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