Incoming Los Angeles Lakers owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have no immediate plans to change the franchise’s leadership structure. Following their record-breaking $12.5 billion purchase of the team, Iger confirmed that Jeanie Buss will remain the Lakers’ governor, honoring the agreement reached when Mark Walter acquired the franchise from the Buss family.
Under Walter’s original $10 billion purchase agreement, Buss was guaranteed to remain governor of the Lakers for at least five years.
“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and everything they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “We fully intend to honor the agreement made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change down the road, they’ll change, but we’re entering this partnership with tremendous respect for who she is and what she represents to the organization.”
Iger revealed that he and Josh Kushner completed the acquisition of Walter’s majority stake in just three business days after learning the team could become available. At the time, the pair had been pursuing ownership opportunities connected to the NBA’s planned Las Vegas expansion franchise.
The former Disney CEO also said he has already spoken with Jeanie Buss and new head coach JJ Redick, although he has not yet had the opportunity to speak with Lakers superstar Luka Dončić.
According to Iger, the ownership group has not yet established a long-term plan for the franchise, noting that the transaction came together quickly and that discussions about the team’s future are only just beginning.
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