Reported $12.5 Billion Lakers Deal Puts Iger and Kushner in Line for Control

The Los Angeles Lakers are headed toward another ownership change, with Joshua Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger reported to have agreed to buy the franchise in a deal valued above $12 billion. The transaction would reset the price ceiling for a sports team if it receives league approval.

Reuters, citing an ESPN report based on sources familiar with the agreement, initially placed the price at more than $12 billion. The Associated Press later reported a $12.5 billion figure and said the sale still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors, expected to consider it in September.

The reported deal follows Mark Walter’s acquisition of a controlling Lakers stake at a $10 billion valuation in 2025. That transaction was approved by the league in October, meaning the NBA’s marquee franchise could change hands twice in less than a year if the new agreement closes.

Iger brings decades of media and entertainment leadership, along with sports ownership experience through an investment in Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Kushner is the founder of Thrive Capital and has recently been linked to broader sports-investment activity, including an earlier pursuit of an NBA expansion opportunity.

For the Lakers, the financial headline is only the first layer. A new controlling group would inherit a global brand, a demanding fan base and the expectation that ownership decisions support championship contention. Until the league votes, however, the reported buyers should be described as prospective owners rather than the team’s final controlling group.

The record valuation also reflects how media rights, international reach, venue economics and scarcity continue to push elite franchise prices upward. The Lakers’ value carries added weight because their business influence extends well beyond the standings and into entertainment, sponsorships and worldwide merchandising.

Read Reuters’ report for the original account of the proposed transaction. Editorial image: Bob Iger photographed by Village Global, cropped by Power1047, licensed CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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