The Los Angeles Lakers have undergone a surprising ownership change. An ownership group featuring Bob Iger, former Disney CEO, and Josh Kushner purchased the team for $12.5 billion.
This shift is particularly interesting given Iger’s past as a Los Angeles Clippers fan. Known for his court-side support of the Clippers, Iger’s involvement in purchasing the Lakers is unexpected. He previously expressed his inability to support the Lakers during a 2021 podcast hosted by JJ Redick, currently the team’s head coach.
Iger remarked, “I couldn’t root for the Lakers very easily. It just was not in my DNA.”
His Knicks fandom and the cost difference between Clippers and Lakers games led to his original choice to support the Clippers. Iger once stated that “their seats were a lot cheaper than the Lakers.”
Despite his past preferences, Iger now holds a stake in the Lakers. This acquisition follows a quick financial transaction. Billionaire Mark Walter had bought the Buss family’s controlling interest in the Lakers for $10 billion in June 2025. Only 14 months later, Walter sold the franchise for $12.5 billion.
The rapid resale may coincide with Walter’s business operations facing federal scrutiny over private-credit investments. Although no evidence connects the sale with the investigation, it adds complexity to the transaction’s timing.
It is evident that Iger is financially capable of participating in this purchase. His involvement signifies a significant twist in his past stance against rooting for the Lakers. Now, Iger is poised to influence the future of a franchise he once viewed as rival to his Clippers loyalty.
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