Biggest Questions to Answer After Lakers' Shocking Sale to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner

The record-setting deal casts uncertainty over the futures of Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka and the revamped Los Angeles Lakers' front office built around Luka Doncic.

Nov 10, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Disney CEO Bob Iger on the sidelines in the first half of a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After Mark Walter took over as the new team owner of the Los Angeles Lakers a little more than a year ago, the storied NBA franchise was officially headed in a new and exciting direction, considering the team was expected to follow the blueprint set by the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom Walter has owned since 2012 and guided to three World Series titles.

In a drastic turn of events that seemingly came out of nowhere, Walter has pivoted, agreeing to sell the Lakers to Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney, and Josh Kushner for a record-setting $12.5 billion.

Once the news broke about Walter selling the team, sending shockwaves throughout Los Angeles and the sports world, he issued a statement about the move via ESPN.

"Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life -- an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in a statement. “I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

What Happens to the Revamped Lakers’ Front Office?

With Walter at the helm, the Lakers underwent drastic changes right away, as the new team owner wasted no time putting his imprint on the franchise while adding pieces to the puzzle that have helped the Dodgers become one of the most dominant franchises in MLB over the last decade.

The Lakers brought in Lon Rosen as the new president of business operations, replacing Tim Harris, who had held that position with the team for a long time. 

Apr 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten (left) and executive vice president Lon Rosen before a game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Walter and company also added other notable names like Tony Bennett (NBA Draft advisor), Michael Spetner (chief strategy and growth officer), Elaine Shen (chief financial officer) and Rohan Ramadas (assistant general manager), while also having Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi helping out as advisors.

These are massive changes meant to steer the Lakers in the right direction for years to come, but now uncertainty looms, as it remains to be seen whether Iger and Kushner will move forward with the changes or bring in their own people.

The following statement was issued by the new Lakers owners on Wednesday.

"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss," Kushner and Iger said in a statement. "Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."

Obviously, this statement doesn’t provide much new information or hint at what the new ownership intends to do once the sale becomes official, which only leads to more uncertainty.

Lakers Need to Stay the Course Under New Ownership

Mar 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) react during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The smart move for Iger and Kushner is to stay the course that Walter has set for the team. Shaking things up after a massive overhaul will only create more chaos in a situation that already has many unanswered questions.

The last thing the new ownership wants is to make superstar Luka Doncic and the team's new additions to the team worry about the direction the franchise is headed. Doncic and company have already been sold, and what the team planned to do under Walter, so changing course is about as bad a look as can be for the Lakers.

However, after investing $12 billion, Kushner and Iger will want things run their way, so continuing with Walter’s vision for the future with the people already in place might not be what they want.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson reacted to the news on social media, saying Lakers fans should be happy with what they are getting from the ownership change.

Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years - he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 12, 2026

What Does New Ownership Mean for Rob Pelinka & Jeanie Buss?

Feb 22, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss watches at unveiling of statue of former Lakers coach Pat Riley at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Once the Buss family handed Walter the reins, he immediately cleaned house by parting ways with Joey and Jesse Buss, sparking speculation about Jeanie Buss’ future with the franchise.

Ultimately, it was determined that Jeanie would remain in her current position as team governor for at least five more years, but that could change quickly under new ownership, meaning she’s on shaky ground at the moment unless keeping her in that role was part of the deal.

Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka watches during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Longtime general manager Rob Pelinka is also in a similar position, as there’s no telling whether he could be on his way out with new ownership taking over.

Pelinka was given a vote of confidence by Walter and company heading into the NBA offseason, and he has delivered by making the moves the team set out to make, namely re-signing Austin Reaves and bringing in Walker Kessler while also making moves to overhaul the roster in the post-LeBron James era.

So, after being assured that they would be part of Walter’s plans for the Lakers, Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka could be facing uncertain futures with the team.

Uncertainty Looms for the New-Look Lakers

Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Under Walter, the Lakers had a team owner with a proven track record of success in professional sports, turning the Dodgers back into a powerhouse in MLB, with the intention of doing the same down the street in Los Angeles.

He has deep pockets and has never shied away from spending the money needed to build a perennial championship contender, even if it meant taking on the new challenge of everything that comes with how the NBA does business.

That success and willingness to go above and beyond held great promise for the Lakers' future, but now uncertainty has returned to Los Angeles.

Only time will tell what direction and changes Iger and Kushner will make, and whether that will be a step in the right direction or potentially disastrous for Luka Doncic and this revamped Lakers squad.

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