Jeanie Buss, Lakers accomplish what Mavericks, Mark Cuban couldn't in sale

Jeanie Buss recently sold the Los Angeles Lakers to the CEO of TWG Global.

Nov 6, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban during the game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

In a bombshell piece of basketball news, the Buss family has entered into an agreement to sell a majority share of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of TWG Global. Walter has been a minority owner for the franchise since 2021 and will now take over for the Buss family, who have been in charge since Jerry Buss bought the organization in 1979. The price of the sale is expected to be an estimated $10 billion.

BREAKING: The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, sources tell ESPN. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale. pic.twitter.com/1Da6LDD7TJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2025

Despite the change in ownership, Jeanie Buss will still remain the team's governor. That brings up the question, why couldn't Mark Cuban do the same thing?

READ MORE: Mavericks linked in trade rumors for $71 million former lottery pick

Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers Jeanie Buss attends the game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

When Mark Cuban sold the Mavericks in December 2023 to the Adelson family, he still wanted to be the team's governor or in charge of basketball operations, but that didn't happen for one reason or another. Cuban says he was told he'd still have operational control, but they didn't get it in writing, so Cuban was swept away for Nico Harrison, the team's general manager.

Because of that mishap, Harrison was able to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025, less than a year after making the NBA Finals with him. Cuban has made it known that if he were still in charge, that deal would've never happened. He'd been on record saying he'd rather get divorced than get rid of Doncic.

Since that trade, the team missed the playoffs entirely as players went down with injuries left and right, but they were able to win the first overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. That 1.8% lottery luck may have saved the franchise from a doomed future, as Cooper Flagg could be the next face of the organization as he develops.

READ MORE: Mavericks make major coaching change amid recent turnover

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