On Monday afternoon, NBA insider Shams Charania sent the basketball world into a frenzy by reporting that the Buss family decided to sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
A few hours later, Jeanie Buss pushed back through a letter from her lawyer, Adam F. Streisand, directly disputing Charania’s report. The stunning contradiction quickly became another major talking point surrounding ESPN’s NBA coverage.
NBA World Sounds Off As Jeanie Buss Challenges Shams Charania’s Report on Lakers Stake Sale
The latest Lakers ownership drama comes roughly a week after majority owner Mark Walter agreed to sell his remaining stake to Kushner and Iger. The NBA had only approved Walter’s Lakers ownership transition in October 2025, making another major change so soon afterward particularly notable.
Following the reported transaction, Charania wrote:
“The Buss trust — composed of siblings Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse — received majority votes to allow trustees to execute the sale. It required four of six votes to enact the tag-along provision of Mark Walter’s sale to Kushner and Iger, which valued the Lakers at $12.5 billion. At least five of the six siblings voted to sell, sources said.”
Buss’ attorney, however, strongly disputed that account.
“This afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger,” the letter, which CNBC’s Alex Sherman obtained, reads.
“… No sale of the JAB Trust’s 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.”
That direct contradiction immediately sent NBA social media into overdrive.
“Lmfao what is going on with ESPN today,” an X user tweeted.
Lmfao what is going on with ESPN today https://t.co/ObCm1EYjoX
— Iman Shumpert’s Barber (@imansbarber) August 17, 2026
“How many times is Shams going to go off script or inaccurately report something and still be employed lol,” an NBA observer wondered.
how many times is Shams going to go off script or inaccurately report something and still be employed lol https://t.co/tklWBoEyHT
— ‎ً (@3randyn) August 17, 2026
“This is incredible,” another NBA supporter added.
This is incredible… https://t.co/dlahN9AqJx
— TJ (@TraMurr2) August 17, 2026
“ESPN has lost so much credibility today holy [expletive],” a Portland Trail Blazers fan wrote.
“Shams getting called out,” a Green Bay Packers supporter reacted.
Shams getting called out https://t.co/dPFvzwVo10
— Faisal Hassan (@Faazzla) August 17, 2026
The backlash also comes amid separate scrutiny of ESPN’s reporting on the NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.
Earlier in the day, the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” reported that “The NBA has no evidence Ballmer funnelled money to Leonard via sponsors.”
NBA Communications Officer Mike Bass subsequently responded to the report by Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes, and Ramona Shelburne:
“ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation — for which the NBA declined to cooperate — contains numerous and significant inaccuracies. The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.”
Now, the Lakers ownership story has produced another public dispute between a major NBA insider and an organization directly involved in the report.
If the Buss family ultimately completes the sale of the remaining stake, Jeanie would also face a significant consequence. She would have to step down as Lakers governor because that position requires at least 15% ownership of the franchise.
For now, the reported sale of the Buss family’s stake is anything but settled. Charania’s report says one thing, Jeanie’s legal team says another, and the NBA world is left waiting for clarity. Until the ownership documents and the people authorized to approve the transaction settle the matter, this is one Lakers story that remains very much unfinished.
