The Los Angeles Lakers’ ownership drama has escalated from front-office friction to an upcoming courtroom showdown. The iconic franchise is embroiled in a legal battle after controlling owner Jeanie Buss filed a petition this week to block her five siblings (Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse) from selling the remaining 17.8% stake in the team to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
The hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles Superior Court, with fan frustrations already boiling over.
NBA World Reacts to Jeanie Buss’ Escalating Legal Battle Over Lakers Sale
In 2025, the Buss family sold the majority of their stake (66%) to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation, retaining only a minority slice of the team. With Iger and Kushner agreeing to buy the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, five of the six Buss siblings have agreed to sell off their stake.
While this marks a historic deal in NBA history, the news shakes up Jeanie’s status as governor, a position she has held since 2013 after her father’s passing. Per NBA guidelines, the controlling owners/governors must own at least a 15% stake in the franchise.
According to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, which was obtained by The Post, Jeanie argued that “her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be ‘void.'”
“Their conduct is not driven by financial necessity but by animosity toward Jeanie and in willful disregard for the (Trust), this Court’s 2017 Order, their fiduciary duties, and Dr. Buss’s express intent,” read the 97-page-long Petition.
It also stated, “Jeanie thought she had put all of her siblings’ scheming and manipulations behind her in 2017. Sadly, that was not the case, and Jeanie must respectfully request relief from this Court a second time.”
Jeanie Buss is not only calling for the family’s vote of the Lakers shares to be deemed void, but for co-trustees Joey and Janie Buss be removed from those positions for “breach of fiduciary duty.” She calls for her siblings to be liable “for loss and damages” as well.
“Their… https://t.co/ErCLni4ZiR
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 26, 2026
Jeanie’s decision ignited intense online backlash, with the basketball community taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction, labelling her “delusional” and a “Nepo baby.”
One user wrote, “What a gross human being she is. She’s been telling us that for YEARS -look how she treats her siblings. But even for her, this is really low.”
“She’s desperate to hang on to her nepo baby position. The new owners need to put an end to her as governor. Kushner will have the controlling interest, which is the one that matters to the NBA,” one fan posted.
She’s desperate to hang on to her nepo baby position.
The new owners need to put and end to her as governor. Kushner will have the controlling interest which is the one that matters to the NBA.
— 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖈𝖐𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕳𝖆𝖙𝖆™️ (@PlayaHata7691) August 26, 2026
Another fan tweeted, “As a lifelong Lakers fan, she really needs to go. This is ridiculous, it’s selfish, it’s toxic, and does not serve the Lakers or its fans. This is 100% ego.”
As a lifelong Lakers fan she really needs to go, this is ridiculous, it sslfish, its toxic and does not serve the Lakers or its fans. This is 100% ego.
— olajide paris (@OlajideParis) August 27, 2026
”Jeanie is delusional at this point because she is the only one declining the sale at the 2nd-highest valuation of any North American sports team. She is the one acting for her own personal interest to remain governor,” one user commented.
Jeanie is delusional at this point, because she is the only one declining the sale at the 2nd highest valuation of any North American sports team. She is the one acting for her own personal interest to remain governor.
— B-Dawg (@LABlitz44) August 27, 2026
Another weighed in, “The new owners are going to have to drag her out kicking and screaming. What a little brat. It was never her team, he left it to all of them, yes, he wanted her to run it, but he left her the same % as the rest.”
“Jeanie Buss is a 64yr old women with no kids who, a few yrs ago, said men that have kids is a ‘major turnoff’ for her. Sees her blood family as her ultimate enemies. Jeanie just wants to keep living the LA lifestyle as LAL owner, in her echo chamber, that’s all that this is about,” one fan posted.
What started as a dream has officially transformed into a full-blown Hollywood drama. But one thing is clear: the real battle for the Purple and Gold isn’t being played on the hardwood anymore, and the final buzzer will be a gavel hitting the wood.
