Josh Kushner and Bob Iger reportedly set to buy LA Lakers for $12.5bn

Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are reportedly purchasing the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-breaking $12.5 billion.

A $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the most storied franchises in professional basketball — is reportedly underway, according to ESPN. The buyers are Josh Kushner, a venture capitalist and younger brother of Jared Kushner, and Bob Iger, the longtime Disney chief executive. The deal would set a new record for the sale of a professional sports franchise. The Guardian reported the story based on ESPN's Wednesday report, confirming the purchase price exceeds $12 billion. No further terms of the deal were made public in available reporting. The outlet also published a commentary piece describing the Lakers as having become 'a poker chip for some of the most powerful men in America' and raising questions about whether any regulatory or public scrutiny will follow. The Lakers are currently owned by the Buss family, who have controlled the franchise since Jerry Buss purchased it in 1979. The team has won 17 NBA championships and is one of the league's most valuable and recognizable brands globally.

Why it matters

At $12.5 billion, the deal would be the largest in professional sports history, signaling the accelerating financial scale of major sports franchises. It would also bring two high-profile figures from finance and entertainment into ownership of one of basketball's premier teams.

What's next

No timeline for deal closure or NBA Board of Governors approval was specified in available reporting.

Key facts

• The reported purchase price is $12.5 billion, which would be a record for any professional sports franchise
• Buyers are Josh Kushner, a venture capitalist, and Bob Iger, former and current CEO of Disney
• ESPN first reported the deal on Wednesday
• The Lakers have been controlled by the Buss family since Jerry Buss bought the team in 1979
• The Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 NBA championships

Bias & framing notes

Only one substantive source was available — The Guardian's report, which itself cites ESPN as the origin. The Times Daily headline suggests a skeptical opinion column questioning the deal, but its full content was behind a paywall and unavailable for review. With no independent corroboration accessible, and the story resting on a single secondary report of an ESPN scoop, the trust score is moderate despite ESPN's strong track record on NBA transactions.

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