Los Angeles Lakers to be sold again in record 12.5-billion-dollar deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to change hands again in less than a year, with the iconic NBA franchise being sold to a group led by former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner for a record-breaking 12.5 billion U.S. dollars, U.S. media reported Wednesday.



If approved by the NBA, the transaction would establish a new record for the most expensive sale of a professional sports franchise, surpassing Dodgers owner Mark Walter's purchase of the Lakers from the Buss family in 2025 for a then-record valuation of approximately 10 billion dollars.



Kushner and Iger had recently been exploring the possibility of becoming involved in a future NBA expansion franchise as the league considered potential teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. Instead, the pair made an aggressive offer for one of the most valuable and recognizable franchises in professional sports.



"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," 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."