Jeanie Buss Opposes Siblings' Move to Sell Lakers Minority Stake

Jeanie Buss, the governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, is challenging her siblings' recent decision to sell their minority stake in the team. In a letter from her attorney, Adam Streisand, Buss declared her opposition to the sale, asserting that any vote by her siblings on this matter would be invalid due to violations of the family trust governing their ownership.

The letter, which has been reported by multiple outlets, highlights Buss's claim that the trust stipulates she must remain the controlling owner, requiring the family to maintain at least 15% ownership of the franchise. Streisand emphasized that no sale can proceed without the approval of the current co-trustees, which include Jeanie, Janie, and Joey Buss.

Earlier, a statement from the Buss family indicated their intention to sell the remaining minority shares to a group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, as part of a larger transaction involving the team's ownership. However, Streisand urged the siblings' legal representatives to retract their agreement and clarify that Jeanie remains the controlling owner of the Lakers.

The ongoing family conflict is not new, with Jeanie Buss having previously clashed with her siblings over various management decisions, including the firing of Jim Buss from his executive role in 2017. The latest developments come as the NBA's board of governors is set to review the proposed sale, which would grant Iger and Kushner's group approximately 83% ownership of the team.

This situation underscores the complexities within the Buss family dynamics as they navigate the future ownership of one of the NBA's most storied franchises.