Since LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia Sixers, a lot has changed for the Lakers, specifically over the past week. It's mid-August, which is usually a relatively quiet time in the NBA, but Los Angeles is changing that this year (including the Clippers). As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported last week, Mark Walter sold the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner for $12.5 billion. That's not all.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported Monday that the Buss family agreed to sell its 17.8% stake in the organization to Iger and Kushner, meaning Jeanie Buss will no longer serve as governor of the team. For the first time since 1979, when Jerry Buss bought the team, the Buss family won't be involved with the Lakers.
Once the transaction is completed, Jeanie Buss will no longer have the required ownership percentage to remain governor. NBA guidelines require controlling owners/governors to own at least 15% of a franchise. https://t.co/e9jLvTvEp7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 17, 2026
The NBA's board of governors still needs to approve the sale, so it's not official yet, but it marks a significant turning point for the organization.
Only LeBron can speak to how he feels. Still, with his sights set on winning another title, he said in a statement after choosing Philadelphia that he has to feel even better about his decision to leave Los Angeles right about now. The Lakers are always headline-worthy because of who they are, but this adds a whole new layer.
Stepping away from that hubbub has to be nice, right?
LeBron is no longer in the middle of LA's chaos
There has been a lot of instability within the organization over the past 14 months, since Walter first agreed to become the majority owner, and it's not over yet. Now that Iger and Kushner are set to have an 83% majority stake (and Jeanie is gone), they could oust Rob Pelinka, the president of basketball operations, and replace him with someone of their choosing.
That decision could ultimately play in the Lakers' favor, but it would still raise even more questions about what the future will look like. And Los Angeles is already dealing with a lot of those right now during this transition period.
James is entering the final stretch of his career (when it will end is still TBD), and as Rich Paul repeatedly said as the 41-year-old was deciding which team to choose in free agency, the superstar's happiness is a priority.
It might've been shocking that he chose Philadelphia, even though the Sixers were a top team in the running, simply because it wasn't the Cavaliers or Heat, but not so much when you actually stopped to think about it. He gets to play in front of some of the most passionate fans in the sport, in a city that loves basketball, and on top of it all, can help Philly reach the territory it's been longing to get to.
LeBron can do all that without the Lakers hanging over his head, which wouldn't have been the case if he'd stayed in Los Angeles. He had his reasons for LA, but little did he know (or did he?) about what he was leaving behind.
Who would've thought it would actually be sunnier in Philadelphia than in Los Angeles?
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