LAKERS BOMBSHELL: Josh Kushner & Bob Iger Snag the Purple & Gold for Record $12.5B

Buckle up, Lakers Nation. The most iconic franchise in basketball is getting new owners — and the price tag is absolutely bananas.

Multiple sources tell ESPN that American businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-shattering $12.5 billion. Yes, billion with a B.

From Vegas to Hollywood

Interesting twist: Kushner and Iger were originally in the mix for the Las Vegas expansion team. Instead, they pivoted hard and went straight for the gold — an aggressive bid to Mark Walter, who grabbed controlling interest from the Buss family last year at a franchise valuation of roughly $10 billion.

In a statement, the duo made their intentions clear:

“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. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. 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.”

That’s the kind of talk Lakers fans want to hear. But it’s also a massive business flex.

Mark Walter’s chapter closes

Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, just took control last October after the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved his bid. Now, he’s passing the torch.

“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life — an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in a statement. “I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

Walter isn’t exactly a casual sports fan. Through TWG Global, he’s got stakes in the Dodgers, Sparks, Chelsea, the PWHL and Cadillac F1. Now he’s cashing in while the Lakers begin a new era.

One thing’s for sure: the price is a statement. This isn’t just a sale — it’s the biggest deal in sports history. And for Lakers fans, the real question is simple: what comes next?