Adam Silver’s Next Move Could Change Everything in Jeanie Buss-Lakers Saga, Per Reports

The NBA signed off on Mark Walter’s $10 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers last October. Adam Silver said he was “thrilled that Jeanie will remain the team’s governor.” Ten months later, the situation has soured, as five of Jeanie Buss’ siblings have voted to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% stake, a move that would drop her below the 15% ownership threshold required to keep the governor’s seat.

But Silver might try to help smooth over the Buss family chaos about selling the Lakers, according to Sports Business Journal. The reported effort comes after ESPN and other outlets detailed a Buss family vote to sell the trust’s shares to new majority owners Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner as part of their $12.5 billion deal with Walter.

"The Lakers’ situation isn’t as clear cut, with sources believing Commissioner Adam Silver -- who has always been close with Jeanie Buss -- will try to help smooth over the Buss family chaos," Tom Friend of SBJ wrote.

Jeanie Buss has run the franchise since her father Jerry died in 2013. She immediately pushed back against her sibling's wishes for a sale through attorney Adam Streisand, who called any such vote "void" and warned that proceeding would be a breach of trust and contempt of court.

Streisand’s letter cites a 2017 court order. It instructed the co-trustees, Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss, to take all actions necessary to keep Jeanie as controlling owner for life.

NBA rules require a governor to hold at least 15% of the team. Selling the full 17.8% would end her status. The other five siblings issued a joint statement saying they still intend to sell and described the decision as a 'graceful' exit after 47 years of family ownership.

Meanwhile, Bob Iger pledged to honor Walter’s agreement that Jeanie Buss would remain governor for at least five years. That promise now sits beside a family fight that could make the pledge impossible to keep if the minority stake changes hands.

Jeanie Buss Fights to Keep Governor Role as Siblings Push $12.5 Billion Exit

A majority of the six Buss beneficiaries can vote to sell assets, but the three co-trustees must actually execute the sale. Jeanie’s camp argues that the 2017 ruling blocks any action that would remove her as controlling owner.

Her siblings argue that the trust gives them the right to decide by majority and that they are acting consistently with prior rulings.

The family already cashed out most of its stake when it sold controlling interest to Walter in 2025. Each sibling received hundreds of millions.

The current fight is about the last piece and the title that comes with it. Jeanie Buss is the only sibling still working inside the organization. The others have long been on the outside of day-to-day operations.

Amid this family dispute, minority team owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has clarified that he won't sell his 4% stake.

Any sale still needs Board of Governors approval. That is where Adam Silver’s reported attempt to mediate becomes important. He previously went out of his way to praise Jeanie Buss for staying in the governor’s chair. Now the same commissioner is being asked to help settle a family dispute that could remove her anyway.