Bob Iger’s Controversial Lakers Comment Resurfaces Amid Latest Stance on Jeanie Buss Drama

The Buss family’s decision to sell their remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers has ignited a bitter dispute and resurfaced a surprising comment from incoming owner Bob Iger. Just fourteen months after Mark Walter flipped the franchise for $12.5 billion, Jeanie Buss is contesting the sale, while Iger’s past admission of being a Clippers fan adds fuel to the drama.

The family announced Monday that all six siblings had voted to sell their shares to Iger and Josh Kushner, who last week agreed to purchase Walter’s majority stake at a record $12.5 billion valuation.

“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” the statement read.

Jeanie Buss’s attorney, Adam Streisand, quickly pushed back. He accused brothers Joey and Jesse of a “years‑long pattern” of leaking damaging information and demanded that Iger and Kushner publicly confirm that Jeanie remains the controlling owner. Streisand cited a 2017 court order that established Jeanie’s authority, arguing any sibling vote without her consent “would be and is void.”

This family rift now jeopardizes Iger and Kushner’s 83% ownership claim, with NBA approval looming at the Sept. 15–16 Board of Governors meetings.

Iger’s old remark on the “Three Four Two” podcast in 2024 has resurfaced: “I’m a Clippers fan. Lakers were a big rival of the Knicks, the team I grew up rooting for. So I couldn’t root for the Lakers very easily — it just was not in my DNA.”

The idea of a new majority owner openly admitting allegiance to a divisional rival complicates an already messy transition.

What Comes Next as the Family Feud Threatens the Sale

According to Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi, Iger and Kushner want the Buss feud resolved quickly, reportedly favoring an outright buyout of the remaining shares to avoid delays. Jeanie, however, has signaled she will fight to preserve her ownership percentage and governor role, a title requiring at least 15% individual ownership under NBA bylaws.

If Jeanie prevails, the NBA Board could delay or reject approval, forcing renegotiation. For now, the sale remains contested, the September vote looms, and the Lakers face one of their most consequential offseasons in decades, on and off the court.