Two of her siblings have joined the San Diego Padres ownership group, but Jeanie Buss remains far from reaching any accord with them regarding their stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Jeanie never agreed to any sale, was never consulted, and was never even informed,” states a petition filed Wednesday in L.A. Superior Court by the Running Point EP and Lakers governor to prevent the five other children of Dr. Jerry Buss from selling the family’s remaining 17.8% in the championship-winning franchise they controlled for decades. Her lawyers argue it would be strategically disadvantageous for the siblings to sell now, as the Lakers represent a growing asset with continuously appreciating value.
On August 17, just days after Bob Iger and Josh Kushner acquired over 63% of the storied franchise for $12.5 billion from interim owner Mark Walter, the other Buss children announced it was “time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.” Within hours, Jeanie Buss and her legal team issued a response, and on Wednesday they made their opposition official through court filings.
In the five-claim document, Buss not only seeks to halt the family sale but also requests that siblings Joey and Janie Buss be removed as co-trustees of the family’s stake. She is also asking the court to hold her siblings in contempt for what she characterizes as “defiant” behavior. With the 2026/2027 NBA season set to begin October 20, a hearing on Buss’ petition is currently scheduled for November 15 at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Should the Buss siblings proceed with the sale, Jeanie would forfeit her governor position with the Lakers, as NBA regulations require a minimum 15% ownership stake to qualify for the role.
Although the family sold the majority of its Lakers holdings to Walter—who is currently under federal investigation—in June 2025 for $10 billion, Jeanie Buss secured a five-year governor term as part of that transaction. She is treating this latest family dispute intensely personally. “Their conduct is not driven by financial necessity but by animosity toward Jeanie and in willful disregard for the (Trust), this Court’s 2017 Order, their fiduciary duties, and Dr. Buss’s express intent,” the petition states regarding her siblings.
If current posturing continues and Buss maintains her position regarding a 2017 court order from the family’s last legal dispute, next month’s hearing promises to be contentious. The proceedings may also draw prominent names into the courtroom.
Lakers fans have long been accustomed to drama on the court, from the friction between Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the rivalry between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and more recently the evolving dynamic between current superstar Luka Doncic and legendary veteran LeBron James. However, ownership disputes have increasingly become part of the franchise’s narrative in recent years.
Following Jerry Buss’s death, speculation arose about succession. This led to a prolonged family conflict between Jeanie and specifically her brother Jim Buss, who assumed control of basketball operations while Jeanie managed the business side. The power struggle concluded when Jeanie replaced Jim with Magic Johnson, who himself departed within two years as Rob Pelinka took over basketball operations.
Two other siblings, Joey and Jesse Buss, were removed from their positions with the team following Walter’s investment last year.
In Buss’s filing, she notes that other Lakers stakeholders have expressed support for her remaining as controlling owner and have indicated their intent to retain, rather than sell, their stakes in the franchise.
When the former Disney executive and Thrive Capital founder completed their deal with Dodgers chairman Walter, Iger emphasized that Jeanie Buss was integral to their plans.
“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger told The California Post. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”
As Iger and Kushner await what appears to be imminent approval of their Lakers acquisition at the NBA Board of Governors’ September 15-16 meeting, the Buss family dispute will not impact their control of the 11-time championship franchise—though it may generate unwelcome courtroom headlines.
Representatives for Iger and Kushner did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment regarding the latest Buss family dispute.
