The Los Angeles Lakers are once again at the center of a stunning ownership shake-up, with Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly agreeing to acquire the franchise at a record $12.5 billion valuation. The deal, which still requires approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors, would mark the second Lakers sale in roughly a year.
What makes the move particularly striking is how quickly the franchise’s valuation has accelerated. Mark Walter acquired majority control from the Buss family at a reported $10 billion valuation in 2025. Just months later, the Lakers are reportedly commanding another $2.5 billion premium.
This is bigger than a change of ownership. It is another clear signal that the financial power behind elite sports franchises is entering a different era. The Lakers are not simply a basketball team; they are a global entertainment brand with enormous commercial reach, making the $12.5 billion price tag a statement about how investors now value sports assets.
If approved, the transaction would establish a new benchmark for the most expensive sports franchise sale ever reported. And the speed of the valuation jump may be the most eye-catching part of the story: the Lakers have become a $12.5 billion asset in a market where billion-dollar increases are happening faster than ever.
