The Los Angeles Lakers are heading toward another dramatic ownership change after businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger agreed to purchase the iconic NBA franchise in a staggering $12.5 billion deal.
The blockbuster transaction, reported on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, would make it the largest sale of a professional sports franchise ever, eclipsing the roughly $10 billion valuation attached to Mark Walter’s acquisition of the Lakers’ controlling interest in 2025.
Kushner and Iger reportedly made an aggressive move for the Lakers despite previously exploring the possibility of becoming involved with an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas. Instead, the pair turned their attention toward one of basketball’s most famous organizations and reached an agreement with Walter.
For Lakers fans, the deal represents yet another seismic shift behind the scenes of a franchise whose history is filled with superstars, championships and global fame.
Kushner, the founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital, is no stranger to the basketball business. He also holds a minority interest in the Miami Heat, a stake ESPN reports he would have to sell before completing the Lakers transaction.
Iger, meanwhile, spent years leading entertainment giant Disney and has already entered the sports ownership world. Alongside his wife, Willow Bay, he became the controlling owner of NWSL club Angel City FC in 2024.
The new prospective owners have expressed their respect for the Lakers’ legendary history and indicated that their long-term ambition is to keep the franchise competing at the highest level while serving its enormous fanbase and the city of Los Angeles.
The sale, however, is not yet officially complete. It must still receive approval from the NBA Board of Governors, with the approval process expected to take several weeks.
If approved, the $12.5 billion transaction would underline just how dramatically NBA franchise values have exploded in recent years.
From the Showtime era to Kobe Bryant and the modern generation, the Lakers have always been one of basketball’s biggest attractions.
Now, with Bob Iger and Josh Kushner preparing to take control in a record-shattering deal, a new era could be about to begin in Hollywood.
