In a stunning move, the Los Angeles Lakers are being sold. As one of the biggest teams in sports, the news instantly led to a ton of reactions from sports media figures, including ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.
It was ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania who reported that Jeanie Buss and the Buss family are selling their majority stake in the team to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve as Governor of the team after the sale. Walter holds stakes in numerous sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Kings.
“BREAKING: The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, sources tell ESPN. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale.”
The first thing that Greenberg said after hearing the news was “wow.” Taking to X he called it “the end of an era” as both the Lakers and the Boston Celtics have been sold in just one year.
“Wow – this is really the end of an era. The league’s two marquee franchises sold essentially in the same year. A new day for the league. #NBA. #Celtics #Lakers,” Greenberg wrote.
Wow – this is really the end of an era. The league’s two marquee franchises sold essentially in the same year. A new day for the league. #NBA. #Celtics #Lakers https://t.co/rPX4vxCw7A
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) June 18, 2025
Jeanie Buss inherited the Lakers from her late father, Hall of Fame owner Jerry Buss, upon his passing in 2013. Under her leadership as controlling owner of the team, the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals and the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023. She won another five titles as a front office worker under her father between 2000 and 2010.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Buss family have had their struggles over the past decade though. Aside from the 2020 title, there have been marked internal struggles between the family members who hold a controlling stake in the team. Some of those struggles have ironed themself out for the better, and some have not.
Nevertheless, the Buss family’s control of the Lakers will end after a little over 45 years that included 11 NBA titles, 17 trips to the Finals and some of the greatest dynasties that American sports have ever seen.