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Lakers sale agreed at $12.5 billion

Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agreed to buy the Lakers in a record-valued deal pending NBA approval.

Published by NUZE · Founded and edited by Halfdan Harring · Friday, 14 August 2026

Summaries are written by NUZE from the day’s measured coverage across many newsrooms, with founder oversight.

What happened

Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger agreed to buy Mark Walter’s controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers. The agreement values the NBA franchise at $12.5 billion and requires approval by the league’s Board of Governors. Kushner must also sell his Miami Heat stake before completing the purchase.

Numbers

$12.5 billionValuation of the Lakers deal
$10 billionWalter's previous controlling-stake valuation
$2.5 billionIncrease over last year's valuation

Questions

Who must approve the purchase?: The NBA Board of Governors must approve the sale. Its next meeting is scheduled for September in New York.
What must Kushner do before closing?: He will need to sell his Miami Heat stake before completing the Lakers purchase, although no timetable has been announced.
How does the valuation compare?: It becomes the highest-priced sale of a professional sports franchise, raising the previous benchmark by $2.5 billion.
Why did they pursue the Lakers?: They shifted from pursuing a Las Vegas expansion team, choosing an established NBA franchise rather than continuing with that project.

The catch

The coverage gives no closing date or date for a Board vote.

What happens next

Sep 2026

NBA Board of Governors holds its next scheduled meeting in New York.

Sources

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