We are deep in the NBA Finals, and yet the Lakers still manage to grab the headlines. The Buss family agreed to sell the Lakers to Mark Walter for a record price in professional sports franchises of $10 billion. Jerry Buss originally bought the team for $67.5 million back in 1979, and his family gets to reap the benefits now.
Mark Walter is famously part of the Dodgers ownership along with Magic Johnson and has turned that franchise from instability to perennial contenders in the baseball universe. There is much to look forward to with the Lakers’ future but for now, here are the initial reactions to the franchise being sold:
In 1979, Jerry Buss bought the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, The Forum, and a 13,000-acre ranch from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million.
In 2025, the Buss family sold majority ownership of the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 18, 2025
This sale has been in the works for *years*. The Buss family gets a huge payout and the Lakers are now equipped with the incredibly deep pockets that have made the Dodgers into the juggernaut they are.
This is a truly momentous day for the entire NBA landscape.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) June 18, 2025
A 10b Lakers valuation isn’t surprising at all. In 2021, AEG sold its 27% Lakers stake to Walter/Boehly at a 5b valuation. Now they’re getting 66% more at 2x that number from This is Buss. The new media deal super-charged the new $$. We already knew the expansion tag will be 6b.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 18, 2025
Laker fans should be estatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark – he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way. AND he will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike -…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 18, 2025
Basketball, Lakers, NBA, Social Media, Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss, Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Mark Walter
