Buss Siblings Sue Sister Over Lakers Sale Vote

The Buss family’s long-standing rift over the Los Angeles Lakers has erupted into a new legal battle. Five siblings—Joey, Janie, Jimmy, Johnny, and Jesse—filed a 29-page document in Los Angeles Superior Court opposing their sister Jeanie Buss, the acting governor of the Lakers, who seeks to remove them as co-trustees ^[1]. The filing argues that Jeanie’s attempt to block the sale of the family’s remaining 17.8% stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger violates the trust’s terms and undermines a 5-1 vote that approved the transaction ^[2].

The dispute centers on whether a two-thirds majority of siblings is required to sell the team, a threshold the siblings claim was met. Jeanie was the sole vote against the sale, and her legal team has argued the sale would void her NBA governorship, which requires at least 15% ownership ^[1]. However, the new filing contends the 15% rule is not in the original trust or the 2017 court order, and that the trust’s purpose was to maximize value for all beneficiaries ^[2].

The siblings argue that the sale, valued at $12.5 billion according to sources cited by ESPN, was made possible by contractual rights secured during the 2025 Walter transaction: a tagalong provision and a put right. They claim the tagalong right—allowing them to sell at the new valuation—offers a better return than the $10 billion put option ^[2]. The filing also dismisses Jeanie’s allegations of contempt, calling them hypocritical and asserting that beneficiaries’ rights cannot be overridden by her personal interest in staying in control.

The legal fight follows a 36-page opposition filed Oct. 7 by the same five siblings and a 97-page petition from Jeanie’s lawyer, Adam Streisand, in August ^[2]. The NBA board of governors is expected to approve the sale in November, but the court battle could delay or alter the outcome. The case hinges on whether the trust must remain active for Jeanie’s lifetime or if termination is permissible upon a valid vote.

What happens next depends on the court’s interpretation of the trust’s language and whether Jeanie can maintain her role as governor after the sale. The outcome could redefine power within one of the NBA’s most storied franchises. The story was first reported by New York Post and ESPN.