Jeanie Buss Accuses Siblings of 'Cloak and Dagger' Plot to Oust Her

The Buss family civil war over the Los Angeles Lakers has escalated into a high-stakes legal battle, with Jeanie Buss accusing her siblings of a "cloak and dagger" campaign to oust her from power. According to ESPN, Jeanie filed court documents this week alleging that her brother Joey and sister Janie are jealous that their late father, Dr. Jerry Buss, chose her to govern the franchise over them ^[2].

In the filing, Jeanie requested that the court prevent her siblings from selling the family’s remaining shares, a move that would strip her of her role as Lakers governor. The New York Post reported that this accusation stems from earlier filings where Joey and Janie opposed Jeanie’s petition to remove them as co-trustees ^[1].

The conflict centers on the family’s 17.8% ownership stake in the team. NBA rules require a governor to hold at least a 15% stake. If the Buss family sells their entire remaining share, Jeanie loses her controlling position. ESPN noted that the siblings voted to sell their shares to an ownership group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, who are seeking to buy the team from majority owner Mark Walter at a $12.5 billion valuation ^[2].

Each sibling stands to gain an additional $371 million if the sale proceeds, according to ESPN ^[2]. Jeanie, however, argues that the sale violates a 2017 court order requiring co-trustees Janie and Joey to vote in a way that ensures she remains the controlling owner. She is seeking to have them removed as co-trustees for breach of fiduciary duty and held in contempt of court.

The siblings have pushed back in previous filings, arguing that Jeanie’s stance lacks merit and that they are exercising voting rights granted to them as beneficiaries. As reported by ESPN, the siblings stated, "There is deep irony in [Jeanie] alleging that it is [Joey and Janie] who are putting their self-interests first" ^[2].

Jeanie’s legal team countered that the entire episode is a "false flag operation" intended to smear her in the media. The filing states that the siblings shared their votes and resolutions with ESPN rather than discussing them with Jeanie first, aiming to force her hand and cast themselves as victims ^[2].

The dispute is scheduled to come to a head at a court hearing on Dec. 8 in Los Angeles Superior Court. During this hearing, the judge will determine whether Jeanie can legally block the sale of the family shares. Sources close to the family told ESPN that settlement talks are ongoing, but the progress is unclear as the hearing approaches ^[2].

Technically, the go-along rights that allow the family to force a sale can only be invoked after Mark Walter officially notifies the family of a signed deal. ESPN reported that Walter and Kushner have agreed on all outstanding terms and are expected to sign the formal agreement soon, pending NBA review ^[2].

For now, Jeanie remains the Lakers governor, fighting to keep the franchise within the family’s original governance structure. Her lawyers stated that she had "no choice but to seek court intervention" to enforce the trust’s terms ^[2]. The outcome of the December hearing will define the future leadership of one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.