The Los Angeles Lakers' ownership saga continues two days after five of the six Buss siblings voted to sell their 17.8% share of the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Kushner and Iger had already agreed last week to buy a majority share of the team from Mark Walter, who in turn had bought that majority stake from the Buss family last year.
Team governor Jeanie Buss is the one Buss sibling who is opposed to selling the team, and one has to think her opposition has to do with the fact that if the family sells, she would no longer be governor. But according to Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic, she is open to finding a way to still own at least 15% of the franchise so she could remain in that role.
"Could there be a way for the rest of the siblings to sell and Jeanie to remain as governor? That would require her finding a way to still own at least 15 percent of the shares, but it is possible. Per a league source, Jeanie would be open to exploring that scenario."
As part of the succession plan Dr. Jerry Buss, her father, had set up prior to his death in 2013, she was the Lakers' controlling owner until Walter's purchase in October. Walter had an agreement in place that would keep her as governor through 2030.
The elder Buss purchased the franchise in 1979 from Jack Kent Cooke, and it started a glorious run during which it won 10 NBA championships and became one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports. Since his passing, however, it has missed the playoffs seven times and advanced past the first round of the postseason only three times, although it did win another NBA title in 2020.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: Jeanie Buss open to exploring a way to retain Lakers ownership
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