The news of the majority ownership of the Lakers being sold again – this time from Mark Walter to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner just 14 months after Walter agreed to purchase the franchise and 10 months after Walter officially became the majority owner – sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.

The deal brought more questions than answers. 

Iger answered a few of those questions when he spoke exclusively with the California Post on Wednesday. 

He told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Jeanie Buss that stated Buss would remain the team’s Governor for at least the next few years, but added that “if things change, they’ll change.”

Iger shared details about the timing of the deal and how quickly it came together.

But many more questions remain – including what comes next for the Lakers.

Unanswered Questions

Some of those questions can be answered more immediately.

Among them: how franchise superstar Luka Doncic feels about the pending transaction, which will mark the fifth majority ownership he’s played for in the last three years during his tenures with the Mavericks and Lakers.

After the news of the sale was revealed, Doncic posted on social media: “Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”

Iger told the Post he hadn’t spoken with Doncic as of Wednesday morning, but it appears that’ll soon change. 

Doncic texted Iger and Kushner on Thursday morning and the three of them plan to meet “soon”, a source told the Post.

ESPN reported Thursday Doncic plans to have a video call with Iger and Kushner next week from Slovenia. 

Doncic has spent most of the offseason in Europe and will be hosting his Lakers teammates for a minicamp in Slovenia later in the month.

Beyond that, there’s still the matter of Iger and Kushner officially becoming the Lakers’ majority owners.

Lakers sale timeline pending

The transaction could take several weeks before the Board of Governors approves the deal, with the next board meeting scheduled for September in New York.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regularly has a news conference after Board of Governors meetings. 

A league spokesperson didn’t respond to a text message from the Post before publication when asked what the exact date of the next Board of Governors meeting.

Any NBA ownership sale requires approval from at least three-quarters of the Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors approved the sale of the Lakers to Walter on Oct. 30, 2025 – 4 ½ months after Walter agreed to buy the franchise. The Board of Governors approved the Trail Blazers sale to an ownership group led by Tom Dundon on March 30 after Dundon agreed to buy the Trail Blazers in mid-August – 7 ½ months after the original agreement.

And it took five months for the Celtics’ sale to an ownership group led by Bill Chisholm to be approved by the Board of Governors.  

It remains to be seen whether Kushner’s previous experience as an NBA owner could expedite the process.

Kushner became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to become a minority owner of the Heat in May 2025.

He’ll have to divest his stake in the Heat to take control of the Lakers. 

Beyond that, as Iger put it, it’s “premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”

Too early to know what this means for the Lakers’ basketball and business operations.

Too early to know what this will mean for the Lakers’ long-term plans and futures. 

The nature of the Lakers’ sale – from the timing and the valuation – is unprecented. 

But what is known is that the franchise is on the precipise of another new era.