Stunned Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’

The monster sale of the Los Angeles Lakers flabbergasted fans and onlookers on Wednesday morning.

Mark Walter sold the franchise to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a valuation of $12.5 billion, ESPN.com reported, the largest sum for any professional sports team ever.

Fans had mixed reactions to the sale, which comes just a year after Walter bought the team from the Buss family for $10 billion.

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA/Shutterstock

Some commented about the huge profit Walter appeared to rake in while others fixated on Iger’s former Disney connections.

“Mark Walter after flipping the Lakers and making $2 billion in a year,” an X user wrote over a Breaking Bad meme of character Huell lying on a stack of money with his eyes closed.

Stunned Lakers fans react to a blockbuster $12.5 billion sale.

One said he believes the sale could result in already-premium Lakers tickets jumping in price. “Lakers tickets are gonna cost so much money,” another fan said.

Fans believe Iger’s Disney connection, which ended after he stepped down as CEO in March, will influence the Lakers.

“THE DISNEY LAKERS,” one wrote.

“Lakers are never beating the Mickey Mouse allegations now,” another added.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Some fans believe Walter sold the Lakers because basketball legend LeBron James left town for the Philadelphia 76ers. Getty Images
Joshua Kushner is founder of Thrive Capital. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Some commented about the huge profit Walter appeared to rake in while others fixated on Bob Iger’s connections as former Disney CEO. Getty Images for Disney

Some fans believe Walter sold the Lakers because basketball legend LeBron James left town for the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Mark Walter decided to sell what he bought once he saw Bron left LA,” they wrote.

Walter didn’t say why he sold the team in an initial statement.

“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in a statement to ESPN.

“I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

The purchase comes after Kushner and Iger had been part of the group hoping to land an expansion team in Las Vegas, per ESPN.


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