[Shelburne] The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record breaking price over $12 billion, multiple sources told ESPN. Kushner and Iger pivoted to make an aggressive offer to buy the Lakers from Mark Walter.
Josh Kushner, who the Lakers are being sold to per multiple reports, is the same person behind the highly controversial plan to sell off a minority stake called the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which was widely criticized and rejected by multiple continental football confederations.
[Woike] Mark Walter is selling the Los Angeles Lakers to Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO, and Joshua Kushner at a valuation of more than $12 billion, according to a source with knowledge of the deal on a condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sale.
[Bill Simmons] Kushner/Iger weren’t sure they could get the Vegas expansion team (7.5b range), so they pivoted to buying Walter’s majority Lakers stake (around 78%) for like 9.5b. And got an iconic NBA franchise. Still — most shocking NBA sale in a long time. The Lakers got flipped!
[Highlight] Josh Hart on his friendship with Jalen Brunson: “I was just changing one of my newborns, and I just look at Jalen like ‘Yo, my son’s packing’ and I flipped the camera… and Brunson just busted out laughing. That’s the kind of relationship we have.”
[OC]: Deconstructing Bill Russell myths: The Celtics were not the “KD Warriors” of their era. They were a mediocre to bad offensive team that was winning (eight years in a row) exclusively because of their defense. Russell immediately took that defense from very bad to by far the most dominant ever
Patrick Beverley to Boulazac Basket Dordogne. Yes that Boulazac. No I will not be explaining where that is.
Dodgers and Former Lakers owner Mark Walter is under federal investigation for possible loan fraud involving $21 billion in policyholder money loaned through third parties to businesses tied to his own empire
Jeff Teague tells a story about the time he trash talked Derek Fisher and ended up getting cussed out/sonned.
Damian Lillard credits Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf as the main influence on his quick-release pull-up jumper
‘The Fun Guy’ Kawhi Leonard makes his way to watch the women’s quarterfinal at the National Bank Open in Toronto
NBA player who scored the most “X” amount of point in a game in the regular season
[Highlights] Obligatory MJ offseason compilation post.
Former Laker Gabe Vincent stands up for Bam Adebayo getting slandered for scoring 83 points and passing Kobe: “Why is it a problem for someone to score more than Kob? He gotta shoot more turn arounds or what? ….. If there was more step backs and crossovers and he had 83 would you like it more?”
[Stein] A recent report suggesting that Russell Westbrook was in talks to sign abroad with Hapoel Tel Aviv was “laughably false.”
Yaxel Lendeborg: “I was in practice bro. They had us in the gym for 5 hours. My god. Hella drive and cuts, drive-kick, extra pass, hit that J, you feel me? Just a bunch of shit like that bro. It was. boy I’m tired, boy I’m tired.”
[Shelburne] Update: The agreement (for sale of the Los Angeles Lakers) is for $12.5 billion.
[Stein] When Mark Walter reached agreement in June 2025 to buy the Lakers for $10 billion, it was stipulated in writing that Jeanie Buss would remain Lakers operating governor for five years. Fourteen months later … we await clarity on how the team’s leadership new structure will look.
[Shelburne] They called Mark Walter; I am told this was on Sunday. I’m still kind of shaking my head at how this came together so quickly.”
[Windhorst] “I don’t need FBI training to understand a kickback. Daktronics didn’t come out with a statement that denied this. They had a crisis PR man say something like ‘Kawhi’s not under contract right now.’ It was not a full-throated denial. This is extraordinarily troubling and looks different”
[Shelburne] Statement to ESPN from Josh Kushner and Bob Iger:
Kawhi Leonard spotted attending the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada
Jeff Teague says the NBA scheduled 76ers vs Lakers on Christmas Day, so LeBron could be home on Christmas: “They was like, LeBron where you want to play at? He called them and said I want to be home for the holidays. Bron said, I want to be home opening gifts with my kids.”
[Woike] The total for the sale, per one source, is \(12.5 billion -- \)2.5 billion more than Walter paid for the Lakers just 12 months ago.
[Highlight] Tyrese Maxey on recruiting LeBron James : “I hit him and was like, ‘Yo, pull up, I think we got a good chance. I feel like you can help us.You’re arguably the greatest of all-time so it’s like why wouldn’t we want you on the team… I probably talked to him at least 3-4 times.’
[Highlight] Tyrese Maxey on VJ Edgecombe’s role next season: “I was in this same kind of predicament my 2nd year when James [Harden] came to the team….as soon as James got there, him and Joel said “don’t think that this changes anything for you as far as your progression”.”
Fun (?) Fact - Jared Kushner’s father was one of the bidders for when the New Jersey Nets were up for sale.
[WSJ] America’s Mortgage King Lost $600 Million and Needed a Rescue - Suns Owner Mat Ishbia
[Stein] Clippers, Heat interested in Bradley Beal
Former NBA player DeQuan Jones suffers Hayward-like injury overseas
[Highlight] David Stern announces the #1 pick Chris Webber traded from the Magic to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway and 3 future first-round picks (1993 NBA Draft)
Spurs CEO hatched a plan to draft Wemby right when he just turned 16.
[Highlight] Kobe Bryant severs Jeremy Lin’s head
[Fischer] Michael Porter Jr. and the Brooklyn Nets are unlikely to agree on a contract extension. Tyler Herro, Anthony Davis also among eligible players unlikely to sign an extension with their current teams.
Theo Pinson says a healthy Joel Embiid is better than Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it’s not close. “What can Giannis do that Joel Embiid can’t?” (Via @ToTheBaha / h/t @TheHeatCentral )
[Friedell] Warriors GM Dunleavy:“We’re super aggressive. If people knew the cold calls I made offering a lot of stuff for players, I think they’d realize how hard we’re trying. And frankly, it’s not as much the guys that end up getting moved.“
After Cuban refused to match the Suns 5 year/$65 million offer, Nash put up 40/9/10 on 60/58/100 splits the final 3 games of the Mavs vs Suns matchup to send the Mavs packing
Lost in the Lakers news today is one of the larger potential owners of a prospective Vegas team is out.
[Harper] It’s questionable if the Thunder proceed long term with 3 players on a max contract. Chet Holmgren’s repeated struggles against Victor Wembanyama could lead to him being the odd one out
10 Years ago this was the headline and image Kawhi had: “Rich People Who Can’t Kick Their Frugal Spending Habits” Did he change or was this always who he was?
Best All-Time Starting 5 by Last Name Initial
[Fischer] The Cleveland Cavaliers may wind up backing out of sign-and-trade talks for Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson as James Harden and his camp grow impatient awaiting his contract.
What are your favorite randomly good players like Micheal Redd?
[Charania] NBA Opening Night on Oct. 20 on NBC:
[Stein] Free agents who I’m told are drawing legitimate interest from Golden State for the Warriors’ open roster spots: Georges Niang and Brandon Williams. Jake Fischer also mentioned Dalen Terry as a potential Warriors target.
Curry still on track to finish career with Warriors, GM says
Among the 26 players with the most playoff wins Dennis Rodman has the best winning percentage
If you could alter one NBA game, what game would it be and what would a butterfly effect be?