Jeanie Buss’ attorney calls out ESPN’s Shams Charania for ‘false’ report regarding Lakers ownership stake - Yahoo Sports

“Jeanie Buss’ legal team publicly rebuked ESPN reporter Shams Charania for publishing a claim that the Buss family had sold a portion of its Los Angeles Lakers ownership to external investors, labeling the story as factually inaccurate. The dispute surfaces amid ongoing negotiations involving potential stakes for media mogul Bob Iger and venture investor Joshua Kushner, both of whom have expressed interest in a share of the franchise. The controversy underscores the sensitivity of ownership transactions in high‑profile sports properties, where valuation, media rights, and local market dynamics intersect. Expert Analysis: The backlash highlights how misinformation can destabilize delicate deal‑making processes, potentially delaying or derailing multi‑billion‑dollar transactions. For the U.S. sports economy, any shift in Lakers ownership could reverberate through league revenue sharing, sponsorship pipelines, and the broader valuation benchmarks for NBA franchises.”