Six-time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss mentioned new majority proprietor Mark Walter’s entry to capital will assist the workforce finest compete with the NBA’s high franchises — and that her late father, Jerry Buss, would have supported the sale.
“What was vital to him was that the Lakers keep on the high of the NBA, and to remain on the high of the NBA, you want to have the assets,” Buss mentioned. “It’s worthwhile to have everyone pulling collectively. And he would need [that for] the Lakers, as a result of the Lakers are his legacy.”
Whereas the NBA has a wage cap that may restrict workforce spend, franchises do have some flexibility if homeowners are keen to pay a luxurious tax. Staff spend presently ranges from about $154 million to $220 million, with the Lakers seventh total at $197 million, in response to Basketball Reference. Walter has constantly been one of many high spending homeowners in Main League Baseball since buying the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012.
Minority proprietor Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers and her husband Jay Mohr previous to sport certainly one of a primary spherical NBA basketball sport between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Keith Birmingham | MediaNews Group | Pasadena Star-Information | Getty Pictures
Buss and her household agreed to promote their majority stake within the workforce to Walter final 12 months at a $10 billion valuation. ESPN lately documented vital battle between the Buss siblings that led to the sale, which Buss referred to as “bittersweet.”
Jerry Buss willed possession of the workforce to his six youngsters in a belief when he died in 2013.
“My siblings have been concerned within the determination that was made,” Jeanie Buss mentioned. “It is concerning the Lakers and the greatness and what the followers anticipate and also you want assets and also you want a route. I feel it is honest to say that my household — all of us have our completely different opinions and [are] residing our lives, selecting what we wish to do with our time, and this was the most effective determination for all six of us.”
The Buss household stored about 15% of the workforce, and Jeanie Buss agreed to remain on as governor for at the very least 5 years. Nonetheless, when requested if she plans to remain for the complete time period, Buss seemingly hedged her reply.
“That is what I agreed to,” Buss mentioned. “Mark Walter and I are very snug with the way in which issues are arrange. And I anticipate issues to go on and achieve success. And you understand, I am not going anyplace.”
Buss acknowledged the previous 12 months have been certainly one of transition for the workforce, given each the sale and the workforce’s determination to commerce star ahead Anthony Davis for Doncic a couple of 12 months in the past. Buss mentioned the workforce’s focus is now constructing round Luka Dončić, somewhat than 41-year-old LeBron James, who has been the face of the workforce since he joined in 2018.
Luka Doncic with Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick & Normal Supervisor Rob Pelinka at his introduction.
Harry How | Getty Pictures Sport | Getty Pictures
“The partnership will give us the steadiness to proceed to maneuver ahead as we construct in direction of a workforce round Luka Dončić,” mentioned Buss. “We could not be extra proud that he’s a Laker. He’s a younger all-star that the followers like to see.”
James mentioned Sunday he is nonetheless not sure whether or not he’ll play past this season. Buss mentioned she’d go away James’ future with the Lakers to James. Nonetheless, she sounded uncertain that he would return to the workforce subsequent season, both as a result of he would retire or as a result of he would select to play elsewhere.
“By no means say by no means, however you understand, he definitely hasn’t given a sign,” mentioned Buss. “He is earned the proper to resolve how his profession will go, and you understand, he continues to impress.”
Launching a tequila model
Buss additionally mentioned her tequila model, Cincoro, created in 2016 when 5 pleasant rivals met for dinner round an NBA board of governors conferences, bonding over their shared ardour for tequila. That group included Buss; then-Charlotte Hornets proprietor Jordan; Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens; and former Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and his spouse, Emilia Fazzalari.
Cincoro launched in 2019 by NBA homeowners Michael Jordan of the Charlotte Hornets, Jeanie Buss of the Lakers, Wes Edens of the Bucks and Emilia Fazzalari and Wyc Grousbeck of the Celtics.
Supply: Cincoro Tequila
“All of us had a mutual appreciation for tequila,” Buss mentioned. “And us being a really aggressive group, we thought, ‘You realize what? We may most likely make one higher.’ And in order that night time, Cincoro was born.”
Jordan, identified for being a fierce competitor on the court docket, is not any completely different behind the scenes and is deeply concerned within the enterprise, Buss mentioned.
“I knew he was a tricky competitor as a result of his first championship, he beat the Los Angeles Lakers,” she mentioned. “He is similar to that within the boardroom. It is, ‘Who’re we up towards? Let’s be higher than that. Let’s work more durable. Let’s be extra artistic.'”
Jordan introduced in his design workforce, leading to a particular bottle that Buss referred to as “a murals.”
“Once you work with Michael Jordan, the bar is about excessive,” she mentioned. “Not simply him as a participant, however him as a businessman. And we have seen he is been fairly darn profitable.”
Cincoro is now a sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Buss unveiled Tuesday a limited-edition añejo bottle in Lakers purple and gold. Buss mentioned it is a nod to each the franchise’s championship pedigree and the model’s premium positioning.
