LOS ANGELES, CA – June 19, 2025 – In a move that has reverberated throughout the world of professional sports, the Buss family has agreed to sell its controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to a consortium led by billionaire Mark Walter for a staggering $10 billion. The record-shattering valuation not only marks the end of a storied four-decade family ownership but also creates a new financial landscape in the NBA, with clear winners and one very notable loser.
The primary beneficiaries of this monumental transaction are, perhaps surprisingly, the other 29 NBA team owners. The Lakers’ sale price obliterates the previous record held by the Boston Celtics, whose recent sale for a then-historic $6.1 billion now appears modest in comparison. This new benchmark is expected to have a significant ripple effect across the league, instantly elevating the valuation of every other franchise.
“This is a watershed moment for the league,” a high-ranking executive from an Eastern Conference team told this reporter on the condition of anonymity. “The Lakers are a marquee franchise, but this number is beyond anyone’s wildest projections. It’s a tide that lifts all boats; every owner’s investment just became substantially more valuable.”
For fans of the purple and gold, the arrival of Walter, who also holds a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers, signals a new era of financial firepower. This is particularly good news for the team’s newly acquired superstar, Luka Dončić. The Slovenian phenom, who arrived in a blockbuster trade earlier this season, can now rest assured that the franchise has the deep pockets necessary to build a perennial championship contender around him.
Sources close to the Lakers organization indicate that securing Dončić with a long-term, max-value contract extension is a top priority for the new ownership group. Walter’s demonstrated willingness to spend on talent, as evidenced by the Dodgers’ payroll, suggests that the luxury tax will be no impediment to surrounding Dončić and LeBron James with the requisite supporting cast to chase titles.
“For Luka, this is a dream scenario,” commented a prominent player agent. “He’s already on a premier team, and now he has an owner who is clearly committed to winning at all costs. The financial muscle this new group brings is a game-changer for the Lakers’ competitiveness for the next decade.”
However, where there are winners, there must also be losers. In this case, the vanquished party is the Lakers’ eternal rival, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics’ brief reign as the holders of the record for the most expensive franchise sale in NBA history has been emphatically ended. The historic rivalry, once primarily contested on the hardwood for championship banners, has now seen a decisive victory for Los Angeles in the financial arena.
While the on-court battles between the two storied franchises will undoubtedly continue with their customary passion, the bragging rights for franchise value now firmly reside in Southern California. The $3.9 billion difference in the sale prices of the two clubs is a stark reminder of the global brand power that the Lakers command.
As the ink dries on this historic deal, the NBA finds itself in a new financial reality. The repercussions of the Lakers’ sale will be felt for years to come, from the negotiating tables of future franchise sales to the locker rooms where players and their agents will undoubtedly take note of the league’s soaring economic health. One thing is certain: the Los Angeles Lakers, under new and ambitious ownership, are poised to remain at the epicenter of the basketball universe for the foreseeable future.
