Historic $10 Billion Deal: Lakers Majority Ownership Changing Hands

The potential sale of the L.A. Lakers, valued at approximately $10 billion, could impact sports betting by positioning the team for stronger investments and performance. With the addition of Luka Doncic to a star-studded lineup including LeBron James, punters may want to factor in the revamped dynamics when placing wagers on Lakers games.

The iconic L.A. Lakers basketball franchise will soon be under new ownership. On Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Lakers. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale.

The L.A. Lakers were founded in 1946 and have won the second-most championships in NBA history. They won 11 of their 17 NBA titles under the ownership of the Buss family. The National Basketball Association has seen dozens of stellar players over the years, but which 10 players have been the absolute best?

Who will become the new owner of the Los Angeles Lakers? The Buss family is selling the iconic franchise to LA Dodgers lead owner Mark Walter. Walter, who is the CEO and Chairmain of diversified holding company TWG Global, is also an investor in Chelsea FC and has interests in the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, the Billie Jean Cup, the Cadillac Formula 1 team, and more. He has been a minority stakeholder in the Lakers since 2021. Forbes has valued his net worth at $6.1 billion.

According to Charania, the deal will be worth approximately $10 billion USD — the largest sale of a professional U.S. sports franchise in history. Jerry Buss, who originally bought the Lakers back in 1979, spent $67.5 million to acquire the franchise, passing it along to his children following his death in 2013.

The Boston Celtics, arguably the NBA's second-most iconic franchise, sold recently for $6.1 billion while Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks sold for $3.5 billion. The Lakers acquired perennial superstar Luka Doncic to play alongside LeBron James, forming the most star-studded backcourt in the NBA – fitting for the most valuable franchise in the league. James is widely considered to be one of the greatest (if not the greatest) basketball players of all time.

After more than four decades under the Buss family, the Lakers are set for a new era.

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