The Los Angeles Lakers have changed hands in one of the biggest transactions in sports history, but the record-breaking $12.5 billion sale has already triggered a wave of controversy among supporters.
The deal, announced Wednesday, sees a consortium led by former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner take control of the iconic NBA franchise.
The purchase comes just over a year after Mark Walter acquired the Lakers for $10 billion in June 2025.
Rather than celebrating the extraordinary valuation, some Lakers supporters have focused on Kushner’s family connection to President Donald Trump and questioned whether politics could eventually have a place within the organisation.
Josh Kushner’s Trump Family Connection
Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and served as a senior White House adviser during Trump’s first administration.
Jared remains closely connected to the Trump administration and currently serves as a US special envoy for peace missions.
That relationship has prompted some Lakers fans to speculate about whether the president could eventually gain influence around the franchise.
The concern, however, is based on family ties rather than evidence that Trump has any ownership stake in the Lakers or an operational role under the new ownership group.
Fans Fear a New Political Dimension
Social media reactions were swift following news of the takeover, with some supporters expressing concern that the Lakers could become connected to Trump’s wider political and business network.
One post claimed that Trump had effectively “bought the Lakers” through the Kushner family, while another described the franchise as becoming part of a broader Trump-Kushner empire.
The reaction has extended beyond Lakers supporters, with one fan from the New York Knicks questioning how long it might take before Trump becomes involved with the franchise.
Such comments reflect fears about the growing role of wealthy investment groups in professional sports, as well as the political connections that can accompany high-profile ownership deals.
Josh and Jared Kushner Are Not Politically Identical
Despite the family connection, Josh Kushner’s political outlook is understood to differ from that of his older brother.
Josh, who founded venture capital firm Thrive Capital, is married to model Karlie Kloss.
He and Kloss have generally been associated with more liberal political circles than Jared and Ivanka Trump.
That distinction has done little to prevent speculation online, however, with some fans focusing primarily on the family’s connection to the president rather than Josh’s own political positioning.
Questions Surround Mark Walter’s Decision
The extraordinary sale also comes at a complicated time for Walter.
The former Lakers owner is reportedly facing federal scrutiny involving the Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI over suspected loan fraud.
Social media speculation has linked the investigation to his decision to sell the franchise, although such claims remain speculation and do not establish that the sale was made because of the investigation.
Walter is nevertheless not leaving the world of professional sports.
He intends to remain involved with Guggenheim Baseball Management, the ownership group behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A Record Price and a New Era
The $12.5 billion agreement places the Lakers among the most valuable sports franchises ever sold and represents a substantial increase on the $10 billion Walter paid for the team only a year earlier.
For Iger and Kushner, the acquisition represents an extraordinary entry into one of the world’s most recognisable sports brands.
For Lakers fans, however, the ownership change has produced a more complicated reaction.
The immediate debate is no longer simply about the price of the franchise.
It is about who now controls one of America’s most influential sporting institutions—and whether the political connections surrounding one member of the ownership group will ultimately matter.
What the Controversy Means for the Lakers
For now, there is no indication that President Trump will have a formal role in Lakers ownership or decision-making.
The political backlash is being driven largely by fan speculation surrounding Josh Kushner’s relationship with Jared Kushner.
The new ownership group will therefore face an early test: reassuring supporters that the Lakers’ sporting direction remains separate from partisan politics while managing expectations around a deal that has attracted enormous public attention.
With the franchise now valued at $12.5 billion, every decision made by its new owners is likely to receive intense scrutiny.
