FOR the first time since 1979, the Los Angeles Lakers will not be owned by the Buss family.
According to ESPN sources, the famed franchise is set to be sold for USD 10B - the highest-ever for a U.S. professional sports team.
Mark Walter, the new owner, has deep ties to LA sports, with stakes in the MLB's Dodgers and WNBA's Sparks, as well as Chelsea of the Premier League.
However, Jeanie Buss, representing the current owners, will stay on as Lakers governor and will continue to oversee team decisions - for the foreseeable future, at the very least.
The Buss stops here
Jerry, the Buss family patriarch, bought the Los Angeles franchise 46 years ago for USD 67.5M. After his passing in 2013, rights were passed to his children, making them the longest-tenured owners in the NBA.
The Lakers won 11 championships under the Buss family, featuring legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and now, LeBron James.
Early this year, LA shocked the sports world by acquiring Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic from Dallas.
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