# A $12.5 Billion Sale and a $8 Million Quest: How the Lakers and LeBron James Diverged

**By Jordan Wells**  \nPublished August 13, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> As the Los Angeles Lakers change hands in a record $12.5bn deal led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, 41-year-old LeBron James has departed for the Philadelphia 76ers on a surprising two-year, $8 million deal.

The seismic tremors reshaping the Los Angeles Lakers organization arrived in rapid succession. Less than a year after Mark Walter acquired a controlling stake in the franchise from the Buss family in a deal valued at an estimated $10 billion, the iconic NBA franchise is changing hands once more. Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger are purchasing the controlling interest in the Lakers for a reported, record-breaking $12.5 billion.

Simultaneously, the roster floor dropped out. LeBron James, the highest points scorer in the history of the NBA, officially closed his eight-season chapter in Los Angeles. Following a playoff exit in the second round where the Lakers fell 0-4 to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, James informed the organization through his agent, Rich Paul, that the club could plan its future elsewhere.

Rather than chasing a final mega-contract, the 41-year-old superstar accepted a staggering pay cut, signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers worth just $8 million—a steep descent from the nearly $53 million he collected with the Lakers last season. In a statement posted to social media, James made his intentions explicit: Tohle je moje poslední rozhodnutí. Nejdu za penězi. Nejdu kvůli rodině. Proč tedy ještě hraju? Chci se dál obětovat, tvrdě pracovat, dřít, soutěžit a znovu zažít pocit zisku mistrovského titulu. LeBron James

## The Philadelphia Super-Roster and the Chase for Ring Number Five

James enters his record-extending 24th season in the NBA joining a revamped Philadelphia side designed specifically to capture a championship. The Eastern Conference powerhouse shook up the offseason by landing Jaylen Brown—the 2024 NBA Finals MVP—in an exchange that sent Paul George and additional assets to Boston. George's tenure in Philadelphia had been repeatedly hampered by injuries and underwhelming playoff production, prompting a high-stakes pivot that instantly ignited fierce debate across the league.

In Philadelphia, James slots into a rotation featuring former MVP Joel Embiid, star point guard Tyrese Maxey, and rookie VJ Edgecombe, who cemented his lottery pedigree during an explosive debut campaign. For Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the acquisition prompted an immediate state-level celebration on social media: LeBron míří do Philadelphie. Z moci, která mi byla svěřena jako guvernérovi Pensylvánie a celoživotnímu fanouškovi Sixers, tímto vyhlašuji dnešek Dnem LeBrona Jamese. Josh Shapiro

The arithmetic of James's legacy hangs heavily on this move. Having secured titles with Miami (2012, 2013), Cleveland (2016), and the Lakers (2020), a fifth ring in Philadelphia would make him the first player in modern NBA history to capture a championship with four different organizations.

## Lakers Ownership Handover: Walter to Kushner and Iger

Back in Los Angeles, the financial valuation of the purple and gold continues to scale heights previously thought impossible. Walter, who also holds a stake in the LA Dodgers alongside Todd Boehly, praised the community and the Buss family upon parting with his majority share. Incoming co-owners Kushner and Iger inherit a franchise boasting 17 championship banners—one shy of the Boston Celtics' record 18 titles.

For the Lakers on the floor, the transition leaves Luka Doncic—who arrived via trade from the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025—as the undisputed centerpiece of the franchise. Welcoming the new ownership group, Doncic stated on social media: Being a Laker means everything to me, and I'm excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. Luka Doncic

## Comparative Ownership Milestones

Era / InvestorYearEstimated Value / Purchase PriceJerry Buss1979$67.5 million (packaged with Kings and Forum)Mark Walter2025$10.0 billionJosh Kushner & Bob Iger2026$12.5 billionWith a fresh ownership group at the helm, a youthful superstar leading the locker room, and a staggering $12.5 billion valuation setting a new ceiling for global sports business, the post-James era in Los Angeles has officially begun.

## Sources

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- [bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/articles/c04k2dn422xo) — original
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