Los Angeles Lakers sells for $12.5 billion

The Los Angeles Lakers from the North American professional basketball league NBA are apparently being sold for a record price of 12.5 billion dollars (10.4 billion euros). ESPN reported this on Wednesday. The new owners of the franchise are said to be Bob Iger, former CEO of Disney, and Joshua Kushner. The latter is the brother of Jared Kushner, who in turn is the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Just last year, billionaire Mark Walter bought the Lakers for ten billion dollars (8.7 billion euros) from the Buss family, who had owned them since 1979. More money has never been paid for a franchise in US sports or any other club in the world. Just a year later, the record number will increase significantly again, but the NBA Board of Governors still has to approve the sale.

“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored to assume responsibility for the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most legendary sports teams in the world. We have great respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss,” Kushner and Iger said in a statement. “Our long-term goal is to build on this foundation, perform at the highest level and serve this exceptional team, its fans and the city of Los Angeles.”

Kushner is not an unknown name in the sports world; after all, he should have played a central role in Gianni Infantino’s now failed investor plans. The Fifa president wanted to sell shares in the World Cup; for this purpose, the subsidiary Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) was to be founded, which would have bundled all commercial activities and tournament organizations. The investor group was to be led by Thrive Capital, Kushner’s investment company.