Last night, we found out we would have to wait to crown a new NBA champion as the Indiana Pacers forced a Game 7 in a rout of the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder. The score may read 108-91, but the game was over after the third quarter. However, the big news was something that dropped the day before last night’s game.
In a stunning move, the Buss family entered into an agreement to sell majority ownership of the hometown Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter for a franchise valuation of approximately $10 billon, the highest ever for a U.S. professional sports franchise. The Buss family will keep a minority share of the team, just over 15%, for at least a while. In addition, Jeanie Buss will remain the Lakers’ governor and continue to run the team for “at least a number of years”, sources reported, a plan that Walter has fully endorsed.
It is the end of a chapter, and the beginning of a new one, in the glorious legacy of the Lakers, a team whose brand is second to none in the NBA. Since Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, the franchise experienced a remarkable transformation into one of the most successful teams in NBA history. Buss’s vision and leadership revitalized the team, leading to a period of dominance during the 1980s known as the “Showtime” era, characterized by fast-paced, entertaining basketball and the rise of stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. The franchise continued its success in the 2000s with stars such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, winning five titles. Under the Buss Family’s ownership, the Lakers have secured 11 championships and won more than 60% of their games, no team in the NBA can better either of those statistics.
However, Mark Walter is a name that many LA natives don’t mind as the new man in charge of the Lakers. After all, look what he’s done for the other franchise he owns: the equally world-famous Los Angeles Dodgers. Since being sold in 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers have experienced a period of significant success and transformation. The new ownership, led by Walter’s Guggenheim Baseball Management, invested heavily in player development and team infrastructure, leading to a competitive roster. The Dodgers quickly became a powerhouse in Major League Baseball, consistently making playoff appearances. In 2013, they reached the postseason for the first time since 2009, and in 2014, they advanced to the National League Championship Series. The team’s crowning achievement came in 2020 when they won their first World Series since 1988, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers continued their dominance with multiple postseason runs, highlighted by strong performances from stars like Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. They went on to win in last year’s 2024 World Series over their bitter postseason rival, the New York Yankees, to add another achievement for Dodgers ownership. Overall, since 2012, the Dodgers have established themselves as one of MLB’s premier franchises, combining strong management, talented players, and a passionate fanbase.
So naturally, people are wondering if Walter can do for the Lakers the same thing he did for the Dodgers. Well, yes and no, there are limits to what can be done. This is the best way to explain this: there are key differences between the MLB and the NBA. There is no salary cap in baseball, and there is one in basketball. There’s a full minor league system in baseball, there’s only a limited one in basketball, with far fewer privileges to control rights over developed players. Of course, there is no cap on what the Lakers can do off the court. After all, Walter and his partners, including Jeanie Buss’ close friend and Lakers legend Magic Johnson, did more than just pay for the best players to come to the Dodgers. They poured considerable resources into every level of the franchise, and that is something he can do for the Lakers.
The improvements could include better player development, expanding the front office, and numerous other fixes. Obviously, the primary focus for when the offseason starts is what LeBron James does and how the Lakers can build around James’ heir apparent as the face of the franchise, Luka Doncic. No matter what improvements Walter brings to the Lakers, their priority should remain the same: get a new big man like they should have after they traded away Anthony Davis. As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, every single successful Lakers team has always had a dominating center, and that’s where Walter’s first task should be.
Still, there’s reason for excitement for Lakers fans, who are obviously aware of what Walter has done for the Dodgers. Johnson posted on X: “Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand. The proof is in the pudding on what he’s been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner notching 2 World Series and 11 NL West divisional titles in the last 12 years!” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked that the sale to Walter marks “a very exciting day for the Lakers, for the city of Los Angeles.” “He’s very competitive, and he’s going to do everything he can to produce a championship-caliber team every single year and make sure the city feels proud about the Lakers and the legacy that they’ve already built with the Buss family,” Roberts said. Lakers fans can be hopeful, and Walter has his job cut out for him…because the Lakers are still looking to get even in terms of championships with their hated rivals, the Boston Celtics.
