Jeanie Buss had five-year Lakers governor protection in side deal with Mark Walter

Jeanie Buss’ agreement to remain in charge of the Lakers came with more protection than was previously known.

A legal filing in the ongoing Buss family dispute revealed details of a side agreement Buss reached with Mark Walter when he acquired control of the franchise in 2025, according to Front Office Sports.

Under the agreement, Walter pledged to take actions “reasonably required or requested by Jeanie” to keep her as a director and controlling owner for five years, provided she or affiliated entities maintained at least a 15% stake in the Lakers.

That 15% figure matters because it is the NBA threshold for serving as team governor. After the five-year period, Buss would have the right to remain as alternate governor so long as she or affiliated entities maintained at least a 5% stake.

The arrangement now comes with a significant question mark. Walter has since agreed to sell his controlling stake to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, and it is unclear whether Buss’ side agreement carries over to the new ownership group.

Meanwhile, Buss remains locked in a legal dispute with her five siblings, who want to sell the family trust’s remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers.

Buss opposes that move, arguing that a previous court order requires the family to take reasonable steps to keep her in control.

So while the original Walter agreement gave Buss a much clearer runway than was known publicly at the time, the franchise’s latest ownership change may make what comes next considerably less certain.