Lakers Owner Mark Walter’s $362 Billion Enterprise Being Investigated Draws Reactions on Social Media – “This Why Bron Jumped Ship?”

Mark Walter's billions had fans believing the Los Angeles Lakers will soon return to being successful.

Lakers Owner Mark Walter’s $362 Billion Enterprise Being Investigated Draws Reactions on Social Media – “This Why Bron Jumped Ship?”

Lakers' majority owner Mark Walter (Image via FirstSportz)

When Jeanie Buss and her family sold off their majority stake to Mark Walter for an NBA record $10 billion valuation, the sports world realized that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to usher in a new success-laden future.

The 66-year-old has led the Los Angeles Dodgers to three World Series championships and is considered the ‘standard’ in baseball. Lakers fans were giddy with the thought that their franchise might soon become that in the NBA.

For years, the organization suffered due to the Buss family’s inability to invest in the team. They might have had the most marketable team in the league, but as owners, they were one of the poorest.

In this past calendar year, the changes at the Lakers have given hope that soon they would return to being dominant. LeBron James‘ free agency decision notwithstanding, the franchise has done enough to prove they are working towards their next era.

However, now that future has become clouded, or at least until federal investigators give Mark Walter and his firms, Guggenheim Partners, and TWG Global, the clean chit. The $362 billion enterprise came under their purview when certain investments caught their eye.

US prosecutors are looking into ‘potential financial improprieties,’ as Bloomberg reported. It is not a given that these investigations would end with prosecution.

But until the Iowa native and his firms are given the all-clear, the status of the Lakers, the Dodgers, the PWHL, and other investments such as Chelsea FC and others is unknown.

RELATED
ESPN Insider Says Mark Walter Heralds Lakers’ ‘Modern Era’ After $10 Billion Deal With Jeanie Buss

Fans troll Lakers after probe into Mark Walter comes to light

It so happens that neither the Los Angeles Lakers nor the other sports ventures of Mark Walter will face any scrutiny. The NBA and its board of governors had just given the green light for him to take over the purple and gold franchise.

That is why fans could not stop themselves from reacting to this news of the investigation. While some of them were shocked by this turn of events, most trolled the Lakers for finding themselves in trouble. Check out examples of those reactions below.

As of now, this investigation does not include the Lakers or any other sports venture. However, fans did agree that any irregularities found in the probe could push investigators to look into the sports side of Mark Walter‘s businesses.

RELATED
Lakers New Owner’s Stunning Net Worth: Know All About Mark Walter

Lakers continue to add players in free agency

Mark Walter’s companies are collaborating with the federal investigators to conclude this probe as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Los Angeles Lakers are continuing to add to their roster, now that they have the $52 million LeBron James left behind.

Jeanie Buss and Mark Walter
Jeanie Buss and Mark Walter (Image via Purple & Gold BR/X)

Free agent forward Matisse Thybulle has agreed on one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

Shams Charania revealed on X

Thybulle adds much-needed athleticism and scoring off the bench. For years, the King complained about the Lakers not having a deep enough bench to contend. It seems Rob Pelinka is finally listening to the complaints, even though the superstar who pointed it out is no longer there.

Also Read: