Shams Charania Fires Back At Jeanie Buss’ Lawyer Amidst Lakers Sale Controversy: “I Fully Stand by My Reporting”

Shams Charania has been drawn into Jeanie Buss and her siblings' fight to sell their 17.8% in the Lakers.

Shams Charania Fires Back At Jeanie Buss’ Lawyer Amidst Lakers Sale Controversy: “I Fully Stand by My Reporting”

Shams Charania & Jeanie Buss (Image via Polymarket Hoops/X)

Los Angeles Lakers minority owner Jeanie Buss and her family dispute is back after Shams Charania reported that her siblings wanted to sell their shares to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.

After paying a premium when taking over Mark Walter‘s majority share, it was natural that the Buss siblings would want to cash in on the $12.5 billion valuation. They are not part of the Lakers’ operations; hence, they stated that it is time to move on.

However, their older sister continuing to control the franchise after booting everyone out has become a major sticking point for them. Therefore, it seems as if this was payback.

Jeanie Buss’ lawyer stated that her client holds veto power to negate any such vote. While detailing that, the lawyer also chose to attack Charania for ‘false reporting.’ Now, the insider decided to respond to her.

The first line of the statement from the lawyers said that I ‘reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell.’ That key sentence right there is inaccurate. So I fully stand by my reporting.

Shams Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show

Charania reiterated that Buss’ lawyer got her statement wrong because he had revealed how five of the Buss siblings voted in favor of using the ‘tag-along’ provision and selling their 17.8% shares.

He also pointed out that his report did reveal how the Lakers’ matriarch abstained from the vote, but that did not stop the rest from voting as per the provisions of the family trust the late Dr. Jerry Buss passed along to his children.

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Shams Charania believes Jeanie Buss and siblings could enter legal battle to sell Lakers

A while later, Shams Charania detailed how Jeanie Buss‘ lawyer entering this situation could make it difficult for the franchise to complete their ownership transfer. Then, he stated what he believes will happen if the Lakers’ governor does not agree with her siblings.

It could result in lawsuits, and the five other siblings have not retracted their vote… Where does Jeanie Buss and her legal team take this? Does she take it to the court? My understanding is that this could end up being a legal battle.

Charania said

The franchise is already facing a lot of heat after this latest sale to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger came to light. The overall discourse is that the NBA allowed fraudulent billionaires to purchase teams, which is now biting back in the form of various scandals.

If Buss does not agree with her siblings and tries to hold on to this position as the Lakers’ controller, it is possible that this could embroil the franchise in a distracting and long-drawn courtroom drama.

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2017 court order could decide Jeanie Buss’ fight to remain as Lakers governor

While Jeanie Buss stayed away from this vote, her other five siblings united to decide on selling their stake in the Lakers. That will immediately void the former’s ability to stay as the Lakers’ governor, as the NBA stipulates that governors must hold at least a 15% stake.

Jeanie Buss with her championship trophies
Jeanie Buss with her championship trophies (Image via DTLF/X)

She is contesting it with the letter of the law. Her lawyer referenced Buss’ veto power, obtained via a 2017 court order stating that any sale of the family’s shares in the Lakers’ interest requires approval from the co-trustees.

Jeanie Buss, Janie, and Joey Buss are the three co-trustees as per the court filings. This is the basis for her lawyer’s claim that she can veto her siblings’ decision.

However, since two of the co-trustees are siding with the rest, it seems the governor could be outnumbered in the event the court decides to go with the majority. At the same time, since these legal matters can be interpreted in various ways, expect this to legal battle to continue over the next few months.

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