The Los Angeles Lakers' record $12.5 billion ownership sale could face a significant financial obstacle, with Bill Simmons claiming prospective majority owner Josh Kushner is still searching for billions of dollars to complete the transaction with Mark Walter.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons alleged that Kushner has yet to secure approximately $5 billion to $6 billion needed to finalize the agreement, raising questions about the timeline of the franchise's ownership transition.

“The Lakers guy doesn’t have the money yet. That $12.5 billion that he has to pay to Mark Walter, he’s still searching for about 5-6 billion of it. Doesn’t have it yet,” Simmons said.

Simmons also claimed that former Disney CEO Bob Iger, who is partnering with Kushner on the acquisition, is contributing substantially less money than some might expect.

“Here’s the other thing… guess who’s not really putting in any money? Bob Iger. He’s putting in the minimum. The minimum’s like $63 million, that’s what he’s putting in.”

According to Simmons, Kushner's efforts to secure additional investors could explain why the ownership transition has yet to be finalized.

Josh Kushner is still $5-6 BILLION short on the Lakers deal and Bob Iger is only putting in "like 63 million dollars," per @BillSimmons

"I think they're using the Buss family as scapegoats for why the deal's dragging along, but he can't find the money." pic.twitter.com/pY9tSIc1R4

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) October 30, 2026

“So Kushner has to find all of this other money, but this is a lot of money and the deadline’s coming and I think they're using the Buss family as scapegoats for why the deal's dragging along, but he can't find the money.”

Simmons' claims have not been independently confirmed, and neither Kushner nor the Lakers have publicly verified the alleged financing shortfall.

Bill Simmons questions whether Josh Kushner can complete Lakers purchase

The reported financial concerns follow Walter's unexpected decision to sell the Lakers in August, approximately one year after acquiring the Buss family's controlling interest at a $10 billion franchise valuation.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Walter accepted Kushner and Iger's $12.5 billion proposal within approximately 72 hours, reportedly blindsiding Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.

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The agreement also surprised superstar Luka Doncic, who learned about the impending sale through his longtime manager, Lara Beth Seager.

Simmons compared Kushner's reported financing challenges to the process surrounding the Boston Celtics' ownership sale, suggesting the Lakers' prospective buyers could need several additional wealthy investors.

“He needs to find like 4-5 billion dollar guys that will come in and buy whatever percent of the team,” Simmons said.

“People think this deal is going to be done. I don’t know.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the ownership transition, the Lakers (4-1) will turn their attention to their first NBA Cup matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Friday at 7 p.m. PT on Prime Video.