Lakers legend Shaq shares powerful reaction to Buss family selling last LA stake

Shaquille O’Neal has weighed in on the Buss family’s reported decision to sell its remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, praising the family’s business acumen while acknowledging how different the franchise will feel without them.

The Lakers legend discussed the sale during an appearance on SportsCenter, where he was asked about the latest developments surrounding the franchise. Having played for Los Angeles during one of the most successful stretches in its history, he reflected on his admiration for the family that owned the team throughout his tenure.

“I have great admiration for the Buss family. Learned a lot of business acumen from watching them. And I can remember how much Mr. Buss paid for the team,” the 54-year-old told SportsCenter.

Shaq on the Buss siblings reportedly selling their share of the Lakers:

"I have great admiration for the Buss family. Learned a lot of business acumen from watching them. And I can remember how much Mr. Buss paid for the team. So if the rumors are true on how much they sold it… pic.twitter.com/xFZH0t8D0g

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) August 20, 2026

Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, a deal that also included the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and The Forum. Nearly five decades later, the franchise has become one of the most valuable sports properties in the world, a context that makes the reported terms of the family’s exit especially striking to those who watched its rise.

“So if the rumors are true and on how much they sold it for, I think it was a monumental business move,” Shaq said.

The sale would also bring an end to the Buss family’s direct connection to the Lakers. Shaq, who joined the team in 1996 and won three straight championships from 2000 to 2002 before leaving Los Angeles in 2004, admitted the shift will take some getting used to.

“It will be different not knowing that the Buss family is there with the Lakers. But I want to wish them well. I want to congratulate them,” he said.

The transition has been unfolding in stages. In 2025, the family sold a controlling interest to Mark Walter’s group at a $10 billion valuation while retaining a minority stake. That remaining 17.8% is now being sold to incoming majority owners, venture capitalist Josh Kushner and Disney CEO Bob Iger, at a $12.5 billion valuation.

For Shaq, the gap between Jerry Buss’ original purchase price and today’s figure is the whole story.

“But from a business standpoint, from what they purchased it for, to what they sold it for, you get the golf clap,” he said.

The Buss name has been synonymous with the Lakers for nearly half a century, spanning 11 championships and generations of stars. As Kushner and Iger prepare to take the reins, the franchise enters unfamiliar territory. But for Shaq and the players who thrived under the family’s ownership, the appreciation for what the Buss era represented won’t fade with the sale.

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