Countdown: Board of Governors in two weeks
The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in New York on Sept. 15–16. Multiple reports have the Kushner-Iger purchase of Mark Walter’s majority stake (reported at a $12.5 billion valuation) heading into that approval window. ESPN has noted Josh Kushner must still sell his limited Miami Heat equity before board approval can finish. Coverage continues to caution that a final 75% vote may not land at this first September meeting, and that remote approval later is possible.
Separately, Jeanie Buss’s Los Angeles Superior Court petition to block her five siblings from selling the family’s roughly 17.8% stake remains pending and unadjudicated. Those claims are allegations in court, not findings. A Los Angeles Times source close to the matter has said the Walter-to-Kushner/Iger majority sale is not expected to be affected by the family litigation.
ESPN · Los Angeles Times (petition) · Los Angeles Times (deal timeline)
Ziaire Williams: defense first, hometown second
In fresh comments published late Aug. 31 and into Sept. 1, new Lakers wing Ziaire Williams described early talks with coach JJ Redick and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Via Benjamin Royer of the Southern California News Group / Orange County Register, Williams said their focus for him is “first and foremost, being a main defender, point-of-attack defender.”
Williams also framed the fit next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves: “Obviously Luka (Doncic) and AR (Austin Reaves) are going to be the main primary ball handlers. So just playing off them, being able to shoot, cut, make plays in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was a great fit for me to be here, and the feeling was mutual.” He called returning home to L.A. “the cherry on top.”
Williams signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles this summer after Brooklyn declined his team option. Reported dollar figures have varied across outlets; treat any single number as reported, not confirmed here. He averaged 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes per game with the Nets last season (confirmed box-score season line cited in secondary coverage). The signing itself is confirmed by prior reporting; these role comments are on-the-record player remarks.
LeBron Wire / USA Today · BasketNews (OCR quotes) · Orange County Register (July signing)
BMO bank deal still the fresh business headline
Monday’s confirmed sponsor announcement remains the clearest non-ownership business news into Tuesday. The Lakers and BMO named BMO the exclusive Official Bank of the Los Angeles Lakers starting 2026-27, with training camp presented by BMO, practice-jersey branding, inaugural naming rights on BMO Courtside Reserve, and a League of Stars legends program. Lon Rosen called it a “paradigm shift” in how the franchise partners with brands.
This is a confirmed team/sponsor release, not a rumor.
PR Newswire · Sports Business Journal
Watch next
- Sept. 15–16 NBA Board of Governors meetings in New York (majority-sale approval process).
- Jeanie Buss court hearing on the family-stake petition (calendar still in November; claims remain unadjudicated).
- Roster math before opening night: Los Angeles has previously been reported over the 15-man guaranteed limit, so a cut or trade remains possible. Training camp is late September.