Wednesday brought big news for Los Angeles Lakers fans as Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agreed to purchase the franchise in a record-setting $12.5 billion deal.
Lakers icon Magic Johnson, who previously served as a part-owner and the team’s president of basketball operations, welcomed the ownership change, but his reaction drew criticism from sections of the Lakers’ fan base.
Magic Johnson Faces Backlash After Applauding Lakers’ New Owners
Johnson welcomed the Lakers’ incoming ownership group, praising both Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and Iger, a former Disney CEO. The ownership transition comes less than a year after Mark Walter acquired a controlling stake in the franchise from the Buss family, a deal that received unanimous approval from the NBA Board of Governors in October 2025.
As debate over the ownership change intensified, Johnson voiced his support on X, expressing confidence that the new leadership would restore the Lakers to championship contention.
“Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years – he has always loved the Lakers and basketball, and he will bring championships back to LA,” Johnson tweeted.
The timing of the deal has fueled speculation because Walter’s financial services company is currently under investigation by federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission. That led some to fuel a conspiracy theory that the Trump administration’s fraud probe may have influenced the transaction in Kushner’s favor.
Meanwhile, the announcement also followed weeks after Kushner became involved in a controversial private equity proposal linked to FIFA. The governing body had planned to create a subsidiary to oversee the World Cup and sell minority stakes at a reported $20 billion valuation through Kushner-founded Thrive Eternal. The proposal sparked heavy criticism and was ultimately shelved.
While some Lakers fans were already unhappy with the ownership change, Johnson’s endorsement drew even sharper criticism.
“Magic, stop lying to these people,” one user wrote.
“How much are you getting paid to gaslight the fans? Bob Iger’s controversies mostly come from decisions he made as Disney’s CEO. He was named in a lawsuit by actress Paz de la Huerta, who alleged that he and former CEO Michael Eisner made decisions that harmed employees during the Harvey Weinstein era at Miramax,” another said.
“Toxicity for a once proud franchise. I feel bad for you, Magic,” one added.
The Lakers remain one of the NBA’s most decorated franchises, with 17 championships. After LeBron James’ departure following an eight-year stint, the team is now expected to build around Luka Dončić.
As speculation continued over whether politics had become intertwined with the ownership change, Johnson’s comments remained a focal point of online debate.
“Lol, y’all forget Magic is a billionaire first before anything else,” one user wrote.
A fan even shared a screenshot of Johnson saying Walter was the right person to take over the Lakers for the next three or four decades.
“[Expletive], even Magic is falling in line supporting a Kushner…. Feel bad for all Lakers fans today,” one more added.
The ownership transaction still requires approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet in New York next month.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.