White House Denies Involvement In Lakers Sale To Josh Kushner
The White House has denied any involvement in the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner, brother-in-law of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, in a deal that puts values the franchise at $12.5 billion.
Lakers owner Mark Walter announced Wednesday that he will sell the team to Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger. Walter had owned the franchise for less than 14 months, and the sale comes amid federal investigations into alleged financial improprieties tied to insurance companies he controls.
Kushner’s involvement, combined with the ongoing federal probes into Walter, sparked online speculation about a possible connection to Trump. Theories ranged from suggestions the administration encouraged the investigations to pressure a sale, to speculation Walter offered the team to Kushner hoping it might ease scrutiny.
A White House spokesperson issued a broad denial when asked about the matter.
“This has nothing to do with President Trump or his administration,” said the spokesperson.
A representative for Kushner’s venture capital firm, Thrive Capital, also pushed back on the speculation.
“This is false,” said the Thrive Capital spokesperson.
Walter’s holding company, TWG Global, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Kushner has never held a formal or informal position within the Trump administration and identifies as a lifelong Democrat with a history of donations to Democratic candidates.
His family maintains documented ties to Trump beyond marriage, however. Jared Kushner served as a White House adviser during Trump’s first term and has taken on an informal role as Special Envoy for Peace during the current term, assisting with Middle East negotiations. Trump also pardoned Josh and Jared’s father, Charles Kushner, during his first term on federal charges including tax evasion and fraud.
The Lakers transaction follows a separate development involving Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund and a proposed investment in the World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” in late July, a commercial venture designed to attract billions in outside investment each World Cup cycle. Infantino later shelved the plan following backlash, boycott threats and resignation calls, after which Trump publicly voiced support for Infantino without referencing Kushner or Thrive Eternal.
Jayden Daniels’ LSU feud over No. 5 jersey keeps getting more bizarre
ASHBURN, VA – AUGUST 01: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders reacts during training camp at BigBear.ai Performance Center on August 1, 2026 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jayden Daniels’ run to the Heisman Trophy with the LSU Tigers in 2023 was one of the most electric quarterback seasons in the recent history of college football. Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and only four interceptions in 12 games as LSU finished 10-3 with a win in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Now Daniels is beefing with his former college program after they gave away his No. 5 to a player on this year’s team. That’s just the start of it.
Daniels’ lawyers sent LSU a cease-and-desist saying it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, according to ESPN. Daniels’ camp issued a statement saying his family is “deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected” by the Tigers’ decision to give No. 5 to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett.
“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the statement from Daniels’ spokesperson said. “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university.”
At the crux of Daniels’ frustration seems to be the way LSU treats Joe Burrow’s legacy compared to his. No LSU player has worn Burrow’s No. 9 since he left campus. Burrow won the 2019 Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to the national championship. While Daniels bested Burrow’s ridiculous numbers, his team finished only 10-3 and capped the year with a win in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Neither Burrow or Daniels’ number is retired by LSU, and school policy states that a player must have “completed competition for five years before being nominated for jersey retirement.”
In another strange twist, LSU beat reporter Matt Moscona reported that Daniels requested LSU return its copy of his Heisman Trophy. Moscona noted that Daniels “personally reached out to LSU leadership” to express his displeasure, and that the school is still deciding how to handle it.
Daniels posted this statement to Instagram on Thursday:
Here’s the letter from Daniels’ attorney:
The letter from Jayden Daniels’ attorney Adam Kenner to LSU football stating the program “must immediately cease and desist from any further use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels’ NIL in any manner or medium.” pic.twitter.com/QdX6Tl1evG
Pickett wore No. 3 at LSU as a freshman. New Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin said Pickett was promised No. 5 on the recruiting trail by former head coach Brian Kelly. Kelly stated that he didn’t give Pickett No. 5 last season because Daniels was uncomfortable with it. On Pickett getting No. 5 this year, Kiffin said: “When a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”
It’s clear that Daniels feels like he’s being disrespected compared to Burrow. He also doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on here. This statement from Daniels’ camp feels totally out of touch.
“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected,” the statement said. “His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”
Burrow helped lead LSU to its first national championship of the playoff era. Daniels’ numbers might be slightly better on a spreadsheet, but it doesn’t hit the same when his team lost to Florida State, Ole Miss, and Alabama during the season. It doesn’t help that Daniels had something of a sophomore slump in the NFL last year with the Washington Commanders after a brilliant rookie season. Daniels looked like the best QB from the 2024 draft class after his first year, but going into this season, Drake Maye and Caleb Williams have surpassed him in rankings by most major publications.
Daniels needs to worry about creating his own NFL legacy, and stop holding onto his college days so closely. Anyone who watched Daniels at LSU knows how great he was. It’s ridiculous to think he has ownership over a number for a college football program that has existed for more than 130 years when he was only on campus for two years. If he can have the same success with the Commanders, it’s likely no one in Washington will ever wear his No. 5 again.
Mark Walter Could Save $425M In Taxes If Lakers’ Sale Closes In November
Mark Walter stands to save approximately $425 million in taxes depending on when the NBA’s board of governors votes to approve his sale of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to tax calculations from CPA Robert Raiola.
The savings hinge on whether the sale closes before or after the one-year anniversary of Walter becoming controlling owner, which occurred at the end of October last year following league approval. Walter agreed to sell the Lakers to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger for a reported $12.5 billion, with the transaction projected to yield roughly $2.5 billion in profit.
Long-term capital gains tax rules apply a 23.9 percent rate to assets held for more than one year, factoring in both the base 20 percent rate and an additional net investment income tax for high earners. Assets held for less than a year instead face the ordinary income tax rate, which climbs to 40.9 percent when including the net investment income tax.
Applying California’s 13.3 percent state income tax alongside the federal rates, Walter would owe roughly $930 million in taxes if the long-term rate applies, compared to approximately $1.36 billion under the higher short-term rate, according to Raiola’s calculations.
Raiola, director of the sports and entertainment group at PKF O’Connor Davies, cautioned that the actual transaction involves additional complexities beyond these estimates. Deductions, expenses and residency questions, including Walter’s reported Chicago residence, could all affect the final tax burden.
An ongoing federal investigation into Walter’s business holdings adds further complexity to the sale’s timeline and structure. That inquiry could prompt Walter, Kushner, Iger and the NBA to negotiate indemnification provisions if the legal issues expand to include his sports franchises.
The NBA’s board of governors has not yet set a date to vote on the Lakers sale.
Spurs, Sixers, Lakers Lead 2026-27 NBA Regular Season In National TV Appearances
The Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs are tied for the most national television appearances in the NBA for the upcoming 2026-27 season, each set to appear 34 times across NBC, ESPN, ABC, Prime Video and Peacock.
The Spurs’ emergence follows Victor Wembanyama’s growing national profile and their appearance in the 2026 NBA Finals, while Philadelphia benefits with increased exposure following their acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The Lakers remain a consistent marquee draw regardless of roster changes.
The defending champion New York Knicks rank fourth with 33 national appearances, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder at 30. The Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors are tied for sixth with 28 games apiece.
On the opposite end, five teams are tied for the fewest national television appearances with just two games each: the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings.
National Television Appearances By Team
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 34 1. Philadelphia 76ers: 34 1. San Antonio Spurs: 34 4. New York Knicks: 33 5. Oklahoma City Thunder: 30 6. Denver Nuggets: 28 6. Golden State Warriors: 28 8. Boston Celtics: 27 8. Minnesota Timberwolves: 27 10. Miami Heat: 25 11. Houston Rockets: 21 12. Dallas Mavericks: 20 13. Detroit Pistons: 19 14. Cleveland Cavaliers: 17 15. Indiana Pacers: 11 15. Portland Trail Blazers: 11 17. Atlanta Hawks: 10 18. Phoenix Suns: 9 19. LA Clippers: 8 19. Orlando Magic: 8 21. Toronto Raptors: 7 22. Charlotte Hornets: 6 22. Utah Jazz: 6 22. Washington Wizards: 6 25. Chicago Bulls: 3 26. Brooklyn Nets: 2 26. Memphis Grizzlies: 2 26. Milwaukee Bucks: 2 26. New Orleans Pelicans: 2 26. Sacramento Kings: 2
Lakers’ Sale To Kusher-Iger Came Together In Three Days
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner completed their $12.5 billion purchase of majority ownership in the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter after a whirlwind three-day negotiation, Iger told the California Post. The deal emerged unexpectedly from separate expansion talks.
Iger and Kushner had been pursuing ownership stakes in the NBA’s potential Las Vegas expansion franchise when they learned last weekend that Walter might be open to selling his Lakers stake, which he acquired just over a year ago.
“We were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” said Iger. “And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers. And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team, that we would be really smart to pursue it. The deal came together in three days.
“It’s that simple.”
Walter had purchased the Lakers from the Buss family at a then-record $10 billion valuation, with the league stipulating that Jeanie Buss remain the team’s Governor for at least five years. Iger confirmed he and Kushner intend to honor that arrangement.
“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” said Iger. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”
Iger said he has not yet spoken with Luka Doncic but has connected with Buss and coach JJ Redick. Iger and Redick built a rapport during Redick’s playing days with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2013 to 2017, when Iger held Clippers season tickets.
Iger revealed that he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement between Buss and Walter that she will remain as governor of the Lakers for at least five years.
Iger described the moment as still settling in, calling the opportunity to own an organization as iconic as the Lakers extraordinary from both a personal and business standpoint. He emphasized that plans for the franchise’s direction remain premature.
“We’re fans,” said Iger. “We respect the value that’s been created, both on the court and off. Our intention is to build this great franchise from a position of strength in many respects as an organization. It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”
Jeanie Buss To Remain Governor Of Lakers Despite Sale To Kushner-Iger
Incoming Los Angeles Lakers owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner plan to uphold the arrangement keeping Jeanie Buss as team Governor, Iger told the California Post, following their $12.5 billion purchase of the franchise from Mark Walter.
The commitment traces back to Walter’s original acquisition of the Lakers from the Buss family, a deal that carried a then-record $10 billion valuation. As part of that transaction, the league announced that Buss retain her role as Governor for a minimum of five years.
“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” said Iger. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”
Iger and Kushner finalized their purchase of Walter’s majority stake within three business days after learning he might be willing to sell. The opportunity arose while the pair were separately pursuing ownership interests tied to the NBA’s potential Las Vegas expansion franchise.
Iger said he has spoken directly with Buss since the deal came together, along with Lakers coach JJ Redick. He has not yet connected with star guard Luka Doncic.
Beyond the Buss agreement, Iger indicated no concrete plans have been formed yet regarding the franchise’s future direction, describing the ownership change as still very new for both him and Kushner.
Tottenham’s Lewis Family Explores Bid For NBA Europe London Team
The Lewis family, owners of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, is exploring a bid for the NBA Europe franchise slated for London. The move would mark the family’s first venture beyond soccer since acquiring Spurs in 2001.
The Lewis family controls 70.12 percent of ENIC, Tottenham’s parent company, which itself holds an 87.62 percent stake in the club. Vivienne Lewis, daughter of Joe Lewis, and her son-in-law Nick Beucher, co-CEO of Tavistock Group, primarily represent the family’s interests.
Joe Lewis stepped down as a person of significant control at Tottenham in October 2022. He pleaded guilty to insider trading in 2024 and was fined $5 million by a New York judge before receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump the following year.
The Lewises have joined a consortium alongside the Checketts and Eccles families, both experienced sports investors. David Checketts previously served as general manager of the Utah Jazz and president of the New York Knicks, while his family has owned MLS side Real Salt Lake and the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. The Eccles family holds stakes in English second-tier club Burnley and Spanish side Espanyol.
NBA Europe, a joint venture between the NBA and FIBA, is set to launch in 2027 with 12 permanent franchises and four annually qualifying sides. London is among 12 target cities that also include Manchester, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Milan.
American technology billionaire Nikesh Arora has separately assembled a consortium prepared to offer more than $1 billion for the London franchise, according to a report from The Athletic. Battersea Power Station’s undeveloped estate has been mentioned as a possible arena site.
Tottenham has regularly finished in the Premier League’s top half under the Lewis family’s ownership, qualifying for the Champions League six times and finishing as high as second in 2017. The club has won just two trophies during that span, however, and finished 17th in each of the last two seasons, prompting a rare public statement from ownership acknowledging accountability for the club’s struggles.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Zaay Green #14 of the Washington Mystics brings the ball up court against the Atlanta Dream during the second half of the preseason game at CareFirst Arena on May 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Tempo have signed guard Zaay Green to a developmental contract, the team announced on Tuesday.
Green spent the 2026 offseason overseas in Lithuania, Cyprus, and Mexico, where she averaged 12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Before that, her college career spanned Tennessee, Texas A&M, UAPB, and Alabama. At Alabama, she averaged 15.7 points per game before entering the WNBA Draft. Green was then selected by the Washington Mystics with the 32nd overall pick in the 2025 Draft, and appeared in two preseason games.
We’ve signed Zaay Green to a developmental contract.
The Tempo have now filled both of their developmental player spots
The league’s current list of developmental players includes Jaylyn Sherrod (Atlanta Dream), Maddy Westbeld (Chicago Sky), Ta’Niya Latson (Las Vegas), and Alissa Pili (Los Angeles Sparks), among dozens of others.
Each WNBA team may carry up to two developmental players in addition to their 12-player active roster. Each developmental player is eligible to participate in 12 total regular-season games. The Tempo’s other developmental player is Ornella Bankole.
The Tempo are 10-22 on the season and have lost 9 straight games. Green will be eligible to play in the team’s 12 remaining games.
Kyler Murray beat J.J. McCarthy in a non-existent QB battle
EAGAN, MINNESOTA – MAY 27: Kyler Murray #1 and J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings look on during an OTA workout at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on May 27, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback on Tuesday in the least-surprising news of the NFL offseason. Despite the Vikings branding this as a “quarterback battle,” it was always Murray’s job — and that’s become apparent in recent days during training camp. Now it’s caused unnecessary drama, as some onlookers at training camp believe that not only was McCarthy neck-and-neck in the battle, but that in recent days he out-performed the No. 1 overall pick who Minnesota signed this offseason.
There is no doubt that McCarthy was bad last year across his 10 games, and that Murray’s veteran experience made him the clear-cut answer for the job, but it was covered in unnecessary consternation. The Vikings knew that Murray would be their starter when they signed him, and if there wasn’t some sort of promise that he would be the starter, then Murray would have signed elsewhere. However, the Minnesota front office wanted to ease the eventual benching of McCarthy with the charade that this was really anyone’s job, when it wasn’t.
The attempt to pretend this was an open battle was predicated on the Vikings’ belief that Murray would win the job easily, but that was complicated by McCarthy playing quite well in camp up to this point, especially recently where it seemed like he was more comfortable in the new-look Vikings offense, especially on deep routes. It also raises questions of the team’s timing, and whether or not the decision to announce Murray as the starter right now was an effort to stop the bleeding after a weekend where Murray struggled, while McCarthy took strides ahead in the battle.
If there’s one thing about this Vikings team it’s that they routinely have messaging issues, almost as if its left and right hands struggle to be in concert. This was the case during Minnesota’s so-called “competitive rebuild,” which saw the Vikings attempt to rebuild its roster and be a successful playoff team in the process — not really achieving either, to the point where the franchise has been locked in draft purgatory without a good way to take the step forward. This was further accentuated this offseason with Justin Jefferson, who reportedly courted Murray to come and play with him, being forced to make public statements about how it didn’t matter who the QB was, and that he didn’t have a preference in the battle.
There’s always subterfuge in the NFL when it comes to making decisions in-season, but far too often the Vikings shroud their offseason plans in a cloak-and-dagger way that makes it feel as if the team itself doesn’t really have a plan. A throated, enthusiastic approach to Murray’s arrival, and naming him the starter from Day 1 would have felt better than what’s taken place. As for how McCarthy is handling all this: Look no further than Adam Schefter’s tweet, which might as well have come directly from McCarthy’s agent.
J.J. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to injury and started just ten games last year, with Minnesota winning six of them. Now the still only 23-year-old will be forced to be a backup https://t.co/Sw8qAMuBrL
Ultimately the Vikings made their decision, and it is probably the right one. Murray is a known quantity at this point, and the team has to be aware that the pressure is on to ensure Justin Jefferson stays happy and doesn’t demand a trade if the offense can’t get back on track. The lack of chemistry between McCarthy and Jefferson killed the passing offense a year ago, and the team is needing to throw a Hail Mary (forgive the pun) to try and replicate their Sam Darnold luck from 2024 in the hopes they can become a serious threat in the NFC North.
Despite this being the right move, it was handled the absolutely wrong way — and fans are right to question the process that led to Murray being named the starter on Tuesday.
Michael Brennan wins Wyndham Championship for second TOUR victory
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 09: Michael Brennan of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the Wyndham Championship 2026 at Sedgefield Country Club on August 09, 2026 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The regular season has officially come and gone.
Michael Brennan took home the final regular season tournament as he emerged victorious at the Wyndham Championship. Brennan finished 22-under which cleared the nearest challenger, Beau Hossler, by a whole three strokes.
This is the second career victory on the PGA Tour for Brennan as he won the Bank of Utah Championship last year. He is the third straight winner under the age of 25 so there is a real youthful renaissance happening out on the course these days.
On the subject of streaks, the Wyndham specifically has a bit of one going with Wake Forest alum. Brennan is the second straight Demon Deacon to win the event as Cameron Young did last year. Incidentally, both were economics majors at the university.
Brennan leapt from 105 in the FedExCup standings to 47 so he has some work ahead. The playoffs get going this week and are certainly going to be interesting to monitor.
