LeBron James, Luka Doncic Reportedly Have 'Excitement' After Historic Lakers Sale
The stunning sale of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday has brought about a renewed sense of optimism for the two best players on the team.
Appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN's Dave McMenamin said LeBron James and Luka Dončić have "excitement" about what the sale means for the franchise.
"A source close to Doncic said that [Mark] Walter's deep pockets, combined with his results with the Dodgers, makes L.A. that much more appealing for the 26-year-old superstar," McMenamin and Tim Bontemps reported on Thursday.
Dončić confirmed his excitement on Thursday, tweeting that he's looking forward to the future and working "to win championships."
Dončić's feelings, in particular, should be of particular interest to the Lakers. He is going to be the long-term face of the franchise after James leaves or retires. The 26-year-old will also be interested in this move because he could sign an extension worth up to $229 million over four years this summer.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Buss family entered into an agreement with Mark Walter to sell a majority ownership stake in the Lakers with a valuation of $10 billion.
The $10 billion valuation will make the Lakers the most expensive sports team ever sold, surpassing the $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics that was agreed upon in May.
Despite being arguably the most marquee franchise in all of North American pro sports, the Lakers weren't always as aggressive as some NBA clubs because the Buss family was cash-poor relative to other governors in the league.
A few years ago, for example, Tyronn Lue turned down the Lakers' offer to become their head coach because he felt they were low-balling him.
Walter, who is also part of the ownership group for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has a net worth of $6.1 billion. Jeanie Buss will remain in her current position as governor of the Lakers for "at least a number of years" as part of the sale agreement, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
The Buss family has owned a majority share of the Lakers since 1979 when Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the franchise for $67.5 million. Their run of 46 years owning the club is the longest-active tenure in the NBA, ahead of Herb Simon of the Indiana Pacers (42 years).
