Lakers Reportedly Projected to Reach $30B Valuation Within 10 Years After Kushner, Iger Sale

Within a decade, the record-setting price for the Los Angeles Lakers could look like a bargain.

Jessica Toonkel and Mark Maurer of the Wall Street Journal reported the investment firm led by Josh Kusher is projecting the Lakers could be worth $30 billion inside another 10 years.

Kusher and Bob Iger are at the front of the ownership group that agreed to purchase the Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion.

Kushner is seeking minority investors and as part of that made an aggressive pitch in terms of how the NBA's and Lakers' revenues may continue to climb.

According to Toonkel and Maurer, he cited the possibility for expansion. The NBA is exploring the addition of franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, but no concrete plans have been made.

The league continues to widen its footprint outside of the United States as well. More international players than ever are thriving, and commissioner Adam Silver has set a target of 2027-28 to launch the NBA's Europe-based competition.

Then there's the money from media rights. The Wall Street Journal reported Kushner's investment firm is planning for the NBA's national TV money to double when the negotiating window next opens. In 2024, it collectively secured $77 billion over an 11-year period.

The last facet is the biggest variable.

Concerns over the sports TV bubble popping span decades, yet the money continues to flow. Nothing is appointment viewing quite like live sports, and leagues use that to their advantage.

The wide embrace of streaming services — the NBA has games on Peacock and Prime Video — is a sign of the larger shifts in television, though.

The regional network model, which had been successful for a long time, is no longer sustainable, either, and pivoting to individual streaming deals isn't as lucrative.

Maybe the NBA will have enough leverage to double its media rights down the road. Basing a future evaluation of the Lakers on that could be a risky bet.