Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The buyers of the Los Angeles Lakers are telling prospective investors they expect to nearly triple the basketball team’s valuation within 10 years. That is one of several aggressive financial projections included in an investor presentation being circulated by Thrive Capital, the investment firm helmed by Joshua Kushner, according to a copy reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
A group led by Kushner and former Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger last month struck a deal to purchase the team from finance mogul Mark Walter at a $12.5 billion valuation. In the presentation, the buyers laid out plans to expand the storied National Basketball Association franchise, including through international growth and new opportunities in local media rights. Those moves would help boost the Lakers’ valuation to at least $30 billion in a decade, the buyer group said, assuming that TV and streaming rights double in value. More favorable assumptions for the same period would place the long-term valuation at $62 billion.
The plan outlined by Thrive identifies around $150 million in near-term incremental revenue by 2028. That would come partly by reclaiming roughly 6,000 broker-held season tickets for single-game sales, which would raise average single-game ticket prices from $217 to $361. Lakers ticket prices have already been on the rise, and under Thrive’s plan more of that revenue would go to the team, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Edwin Garcia: The Lakers continue to bolster their training camp roster, adding Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross. They also waived Anton Watson, whom they signed yesterday.
"When it comes to preparation for the game, understanding the game, work ethic for the game, who taught you more? Was it Mike or was it Kobe? Because you played with Kobe on the Lakers as well." Kwame Brown: "I would say Mike because Kobe did like to isolate himself when he worked out. You see it, but it is like you see it in passing. ut you will see him leaving the weight room when you are coming in, and you will see him going out on the court doing his individual stuff. So you get to see him sometimes getting it in, but MJ would do it with you. MJ had the breakfast club. You get to up close and personal see the way he worked, the way he talks, the way he interact with people. So he was a more personable person than Kobe, but he worked just as hard."
Advertisement
Beck came up as a newspaper beat reporter himself, covering the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty around the turn of the century and then the scandal-plagued New York Knicks. He understands social media has reduced the need for micro updates from traveling reporters, but believes beat writers hold teams accountable over a season and capture a team’s essence better than any national voice can. “We have very specific jobs now,” he said. “The beat writer needs to be there to ask the question about, ‘Coach, why’d you make this substitution with two minutes left in the game?’ ‘Why did you run this particular play, why did this play not work?’ Somebody has to be there for all of that, and that’s the beat writers. “The folks working for the teams, they all have their own media arms; they’re not asking the tough questions or any real good questions at all. The beat writers need to be there for that. But also, it’s the rapport that you build up … you get a better feel for them than the person watching from home or the reporter doing overview stuff.”
Dan Woike: One note - per sources with knowledge of the Josh Kushner-Bob Iger plans, the Lakers are not planning a rapid price hike to increase ticket revenue. Team does, however, want to grab control of tickets controlled by outside brokerages and increase revenue by cutting out those brokers.
The 2026 NBA Draft was a memorable one for the Wolverines. Now, Michigan basketball fans will get a chance to relive it through Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade's new YouTube documentary series, "The Call: Hoopers," that will include Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara.
Episodes will be released weekly, and Johnson's episode is directed by Jess Speight, a former Michigan defensive lineman. The other four basketball players who will be profiled are Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, Texas Tech's Christian Anderson Jr., St. John's Zuby Ejiofor and Baylor's Cameron Carr.
Advertisement
The Golden State Warriors will honor Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson with “Nellie Night” when the team hosts the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on October 6 in the Warriors’ first home preseason game of the 2026-27 season. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. The evening will celebrate Nelson’s legacy with former Warriors players and members of Nelson’s family in attendance, special in-game tributes and in-arena offerings, including: All fans in attendance will receive a commemorative “Nellie” pin upon entry. Souvenir “Nellie Night” beer koozies for 24-ounce cans, featuring logos from Warriors teams coached by Nelson, will be available for purchase at select locations in limited quantities. In a nod to Nelson’s 1,335 career coaching victories, select eateries at Chase Center will offer the “Nellie Ball Three-Pointer” for $13.35, featuring three Italian-style beef meatballs with roasted tomato sauce, whipped ricotta, Parmesan, garlic breadcrumbs and warm garlic bread. As previously announced, the Warriors will wear a “Nellie” memorial band on the team’s uniforms during “Nellie Night” and throughout the 2026-27 season. Nelson, who spent 11 seasons as head coach of the Warriors, passed away on August 9 at the age of 86.
Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter is the subject of a class-action lawsuit alleging multiple insurance companies he owns hid an ongoing federal investigation from customers while funneling those customers’ money into Walter’s other companies. The insurance firms Delaware Life Insurance Company, Clear Spring Life and Annuity, TWG Global Holdings and Guggenheim Partners are named as defendants in the fraud suit, alongside Walter himself.
The Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, the team announced Thursday.
Golden State Warriors: Welcome to the Bay, Frank Vogel 👋 Coach Vogel joins the Warriors' staff as Associate Head Coach after two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, most recently serving as the team’s lead assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. He has 12 years of head coaching experience with the Indiana Pacers (2010-16), Orlando Magic (2016-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2019-22), and Phoenix Suns (2023-24), leading the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship and the Pacers to consecutive Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014.