Lakers' New Owners Unable to Close $6 Billion Gap

The Los Angeles Lakers' purchase process is facing a serious stall. According to new reports, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who are set to become the club's new owners, have not yet been able to raise the money needed to complete the transaction.

According to NBA analyst Bill Simmons, roughly $5 to $6 billion of the $12.5 billion Kushner owes Mark Walter is still missing. Simmons said Bob Iger has not made a meaningful contribution to the investment and has only put in the minimum stake of about $63 million. In his view, Kushner needs to find the remaining money, and the time is running out.

Simmons also stressed that the Buss family is being made the scapegoat for the deal's delay, but that the real problem is the missing funds.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the group led by Kushner and Iger is presenting ambitious projections to convince potential investors. The team argues that the club's value could reach at least $30 billion within 10 years, while a more optimistic scenario projects the figure could rise to as much as $62 billion.