Billionaire investor and sports magnate Mark Walter is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire a controlling stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, a landmark move that would deepen his already formidable presence in global sports ownership. Walter, who currently owns stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and several other major sports franchises, is expected to retain Jeanie Buss as Lakers governor. The deal, building on his 27% stake acquired in 2021, would mark a shift in operational influence while preserving the Buss family’s symbolic leadership of the iconic basketball franchise.