The Los Angeles Lakers were recently sold for $12.5 billion to an ownership group that includes former Disney CEO Bob Iger, who once openly admitted he couldn't bring himself to root for the team.

Iger, a lifelong New York Knicks fan, teamed up with Josh Kushner to purchase the Lakers. This marks a notable shift for Iger, who spent decades sitting courtside rooting for the Lakers' city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. When news of the sale broke on Wednesday, fans quickly resurfaced Iger's past comments explaining why he could never root for the Lakers.

Back in January 2021, during an appearance on "The Old Man and the Three" podcast hosted by current Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Iger explained his reluctance. He said that after moving to California in 2000, he "couldn't root for the Lakers very easily," citing his lifelong Knicks allegiance and noting that Clippers tickets were "a lot cheaper than the Lakers."

Despite this, Iger has now become part of the Lakers' ownership group, marking a surprising turn in his relationship with the team.

Sources