# NBA defends vetting Mark Walter before Lakers FBI probe

> Commissioner Adam Silver says the league found no red flags when approving Walter's $10 billion Lakers purchase in 2025.
- Title: NBA defends vetting Mark Walter before Lakers FBI probe
- Summary: Commissioner Adam Silver says the league found no red flags when approving Walter's $10 billion Lakers purchase in 2025. The NBA approved Mark Walter as…
- Keywords: mark walter, los angeles lakers, nba, adam silver, fbi investigation, josh kushner, bob iger, dodgers, twg global, ownership sale, vetting process, sec
- Source: California Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/sports/no-red-flags-mark-walter-lakers-purchase
- Published: 2026-09-15T21:00:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mark walter, los angeles lakers, nba, adam silver, fbi investigation, josh kushner, bob iger, dodgers, twg global, ownership sale, vetting process, sec
## Walter bought Lakers for $10 billion
Mark Walter, who owned the Dodgers since 2012, agreed to purchase majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family in June 2025.
## FBI seized his devices first
Three months after the purchase agreement, the FBI seized Walter's phone and computer as federal prosecutors launched an investigation into his business dealings.
## NBA found no red flags
Silver said the league vetted Walter thoroughly, speaking to government agencies and regulators. They approved him as majority owner in October 2025.

> We spoke to governmental agencies. We spoke to, in the case of Mark Walter, a heavily regulated insurance agency. We found no red flags.
## Walter sold to Kushner and Iger
After less than a year, Walter sold the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger in August for a record $12.5 billion valuation.
## Silver learned after the deal
The commissioner didn't know Walter was selling until Kushner and Iger told him they had a handshake agreement. Walter wasn't being investigated by the NBA.

> I had no prior notion that he was intending to sell his team until I heard from the buyers that they had a handshake with him.
## Multiple investigations underway
Two of Walter's insurance companies received grand jury subpoenas in February. Federal prosecutors in New York and the SEC are conducting separate investigations.
## League defends vetting process
Silver said the NBA does intensive database searches state by state and interviews people with knowledge of potential owners. They're always reassessing their methods.

> In fairness to him, I don't know where those investigations are going to come out.
## Key takeaway

The NBA approved Mark Walter as Lakers majority owner one month after the FBI seized his devices, finding no red flags in their vetting process.