Bob Iger is preparing to become one of the new owners of the Los Angeles Lakers, but an old interview has resurfaced with a detail that Lakers fans probably never expected to hear: Iger openly identified himself as a Clippers fan.
The comments came during an appearance on JJ Redick’s podcast, years before Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to purchase the Lakers from Mark Walter for a record $12.5 billion. In the conversation, Iger explained that his allegiance to the Clippers originally grew out of his childhood loyalty to the New York Knicks.
“I’m a Clippers fan. Having moved from New York to Los Angeles back in 2000 and being a big NBA fan, I needed a team to root for,” Iger said. “Lakers were a big rival of the Knicks, the team I grew up rooting for. So I couldn’t root for the Lakers very easily; just was not in my DNA.”
New Lakers owner Bob Iger talks about his Clippers fandom with JJ Redick
Cheering for the Lakers is not in his DNA 🧬 pic.twitter.com/cnVP2jPbM5
— Clippers Lead (@ClippersLead) August 12, 2026
Iger went on to explain that he eventually adopted the Clippers after relocating to Southern California, even joking that it helped that Clippers tickets were considerably cheaper at the time.
The resurfaced quote is particularly amusing given how dramatically his relationship with Los Angeles basketball is about to change.
Iger and Kushner have agreed to purchase the Lakers in a transaction valuing the franchise at $12.5 billion. The deal still requires NBA approval, but if completed, Iger will go from rooting for the Lakers’ cross-town rival to helping oversee one of the most famous franchises in professional sports.
The ownership group has already made clear that its commitment is now fully focused on the Lakers. In a joint statement, Iger and Kushner described themselves as lifelong NBA fans and said they were honored to become stewards of the franchise. They also emphasized their respect for Jerry and Jeanie Buss and their intention to compete at the highest level while serving the Lakers and the city of Los Angeles.
