Jeanie Buss has publicly addressed a bombshell report detailing tension between herself and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, following a week of seismic change for one of the NBA’s most valuable franchises.
The comments come after ESPN published a story on the Lakers‘ record-breaking $10 billion sale to an ownership group led by Mark Walter, a deal that officially shifted Buss from owner to governor while keeping her in control of basketball operations.
Buried within that report was a revealing account of Buss‘ private frustrations with James, particularly surrounding his influence within the organization and his relationship with Klutch Sports, the agency that represents both James and Anthony Davis.
According to the report, Buss bristled at what she allegedly viewed as James‘ outsized ego and the perception that he deserved primary credit for the Lakers‘ resurgence after his arrival in 2018.
The most sensitive flashpoint reportedly came in 2024, when the Lakers used the 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft on James‘ son, Bronny James.
Sources cited by ESPN claimed Buss privately felt that James should have been more appreciative of the gesture and was disappointed by what she perceived as a lack of gratitude.
A complicated partnership under scrutiny
The report also revisited the Lakers‘ ill-fated acquisition of Russell Westbrook, a move widely viewed as having been made to appease James.
When the trade failed to deliver results, the report suggested James distanced himself from responsibility, further straining his relationship with Buss.
Rather than directly refute the reporting, Buss opted for a measured response in comments to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, expressing regret that James had been drawn into what she described as deeply personal family matters.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” she said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Those remarks came amid extraordinary internal upheaval following the franchise sale.
Since being formally named governor, Buss has removed multiple family members from the organization, including vice president of research and development Joey Buss, assistant general manager Jesse Buss, brothers Jim Buss and Johnny Buss, and sister Janie Buss.
Where LeBron James stands now
On the basketball side, James‘ future in Los Angeles remains a topic of league-wide speculation.
The four-time NBA champion was not offered a contract extension last summer and ultimately exercised his player option to remain with the Lakers.
While his on-court impact remains undeniable, the dynamics outlined in the report underline how complex the relationship between franchise icon and front office has become.
For Buss, the challenge now is balancing stability with transparency as the Lakers enter a new ownership era. And with James, it is another reminder that even generational stars are not immune to organizational politics.
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