Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss forcefully pushed back on an ESPN report that suggested a growing rift with LeBron James, calling it “completely unfair” as new questions swirl around ownership turmoil, the team’s long-term direction, and James’ uncertain future with the franchise.
In a statement released to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Buss said the report unfairly dragged James into private ownership matters that had nothing to do with her appreciation for what he has meant to the Lakers.
“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,” Buss said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
ESPN Report Details Alleged Jeanie Buss–LeBron James Tension
GettyJeanie Buss hugging LeBron James.
The ESPN story, written by Baxter Holmes, portrayed Buss as having privately soured on James over time, citing team sources who described frustration with what she viewed as his “outsized ego” and the influence wielded by Klutch Sports, which represents both James and former Lakers star Anthony Davis.
According to ESPN, Buss bristled at the idea that James was credited as the savior of a floundering franchise when he signed in 2018, rather than the Lakers’ leadership being praised for landing him. Team sources told ESPN that James’ camp had informed the organization as early as 2017 that he planned to join the Lakers in free agency the following summer.
The report suggested that this dynamic gradually strained the relationship, particularly as James’ stature and leverage within the organization grew.
Russell Westbrook Trade Framed as Breaking Point
ESPN identified the Lakers’ ill-fated trade for Russell Westbrook in July 2021 as a major inflection point. The move, made in part to appease James, backfired spectacularly.
The Lakers finished the 2021–22 season with a 33–49 record and missed the playoffs, marking one of the lowest points of LeBron’s era in Los Angeles.
According to the report, Buss privately bristled at what she perceived as James’ lack of accountability after the trade collapsed, particularly when he appeared to distance himself publicly from responsibility for the decision.
“The distance between Jeanie and James widened after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook,” the report said, adding that Buss felt James shifted blame as the season unraveled.
Lakers Contract and Trade Thoughts Surfaced Internally
The ESPN report went further, claiming that in the aftermath of the Westbrook failure, Buss privately mused about not offering James a contract extension — and later even considered the possibility of trading him.
The LA Clippers were reportedly floated internally as a hypothetical destination, though this was before James signed a new two-year, $104 million contract in July 2024 that included a no-trade clause.
However, James’ current contract situation adds another layer to the conversation.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported in July that James never asked for a contract extension and that the Lakers did not offer one last summer. Instead, the organization pivoted its long-term vision toward Luka Dončić as the new face of the franchise, effectively positioning the 40-year-old James to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
That strategic shift, rather than personal resentment, has increasingly shaped the Lakers’ forward-looking decisions.
Bronny James Draft and Perceived Gratitude
GettyBronny James (left) and LeBron James (right) of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Holmes’s ESPN story also reported that when the Lakers selected James’ son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Buss privately felt James should have been grateful for the gesture — and believed he was not.
The report suggested that by the time contract discussions resumed, Buss had grown resigned to the idea that re-signing James was necessary to avoid a massive public relations backlash.
Jeanie Buss Defends LeBron Amid Ownership Fallout
Buss’ comments to The Athletic represented a rare public rebuttal from ownership and a clear attempt to separate family drama from the Lakers’ relationship with James.
Her defense underscored James’ undeniable impact: an NBA championship, consistent contention, and global relevance, along with becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer in a Lakers uniform.
Lakers Enter New Era as LeBron’s Future Looms
The ESPN report centered primarily on the Buss family infighting that ultimately led to the sale of their controlling stakes in the franchise. But its inclusion of James — now 40 and approaching free agency — adds new intrigue to an already pivotal moment.
With the Lakers positioning Dončić as their future centerpiece and James set to hit the open market, questions about how — or if — the partnership continues now loom larger than ever.
Buss’ message was unequivocal: whatever turmoil existed behind closed doors, it should not be mistaken for a lack of appreciation for James — even as the Lakers prepare for a future that may no longer revolve around him.
Jeanie Buss Responds After ESPN Bombshell Links Rift With LeBron James