Jeanie Buss responds to report addressing alleged rift with LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss has addressed a recent report that suggested tension between her and superstar LeBron James, pushing back on claims that the four-time NBA champion has been part of internal friction within the franchise.

The discussion stems from a detailed report by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, which examined long-running family dynamics between Buss and her siblings as they assumed control of the Lakers following the death of their father, Dr. Jerry Buss. The report also suggested that Buss’ relationship with James had cooled in recent years.

According to Holmes, Buss allegedly became frustrated with James after the Lakers’ unsuccessful 2021 trade for Russell Westbrook, a move James was reportedly instrumental in advocating for. The report further claimed that Buss considered trading James in 2022 and was hesitant to offer him a contract extension during the summer of 2024.

In response, Buss issued a statement to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, disputing the characterization of her relationship with James and expressing concern over his involvement in what she described as private 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,” Buss told Amick. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”

James, who is currently in his 23rd NBA season at age 41, continues to perform at an elite level despite early health setbacks. After missing the first 14 games of the season due to sciatica, he is averaging 22.5 points, six rebounds and seven assists per game while shooting 51 percent from the field, according to league statistics.

Over his last 19 appearances, James has increased his production, averaging 25.2 points per game on 53.4 percent shooting, along with 6.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

James is expected to become a free agent this summer, leaving questions about his long-term future with the Lakers. It remains unclear whether the franchise will seek to retain him beyond the current season.