LOS ANGELES — LeBron James downplayed any suggestion of a rift between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss on Thursday following an ESPN report that detailed how the now-minority owner of the team had started to turn on the Lakers superstar. She reportedly floated the possibility of trading James to the Clippers in 2022 and didn't believe James was grateful when the Lakers drafted his son, Bronny James, in 2024. But LeBron James brushed it off. When he came to the Lakers, James told Buss that he wanted to return the Lakers to glory, he recalled while accepting the NBA Finals most valuable player award in 2020. When asked Thursday of how he thought the partnership with Jeanie Buss has been, James said he thought "it was good, but somebody could see it another way.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 23, 2026 21:44 UTC