Jan 23, 2026
3 min read
Lakers star Librun James says he's had a "great relationship" with Jeanie Buss since she came to the team in an effort to "get it right."
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- Lakers star LeBron James says he's always had a "great partnership" with Jeanie Buss, and says he came to the team determined to restore excellence within the franchise.
-- James' comments came after an ESPN report suggested he and Buss had a falling out.
LeBron James on Thursday downplayed any suggestion of a rift between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss following an ESPN report detailing how the team's now-minority owners began to turn against the Lakers superstar.
"Honestly, I'm not into that, the reports or anything," James said after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.
The report details how years of feuding between the Buss siblings led to the family selling a majority stake in the team to Dodgers owner Mark Walter last year.As the franchise struggled to recapture the magic established under Jerry Buss, Ginny became distant and resentful, according to the report, that James did not take responsibility for the decision to sign Russell Westbrook in 2021. She reportedly brought up the possibility of trading James to the Clippers in 2022 and believed James was not on the team20.
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Lakers star LeBron James and Lakers guard Jeanie Buss responded to reports of conflict.
But LeBron James shrugged it off.
"At the end of the day, when I came into this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence," James said. Then in the early 2000s with Shaq [O'Neal] and [Kobe Bryant], and then what Kobe did and that couple runs with him and Pau [Gasol]. So my whole mindset was like... And then could I go back to the Lakers?do it with, you know, 14, 16 year old, other championship winning guys, bringing a championship here.
The Lakers' 2020 championship — in James' second season with the team — helped the franchise match Boston for the most championships in team history.But the Celtics finished 18th.
The Lakers have won two playoff series in the five seasons since their last championship and lost in the first round in back-to-back seasons.They shocked the NBA by acquiring Luka Donic in a middling trade last season, but are struggling to compete in the Western Conference.They lost six of the last nine games.
Against the Clippers, the Lakers trailed by 26 points in the third quarter before rallying.James scored 11 points and made a 3-pointer with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Lakers' deficit to three points.But the Clippers, who have won 14 of their last 17 games starting with a Dec. 20 win over the Lakers, responded with a backhand dunk by Ivica Zubac and a 3-pointer by John Collins.
With up to eight players set to become free agents, the Lakers could look very different next season if they can't turn their tally.
"LeBron, for what seemed like 20 straight games, gave us — he emptied the tank and gave us everything he had," coach JJ Reddick said.
After missing the first 14 games of the season with a hamstring injury, James averaged 22.5 points, six rebounds and 6.9 assists per game.After guard Austin Reaves injured his calf on Christmas Day, James averaged 24.9 points and played more than 31 minutes in each of 12 games, including two straight this week.
The 41-year-old James has achieved some of the most important milestones in his career with the Lakers.He became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in purple and gold.He is the first player to play 23 NBA seasons. Now in his eighth season with the Lakers, L.A. has been his permanent NBA home longer than any other city, not counting the separate seven- and four-year stints he had in Cleveland.
When he joined the Lakers, James Buss said he wanted to return the Lakers to glory, he recalled as he accepted the 2020 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.Buss, who stood nearby during the socially distanced trophy ceremony, smiled and crossed her arms as James mentioned her father.
Asked Thursday what it was like to work with Jeanie Buss, James said it was "good, but someone might look at it differently."
"So it's always two sides of the coin," James continued.
The two haven't spoken since the report came out on Wednesday, but that's not surprising, James confirmed.
"We never talk," James said."I don't get it. It's not like me and Jeanie talking on the phone, guys. I've never heard a statement about it. Don't make a thing of it. It's always mutual, it's always respect, it's always a great partnership."
"I've been here two years and everyone in this organization speaks highly of LeBron and what he's done for the Lakers," Redick said before the game.Like 10.I don't agree with LeBron, but I don't know.I did my best to achieve that goal, and I'm really glad I was able to coach him.”
James took a player for $52.6 million this summer.This is the first time in his 23-year NBA career that he is playing in the final year of his contract.He will be in free agency this summer along with several other players, including guard Austin Reaves, forward Roy Hachimura and center DeAndre Ayton.
As the trade deadline approaches, James deflects questions about what steps the Lakers can take to improve their roster.As he turns to leave the locker room, James points to his hoodie, which is emblazoned with the name of his wife Savannah's podcast.
- Everyone's crazy - said Jacob said.
Injuries have plagued the Lakers in the first half of the season, but there is room for optimism despite the team's struggles on the court.
