Apparently things weren’t quite as harmonious between LeBron James and former Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. A report published by “ESPN” is causing a stir. But Buss doesn’t want to know anything about it.
LeBron James is still the face of the LA Lakers, but the sometimes polarizing basketball legend does not only have admirers.
Jeanie Buss is said to have complained internally about the superstar’s behavior and even pushed for a trade. The 64-year-old owned the LA Lakers with her siblings for years before they sold the franchise to billionaire Mark Walter in October of last year.
Report raises questions: Trouble between LeBron and Buss?
A report published by “ESPN” describes the sibling drama of the Buss siblings, who fell out due to differences of opinion, as well as the allegedly broken relationship between LeBron James and Jeanie Buss.
The report states that Buss was extremely annoyed by the superstar’s “outsized ego.” In addition, the influence that “Kluth Sports”, the consulting firm of LeBron’s agent Rich Paul, has on the franchise is a thorn in her side.
Buss is probably also bothered by the fact that the performance of the operational management was not sufficiently appreciated when they managed to win LeBron for the LA Lakers in 2018. Only the basketball icon himself was applauded for the change.
LeBron and Buss with ups and downs with the Lakers
Actually, LeBron and Jeanie Buss have an absolute success story in common. After all, in 2020 she was the first female team owner to win the NBA title with her franchise. LeBron himself played a huge part in the success.
But it wasn’t all rosy times. The Russell Westbrook trade in 2021 is also described as a point of contention. This was actually done to appease LeBron James, but Westbrook was never able to convince in Los Angeles. LeBron is said to have taken no responsibility for the failed deal.
Westbrook was traded after a year and a half and a LeBron trade is also said to have been on the cards in 2022. Buss is said to have considered not offering the top star a new contract. The LA Clippers, of all people, are said to have been waiting for a deal. In the end, LeBron extended it.
When son Bronny was drafted with the 55th pick, LeBron is said to have not acknowledged this enough.
Buss counters the rumors: “That’s not true”
However, in an interview with The Athletic newspaper, Buss denied that the relationship was so bad.
“That’s not true. LeBron has done fantastic things for the Lakers and it’s not right that he’s now being dragged into the story about the drama with my family. The fact that we didn’t value him is not true and completely unfair to him,” she fumed.
Today, despite selling the franchise for a record sum, Buss still serves as governor of the Lakers. The family still owns 17 percent of the franchise.
LeBron not an All-Star starter
Meanwhile, LeBron suffered a setback because he was not named a starter for the All-Star Game for the first time since 2004.
Despite his age of 41, the icon still regularly shows strong performances and averages 22.5 points per game. The Lakers are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference and would have qualified directly for the playoffs.
