Jeanie Buss is pushing back hard against recent claims about her relationship with LeBron James. She strongly denied rumors from a major report published on Wednesday that said she was unhappy with the star player’s attitude. The Lakers owner wasted no time responding to the allegations.
The lengthy article focused mainly on the family fighting that led to the sale of the Los Angeles franchise to Mark Walter for a $10 billion valuation. While the story was mostly about the ownership change, it included some shocking claims about James that got people talking. These allegations have created unwanted drama for the team during an important season.
One claim stood out the most. According to Sports Illustrated, the report said that when the Lakers picked James’s son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Buss felt James should have shown more gratitude. Sources close to the team claimed Buss privately said James should be grateful for the gesture, but she felt he wasn’t.
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Buss defends LeBron against false claims about his appreciation
The report also claimed that Buss had thought about trading James to the Clippers a few years ago. This seems wild considering the huge impact James has in the league and the value he brings both on and off the court. These allegations painted a picture of tension between the owner and her star player.
Buss, who remains the Lakers’ governor after parting ways with her five siblings, quickly issued a strong public response. Sam Amick posted a direct quote from her where she addressed the situation and defended James. She made it clear these claims were not true. Athletes speaking out publicly has become more common, similar to how Coco Gauff discussed being Black in America.
“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 stated. She defended James further, adding, “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.” Her response shows she recognizes how important James is to the organization.
The Lakers don’t need this kind of drama right now, especially during a crucial season. The team is currently 26-16, which leads the Pacific Division. However, a tough stretch over the past month has dropped them to fifth in the competitive Western Conference.
They need to focus on climbing the standings instead of dealing with rumors. Former players criticizing their old teams isn’t uncommon, as seen when Baker Mayfield called out his Browns treatment. The stakes are high for James too. He is 41 years old and will become a free agent after this season ends. If he wants to win a second title with Los Angeles, this is likely his best and final chance with the team.
Published: Jan 22, 2026 12:00 pm