Rich Paul downplays report on LeBron James and Lakers tensions and criticism

LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the explosive report that Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss has had enough of his client.

ESPN cited team sources when it reported that Buss had privately complained about James’ “outsized ego” and the “open control” that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Paul and the Klutch Sports Group have over the organization.

The report also indicated that Buss believed James has lacked accountability since he has been with the team, including deflecting blame after the team’s failed trade for Russell Westbrook before the 2021-22 season.

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Paul responded during his podcast, “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” where he downplayed the report.

“There’s an article written every day,” he told Kellerman. “Who gives a damn? I don’t.

“When these types of articles appear, people want to take the bait. You’ll see things floating and floating and floating. And getting back to this, that’s why I created this whole thing about not being bothered.

FORMER LAKERS OWNER WAS FRUSTRATED WITH LEBRON JAMES’ ‘EGO’, INGRATITION AFTER TEAM DRAFT HIS SON BRONNY: REPORT

“This kind of stuff shouldn’t bother you. It does me. It’s like whatever.”

However, one decision the Lakers made in 2024 that sparked controversy was the selection of James’ son, Bronny, in the NBA Draft. Despite struggles in his only year at USC (largely because he was recovering from cardiac arrest), the Lakers selected James with the 55th overall pick.

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss attends media day at the UCLA Health and Training Center in El Segundo, California on September 28, 2021 in Los Angeles. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)

There has been speculation that James had an influence on the selection, and reports from ESPN seemed to confirm it.

“And when the Lakers selected James’ son Bronny with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Jeanie privately commented that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt he wasn’t,” the ESPN report said. “That summer, while discussing a new contract for James, Jeanie seemed more resigned to the fact that they would have to do it, almost grudgingly accepting that they would take a huge PR hit if they didn’t.”

When Jerry Buss died in 2013, the Lakers passed to his children and Jeanie has served as team governor ever since. She has continued to oversee day-to-day operations and reports indicate she will remain governor for five more years.

Rich Paul attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on November 18, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

The Lakers won 11 of their 17 championships under Buss’ ownership, the last coming in 2020. However, that is their only title since Jerry Buss died.

James joined the Lakers in free agency in 2018, where he helped lead the team to that 2020 title.