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The Los Angeles Lakers have lost six of their last 10 games and criticism of the team increased Thursday after the Los Angeles Clippers defeated their crosstown rival.
After the team’s latest loss, LeBron James addressed the ESPN report detailing Lakers manager Jeanie Buss’ apparent frustrations with the four-time NBA champion. According to the report, internal disputes within the Buss family led to the majority stake in the franchise being sold to Mark Walter last year.
James rejected any suggestion that he had disagreed with Buss.
“Frankly, I don’t get involved in that or the reporting or anything,” James said Thursday.
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LeBron James and owner Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
In addition to the alleged Buss family drama, the report raised multiple potential differences between James and Buss, including the minority owner’s apparent belief that the four-time league MVP received excessive credit for the Lakers’ 2020 NBA title. Buss was also reportedly disappointed by James’ reaction after the Lakers selected his son, Bronny James, in the 2024 NBA Draft.
James’ level of involvement in decisions about Russell Westbrook was also mentioned in the report.
Buss addressed the report, saying in a statement: “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be dragged into my family drama,” he said Thursday. “To say he was unappreciated is simply not true and is completely unfair to him.”
LEBRON JAMES’ UNPRECEDENTED ALL-STAR STREAK COMES TO END AFTER 22 YEARS WHILE THE STATE OF THE GAME IS IN BALANCE
James said he joined the Lakers eight years ago to return the franchise to its former glory.
“At the end of the day, when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was restoring excellence,” James said. “The things I saw growing up with the Lakers, obviously, I didn’t get a chance to watch Showtime, but I know the story.
“Then in the early 2000s, with Shaq [O’Neal] and [Kobe Bryant]and then what Kob did and that couple runs with him and Pau [Gasol]. So my whole mindset was, ‘How can I get that feeling back into the Lakers organization?’
“And then I got to do that along with 14, 16 other guys that won the championship and brought the championship here.”
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss attends media day at the UCLA Health and Training Center in El Segundo, California on September 28, 2021. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports)
James also made it clear what matters to him.
“Frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that kind of s—. It doesn’t bother me. I’m 41 years old and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article.
“I don’t care what anyone feels about me. If you know me personally, then you know what I am. These guys know what I am, and that’s all that matters. I don’t care what anyone feels about me.”
Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 5, 2025 in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
James said it’s typical for him not to be in close communication with Buss, but claimed the pair stayed on the same page.
“I don’t understand it. It’s not like Jeanie and I are talking on the phone, guys. I never heard a report about that. Don’t do anything that’s not like that. It’s always been mutual. It’s always been respect. It’s always been a great partnership.”
James exercised the player option in his contract last offseason. It is unclear if his career with the Lakers will conclude next summer, when he is scheduled to enter free agency after the 2025-26 season.
The Lakers resume action on Saturday when they face the Mavericks in Dallas.
