The Lakers have never been strangers to drama-on or off the court-but the latest headlines swirling around the franchise go beyond trade rumors or playoff positioning. This time, it’s a family matter turned public spectacle, with team governor Jeanie Buss at the center of it all.
A recent report pulled back the curtain on years of tension within the Buss family, particularly in the wake of the decision to sell the majority stake in the Lakers to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. That move, led by Jeanie, reportedly blindsided several of her siblings, reigniting long-standing friction that dates back to the passing of their father, Dr.
Jerry Buss, in 2013. The late Dr.
Buss built the Lakers into a global brand and left his children to carry on the legacy-something that’s clearly been easier said than done.
But the family dynamics aren’t the only thing making waves. The report also touched on the relationship between Jeanie Buss and LeBron James, and that’s where things really start to ripple through the franchise.
According to the report, Jeanie wasn’t thrilled with the way James was perceived as the savior of the Lakers when he arrived in 2018. There were also claims that she viewed LeBron as having an “outsized ego” and felt he wasn’t sufficiently appreciative when the Lakers selected his son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Given LeBron’s stature-not just in Los Angeles, but across the basketball world-those are the kind of comments that don’t just stay in the background. They raise eyebrows, spark headlines, and potentially, create locker room tension at a time when the Lakers are trying to find their rhythm in a rollercoaster season.
In response, Jeanie Buss issued a statement aiming to shut down the speculation about her relationship with James. “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,” she said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
That’s a strong and direct defense-and one that suggests Jeanie is well aware of how damaging this narrative could be, especially with the postseason looming. The Lakers have enough to worry about on the court, where consistency has been elusive and the Western Conference remains as competitive as ever. The last thing they need is off-court distractions involving their most influential player.
Whether LeBron chooses to address the report publicly remains to be seen. He’s never been shy about speaking his mind, but he’s also savvy enough to sidestep drama when it doesn’t serve the bigger picture. Still, the fact that this is even a topic of conversation isn’t ideal for a franchise that’s trying to stay focused on basketball.
And while Jeanie no longer holds a majority stake in the team, she remains the Lakers’ governor under the terms of the sale to Walter-a role she’s expected to maintain for the next five years. But with this latest report stirring the pot, the question now becomes whether that arrangement holds steady, or if the internal dynamics shift once again.
For now, the Lakers are left to navigate not just the standings, but the storm of headlines surrounding their leadership. And in a season where every win counts, distractions like these can be more costly than they appear.