The Governor doesn’t approve of The King.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss soured on superstar LeBron James, privately complaining about his “outsized ego” and the control that he and his agency, KlutchSports, allegedly have over the storied franchise, sources told ESPN in a bombshell report published Wednesday (all times US).
But just hours after the report claimed Buss and James relationship has soured, Buss released a statement appearing to refute the allegations.
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“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, according to The Athletic.
“To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Buss, 64, reportedly believed James lacked accountability, including with his deflection of blame regarding the unsuccessful Russell Westbrook trade prior to the 2021-22 season.
James is in his eighth and perhaps final season with the Lakers after joining the franchise in a seismic move ahead of the 2018-19 season.
His decision to head West galvanized a proud franchise that had missed the playoffs in five straight seasons before his arrival.
The Lakers missed the playoffs in his first season before winning their 18th championship in 2020 during “The Bubble” campaign.
It’s typical for players, not executives, to receive praise for turning franchises around, but Buss did not like that James was viewed as the “savior,” per ESPN.
Buss reportedly felt that it should have been the team’s executives that received praise for wooing James to the Lakers, rather than the idea he joined them and helped right the ship.
ESPN said team sources have long claimed that James told Lakers’ folks beginning in 2017 that he would be leaving Cleveland to join them in free agency for the 2018-19 season.
The 2021-22 campaign did not help their relationship since that marked Westbrook’s arrival.
While the idea of two of the best players of the 2010s teaming up seemed like it could have potential, the Lakers instead flopped with a 33-49 record that kept them out of the playoffs.
The Lakers reportedly made the trade to placate James, but after it blew up Buss felt the superstar didn’t acknowledge his role in the transaction.
Buss’ views on James dived to the point that she even considered trading him during the 2022 season after failing to give him a contract extension, per ESPN.
She reportedly later felt slighted by James’ response after the franchise drafted his son, Bronny, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft in a questionable move.
Folks close to the organization told ESPN that Buss felt LeBron should have been grateful for what the franchise did, which ultimately allowed the duo to become the first father and son to play alongside one another in league history, but the four-time NBA champ did not display that gratitude to her.
Buss’ attitude toward James even led to her feeling she needed to extend him during the 2024 summer simply to avoid the bad public relations that would come if they let him walk.
These details have come to light with James potentially in his last year with the franchise after opting into his $52.6 million contract for this season.
The ESPN report also outlined that Buss has also complained about the power James, Rich Paul and their agency, Klutch Sports, has in the Lakers’ organization.
But Paul downplayed the matter on his podcast, ‘Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul.’
“There’s an article written every day. Who gives a s**?,” Paul said.
“I don’t.”
James is averaging 22.5 points across 25 games, with his historic run of 21 straight years being named a starter for the All-Star Game being snapped.
The Lakers are in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record.
The ESPN deep dive also highlighted the dysfunction in the Buss family that has engulfed the franchise during its $10 billion sale to billionaire Mark Walter.
-This story originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.
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