Lakers star LeBron James downplays reported rift

LeBron James downplayed any suggestion of a rift between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss on Thursday following an ESPN report that detailed how the now-minority proprietor of the group had began to flip on the Lakers celebrity.

“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,” James said after the Lakers misplaced 112-104 to the Clippers at Intuit Dome.

The report detailed how years of in-fighting between the Buss siblings led to the household promoting a majority stake of the group to Dodgers proprietor Mark Walter last yr. As the franchise struggled to recapture the magic established under Jerry Buss, Jeanie had grown distant and resentful, the report said, that James didn’t take accountability for involvement with the choice to purchase Russell Westbrook in 2021. She reportedly floated the likelihood of trading James to the Clippers in 2022 and didn’t imagine James was grateful when the Lakers drafted Bronny James in 2024.

But LeBron James brushed it off.

“At the end of the day, when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence,” James said. “The things that I seen growing up with the Lakers — obviously, I didn’t get an opportunity to watch Showtime [era], but I know the history. Then the early 2000s with Shaq [O’Neal] and [Kobe Bryant], and then what Kob did and those couple runs with him and Pau [Gasol]. So my whole mindset was like, ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization?’ … And then I was able to do that along with, you know, 14, 16, other guys winning the championship, bringing the championship here.”

The Lakers’ 2020 championship — in James’ second season with the group — helped the franchise tie rival Boston for the most championships in league historical past. But the Celtics have since pulled forward with an 18th title.

The Lakers have gained two playoff sequence in the 5 seasons since their last championship and have been eradicated in the first spherical in back-to-back seasons. They surprised the NBA by buying Luka Doncic in a midseason commerce last season but are struggling to cling on in the aggressive Western Conference. They have misplaced six of their last 9 video games.

Against the Clippers, the Lakers trailed by 26 factors third third quarter before rallying. James scored 11 factors in the fourth quarter and transformed on a three-point play with 1:28 remaining to cut the Lakers’ deficit to three factors. But the Clippers, who have gained 14 of their last 17 video games beginning with a win over the Lakers on Dec. 20, answered with a reverse dunk by Ivica Zubac and a dagger three-pointer from John Collins.

“LeBron, for what seems like the 20th straight game, just gave us — he emptied the tank and gave us everything he had,” coach JJ Redick said.

After he missed the first 14 video games of the season because of sciatica, James is averaging 22.5 factors, six rebounds and 6.9 assists per recreation. Since guard Austin Reaves re-injured his calf on Christmas Day, James has averaged 24.9 factors and performed more than 31 minutes in each of the 12 video games, including taking part in two back-to-backs in a week.

The 41-year-old James has achieved some of the most important milestones of his profession with the Lakers. He turned the NBA’s all-time main scorer in purple and gold. He is the first participant to play 23 NBA seasons. Now in his eighth season with the Lakers, L.A. has been his steady NBA home for longer than any other metropolis, not counting the separate seven- and four-year stints he had in Cleveland.

When he got here to the Lakers, James told Buss that he needed to return the Lakers to glory, he recalled while accepting the NBA Finals most priceless participant award in 2020. Buss, standing close by in the socially distant trophy ceremony, smiled and clutched her fingers to her chest when James introduced up her father.

Lakers star LeBron James dunks over Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis on Jan. 9 at Crypto.com Arena.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

When requested Thursday of how he thought the partnership with Jeanie Buss has been, James said he thought “it was good, but somebody could see it another way.

“So it’s always two sides of the coin,” James continued.

The two haven’t talked since the report was printed Wednesday, but that’s not out of the bizarre, James attested.

“We never talked,” James said. “I don’t understand. It’s not like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking, guys. I never heard a report about that. Don’t make something out of it that it’s not. It’s always been mutual, it’s always been respect, it’s always been a great partnership.”

LeBron James hugs Jeanie Buss after the Lakers’ NBA championship win on Oct. 11, 2020.

(Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)

“I’ve been here two years, everybody in this organization appreciates LeBron and appreciates what he’s done for the Lakers,” Redick said before the sport. “He’s carried on the legacy and also truthfully the burden of being a superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years. And he’s done it with class. And then personally, I can just speak to it: I’ve enjoyed coaching him at the highest level, like 10 out of 10. That’s not to say LeBron and I don’t have our disagreements, but I know with that guy, he’s gonna put everything into this and it’s been awesome to coach.”

James picked up his $52.6 million participant option this summer time. It’s the first time in his 23-year NBA profession that he’s performed on the ultimate yr of a deal. He shall be up for free company this summer time along with a number of other gamers, including guard Austin Reaves, ahead Rui Hachimura and heart Deandre Ayton.

With the commerce deadline approaching, James dismissed questions about what steps the Lakers can do to improve their roster. As he turned to stroll out of the locker room, James pointed to his hoodie that was printed with the title of his spouse Savannah’s podcast.

“Everybody’s crazy,” James said.