A bombshell report from ESPN senior writer Baxter Holmes has pulled back the curtain on the complicated and often tense relationship between Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss and superstar LeBron James, revealing that Buss once seriously contemplated trading the future Hall of Famer amid mounting frustrations over his influence within the organization.
The comprehensive investigation, which draws on multiple sources familiar with the Lakers' inner workings, describes a partnership that has been far less harmonious than the public narrative suggests. While James' arrival in 2018 was celebrated as a franchise-altering moment, it apparently planted seeds of resentment that would grow over subsequent years.
The Origins of Discontent
According to Holmes' reporting, Buss began privately complaining about James shortly after he signed with the Lakers as a free agent in the summer of 2018. Her grievances were multifaceted, but they centered on two primary issues: the perception of who deserved credit for the partnership and the growing influence of James and his representatives.
Buss reportedly felt that media coverage and public discourse incorrectly celebrated James for choosing Los Angeles, framing it as the superstar graciously bringing his talents to the Lakers. In her view, this narrative overlooked the efforts of Lakers leadership who had worked to create an attractive destination and successfully recruited him. This seemingly minor distinction about credit apparently struck a nerve with Buss, who believed the organization's role in securing one of basketball's greatest players deserved more recognition.
More substantively, Buss took issue with what she characterized as James' "outsized ego" and the considerable power wielded by Klutch Sports, the agency founded by his longtime friend Rich Paul. The report indicates that James' camp had actually informed Lakers management of his intention to join the team as early as 2017, while he was still under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. While this advance notice provided valuable planning time, it also reinforced the impression that James was controlling his own destiny and dictating terms to the franchise rather than being pursued through conventional free agency channels.
The Westbrook Trade: A Breaking Point
The relationship reached its nadir following the disastrous acquisition of Russell Westbrook in the summer of 2021. The Lakers traded for the former MVP in a move universally understood to be driven by James' desire for a third star to complement himself and Anthony Davis. The experiment proved catastrophic, with Westbrook's ball-dominant style and shooting limitations creating severe on-court chemistry issues.
What particularly infuriated Buss, according to Holmes' sources, was James' ability to avoid accountability for the trade's failure. While the organization had made the significant investment specifically to satisfy its superstar, James faced minimal public criticism when the partnership resulted in a disastrous season that saw the Lakers miss the playoffs entirely. Westbrook, conversely, became the primary scapegoat for the team's struggles, was eventually removed from the starting lineup, and was traded away the following offseason.
This dynamic exposed what Buss perceived as a fundamental unfairness: James could influence major roster decisions that impacted the franchise's future, yet escape responsibility when those decisions went poorly. The Westbrook saga became a symbol of his disproportionate influence and the organization's inability to maintain independent decision-making authority.
The 2022 Trade Contemplation
By 2022, these accumulated frustrations had reached a point where Buss actively considered making a clean break. Holmes reports that the Lakers governor weighed two dramatic options: refusing to negotiate a contract extension with James or proactively exploring trade scenarios. The cross-town rival Los Angeles Clippers were specifically mentioned as a potential destination in these internal deliberations.
This consideration represented a remarkable moment of introspection for the franchise. James, despite being in his late 30s, remained one of the NBA's elite players and the Lakers' clearest path to championship contention. Yet Buss was apparently willing to contemplate parting ways if it meant restoring organizational control and changing the power dynamic that had developed.
Ultimately, the Lakers did not pursue either path. Instead, James remained with the team, and in July 2024, he signed a two-year, $104 million contract extension that included a full no-trade clause. This provision effectively gave him veto power over any future trade discussions and symbolized his entrenched, unassailable position within the franchise hierarchy.
The Bronny James Draft Situation
The report also illuminates a more recent source of tension: the Lakers' selection of Bronny James, LeBron's eldest son, with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. While publicly celebrated as a heartwarming milestone—the first time in NBA history a father and son would play on the same team—Buss reportedly viewed the move as a significant organizational favor that deserved more appreciation.
According to Holmes, Buss believed James failed to demonstrate sufficient gratitude for the Lakers' decision to use a draft pick on Bronny, who many analysts considered a borderline second-round prospect at best. The selection was widely interpreted as a gesture to appease their superstar and facilitate his desire to play alongside his son before retirement. Buss's alleged disappointment in James' response suggests she expected more public acknowledgment or private thanks for what she viewed as a major concession to his personal wishes.
Buss's Public Response
In the wake of Holmes' reporting, Buss issued a statement to The Athletic, attempting to refute the characterization of 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," the statement read. "To say that it wasn't appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him."
The statement seeks to reframe the narrative, implying that any tensions stem from broader "family drama" within the Buss ownership structure rather than specific grievances with James himself. However, the detailed, multi-sourced nature of Holmes' report suggests these were genuine points of friction that contradict the sanitized public explanation.
Implications for Modern NBA Power Dynamics
The revelations raise profound questions about the evolving balance of power in professional basketball. Player empowerment has become a defining feature of the modern NBA, with superstars wielding unprecedented influence over roster construction, coaching hires, and organizational strategy. James has been both a pioneer and prime example of this shift throughout his career.
The Lakers' internal struggles illustrate the potential complications of this new reality. While elite players like James can deliver championships—the Lakers captured the 2020 NBA title in his second season—their influence can also create tension with traditional ownership structures that prioritize organizational control and hierarchical decision-making.
The situation also highlights the unique challenges facing the Buss family, who have owned the Lakers since Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the team in 1979. The siblings have faced ongoing scrutiny over their stewardship of one of sports' most valuable and visible franchises, with this latest revelation suggesting internal discord extends beyond basketball operations to relationships with the team's most important personnel.
Looking Ahead
Despite these reported tensions, James and the Lakers remain contractually bound through at least the 2025-26 season, with his no-trade clause ensuring that any potential separation would require his explicit consent. This gives him substantial leverage in the relationship and effectively guarantees his presence as the franchise's centerpiece for the remainder of his career.
For Lakers supporters, the report provides a rare glimpse into the complex realities of maintaining a championship-caliber organization in today's NBA. While on-court performance remains the primary concern, these behind-the-scenes dynamics can significantly impact team chemistry, future roster decisions, and the overall direction of the franchise.
As the Lakers navigate the final chapters of James' legendary career, the organization faces the dual challenge of maximizing his remaining prime years while simultaneously building a sustainable foundation for the post-James era. The tensions described in Holmes' report suggest this transition may involve more than simply planning for retirement—it may require a fundamental reevaluation of power dynamics that have defined the franchise for nearly a decade.