ESPN Report Details Tension Between LeBron and Lakers
A new ESPN report detailing years of Buss family infighting also revealed information about LeBron James’ relationship with Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, shedding light on the tension that existed during key moments of his tenure in Los Angeles.
The report explains how internal disagreements within the Buss family eventually led to the sale of the Lakers to Mark Walter for a reported $10 billion. Along the way, ESPN also outlined how those conflicts impacted basketball decisions and relationships inside the organization.
The post-Jerry Buss era of the Lakers was defined by resentment, dysfunction and conflict — and ended with the loss of the most valuable family-owned franchise in the world.@Baxter on the sibling infighting, attempted coups and deep distrust that drove the $10 billion sale ➡️… pic.twitter.com/hj9NuYpGTJ
— ESPN (@espn) January 21, 2026
Buss Family Drama and the Sale of the Lakers
The Buss family owned the Lakers from 1979 until the recent sale. After Jerry Buss passed away in 2013, Jeanie Buss became the team’s governor while other family members remained involved through the family trust.
According to ESPN, disagreements over control and long-term direction intensified over the last few years and played a really significant role in the decision to sell the team. Even though Mark Walter now controls the franchise, Jeanie Buss remains in her role overseeing basketball operations.
What ESPN Reported About Jeanie Buss and LeBron James
LeBron James signed with the Lakers in 2018 and helped bring the franchise back to championship contention, culminating in the 2020 NBA title.
Despite the success, ESPN reported that Buss privately expressed frustration with what she felt was the level of influence James and Klutch Sports had on roster decisions. That frustration reportedly increased during the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021, a move that failed and limited the Lakers’ flexibility in the seasons that followed.
The report also noted tension after the Lakers drafted LeBron’s son, Bronny James, in 2024. According to people close to the team, Buss privately felt James did not show enough appreciation for the organization’s decision.
Jeanie Buss Responds to the Reporting
Following the release of ESPN’s story, Buss issued a statement to The Athletic addressing the reporting about her relationship with LeBron.
“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,” Buss said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss issued this statement to @TheAthletic in response to today’s ESPN story, which includes reporting about her relationship with LeBron James.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled…
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 21, 2026
What This Means for the Lakers
Even though most of what ESPN reported focuses on past seasons rather than the present, the details add some new context to how some major decisions unfolded during LeBron James’ time with the Lakers.
With the franchise now under new ownership and LeBron nearing the later stages of his career, the report offers a clearer picture of the dynamics that existed behind the scenes during a defining era of Lakers basketball.
