“It’s unfair to pull him into family drama”: Jeanie Buss denies reports of tension with LeBron James

The Buss family’s decision to sell its majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers has already sent shockwaves across the NBA, but new details surrounding the blockbuster deal — and the internal tension it may have surfaced — are now adding even more intrigue to the franchise’s uncertain future.

According to reports, the Buss family sold its controlling share of the Lakers to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter in a record-breaking $10 billion transaction, a price tag that marks the highest amount ever paid for a professional sports franchise in the United States.

As part of the agreement, the Buss family is expected to retain a minority stake of roughly 15 percent for a period of time, ensuring the family name will remain connected to the franchise in the short term even as the team enters a new ownership era.

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Despite the change in ownership structure, Jeanie Buss will continue to serve as the Lakers’ governor and oversee daily operations “for at least a period of time,” per reports detailing the arrangement between the Buss family and Walter.

However, ESPN’s deep-dive report on the sale has sparked fresh headlines after revealing alleged behind-the-scenes friction between Buss and Lakers superstar LeBron James — tensions that reportedly existed even before the franchise’s landmark sale.

ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported that Buss privately felt James should have been more appreciative after the Lakers drafted his son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft — a move that helped create one of the most historic storylines in league history as LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son duo to share the court in the NBA.

🚨 JEANIE BUSS RELEASES STATEMENT

“It’s not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama… To say that he wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him” pic.twitter.com/ZcOx1hTbxH

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 21, 2026

“And when the Lakers drafted James’ son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Jeanie privately remarked that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he wasn’t, people close to the team told ESPN,” the report stated.

Buss quickly pushed back against the claim, issuing a statement to The Athletic that defended James and criticized the idea that he did not appreciate the organization.

“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.”

Bronny’s selection by Los Angeles came with major attention and even bigger expectations, but his early NBA career has been a difficult adjustment. The young guard has struggled to carve out a consistent role and has yet to become a reliable part of the Lakers’ rotation.

The same ESPN report also suggested that Buss’ frustration with James reportedly dates back several years — particularly following the Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Russell Westbrook in 2021, a move that ultimately failed to deliver championship results and left the roster with limited flexibility.

According to the report, Buss privately considered drastic options in the aftermath, including the possibility of not offering James an extension — and even exploring trade scenarios that allegedly included the LA Clippers as a hypothetical destination.

While Buss has publicly emphasized her continued appreciation for James and his impact on the franchise, the emergence of these reports adds another layer of drama to a pivotal moment in Lakers history.

With the team transitioning into a new ownership structure under Mark Walter, questions will only grow louder about what the next era looks like — and whether the Lakers will prioritize continuity around LeBron, or begin pivoting toward the next generation as the franchise attempts to remain a title contender in a rapidly evolving Western Conference.

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