{"id":557037,"date":"2026-01-24T04:51:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T04:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/557037\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T04:51:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T04:51:45","slug":"lebron-brushes-off-buss-report-dont-really-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/557037\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron brushes off Buss report: ‘Don’t really care’"},"content":{"rendered":"

INGLEWOOD \u2014 LeBron James dismissed any notion that there is friction between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, which was cited in an ESPN story this week on the Buss family drama<\/a> and how it led to the team being sold to Mark Walter.<\/p>\n

According to the report, Jeanie Buss soured on James after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in 2021<\/a>, a move the team made to satisfy the superstar but one that backfired<\/a>. Buss reportedly was upset with the way James dismissed his part in pursuing Westbrook and blamed others after the move failed, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n

The relationship further deteriorated after Buss reportedly felt that James wasn\u2019t appreciative of the team\u2019s efforts to bring his son, Bronny, on board<\/a>, according to the report.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite frankly, I don\u2019t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,\u201d James said after Thursday night\u2019s loss to the Clippers at the Intuit Dome<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of it, obviously, but I don\u2019t really care about the reports, to be honest. \u2026 (there\u2019s) gonna be another article tomorrow, especially involving me.\u201d<\/p>\n

James, who has been with the Lakers for eight seasons, said when he arrived in L.A. in 2018 his mindset was to help restore a level of excellence to the Lakers, who had not won a title since 2010. He then led the team to the 2020 NBA championship, the franchise\u2019s 17th<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole mindset was like, how can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then I was able to do that along with, you know, 14, 16, other guys winning the championship, bringing the championship here. That\u2019s always been my mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

James said winning, not headlines, stories or podcasts, is what drives him, now in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t bother me. I\u2019m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don\u2019t care about an article,\u201d James said. \u201cI don\u2019t care how somebody feels about me. If you know me personally and you know what I\u2019m about, these guys know what I\u2019m about, and that\u2019s all that matters. I don\u2019t \u2013 I can care less how somebody feels about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

James said he thought he and Buss had an amicable relationship, so the news that she was upset caught him off guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was good, but, you know, somebody could see it another way,\u201d James said. \u201cThere\u2019s always two sides to the coin.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow I represented this franchise, and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise from when I got here until now, has been with the utmost respect and honor and dignity. And I would say loyalty.\u201d<\/p>\n

James added that he has not spoken to Buss since the story was published but said he has never had the type of relationship with a team owner where he would talk one-on-one very often. That includes Dan Gilbert in Cleveland and Mickey Arison in Miami.<\/p>\n

Buss issued a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday, addressing ESPN\u2019s story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,\u201d she said. \u201cTo say that it wasn\u2019t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buss also changed the image on her Instagram profile to a photo of her and James embracing after the 2020 championship win.<\/p>\n

The ESPN story also surprised James, who said he never heard about it before it was published.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make something out of it that it\u2019s not,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s always been mutual. It\u2019s always been respect, it\u2019s always been a great partnership \u2026 don\u2019t make this more than what it is. I don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n

“My whole mindset is restoring excellence.”<\/p>\n

LeBron James (23 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB) shares his thoughts on tonight’s 112-104 loss vs. LA Clippers. pic.twitter.com\/xlDRoWSqh0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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