LEBRON NOT GRATEFUL? Jeannie Buss Reportedly Said Lebron James Wasn’t Grateful For Bronny Pick! (Commentary)

The blockbuster $10 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just make headlines because of its record-shattering valuation — the drama and family infighting behind it have arguably become just as big a story. Reports from ESPN and multiple outlets paint a picture of deep tension inside the organization, and at the center of the storm is longtime Lakers leader Jeanie Buss.

According to sources close to the situation, the sale of the franchise to billionaire Mark Walter’s ownership group marked the culmination of years of Buss family conflict that began soon after the death of patriarch Jerry Buss in 2013. The Lakers had been owned by the Buss family for more than four decades, with Jerry’s vision being that his children would run the storied franchise as a family legacy.

That vision has since fractured. Following the sale, Jeanie moved to restructure leadership within the organization, which included firing her siblings who previously held front office roles, leaving herself as the only Buss still involved with the team. Family members described feeling “disrespected” and “cast aside” by the way those decisions were carried out.

The internal dynamics weren’t limited to family alone — tension also reportedly seeped into the Lakers’ relationship with superstar LeBron James. In a detailed ESPN report, people with knowledge of the discussions say Jeanie privately expressed frustration around several key Lakers decisions, including the 2024 draft selection of James’ son, Bronny James. Jeanie allegedly felt that drafting Bronny — a second-round pick who contributes modestly on the court — was intended as a gesture to keep LeBron happy, and privately thought James didn’t show enough gratitude for the move.

Those internal frustrations date back even earlier. According to the ESPN reporting, Jeanie reportedly considered not extending LeBron’s contract in 2022 and even mulled a potential trade to the Los Angeles Clippers — though that never came to fruition, in part because LeBron held a no-trade clause.

While Jeanie has publicly pushed back against these narratives — telling The Athletic that it’s “not right” to pull James into family drama and that he has done “great things for the Lakers” — the mere presence of these reports suggests a relationship that has been far from smooth.

The result is a franchise in transition. The historic sale closed during the 2025-26 NBA season, and its timing — midseason, while the Lakers were performing well — underscored just how much had shifted behind the scenes. For fans, players, and observers alike, the drama surrounding family feuds, superstar relations, and succession plans has made the Lakers’ off-court narrative almost as compelling as their on-court play.

Whether LeBron, now in the twilight of his legendary career, remains in Los Angeles beyond this season or opts for a fresh start elsewhere could hinge as much on these interpersonal dynamics as it does on wins and losses — a reality few people expected when the Lakers last hoisted an NBA title.