LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers’ team governor Jeanie Buss reportedly once thought about trading superstar LeBron James because she was upset with him and his inner circle. Recently, media reports have said that her relationship with James grew tense at times.
The trouble between Buss and James did not happen overnight. When James joined the Lakers in 2018, the pairing brought championship hopes. But inside the organization, sources say Buss became frustrated that James and his agent, Rich Paul, seemed to have a strong influence over team choices. At one point, her frustration grew strong enough that she considered trading James.
That idea of a trade was surprising because James has been one of the Lakers’ biggest stars. He helped the team win a title in 2020 and has remained one of the best players in the NBA. Still, some Lakers insiders said Buss felt James did not always share credit with the front office and sometimes shifted blame to others after failed moves, such as a bad trade involving Russell Westbrook in 2021.
According to reports, Buss in 2022 even considered trading James to the Lakers’ city rivals, the Clippers—a move that would have been unprecedented.
Buss also worked through changes in Lakers ownership while thinking about team decisions. The Buss family agreed to sell a majority share of the Lakers in 2025 to a group led by billionaire Mark Walter. Even though she sold most of the team, Buss stayed on as governor and still helps guide team strategy.
