Los Angeles Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief: there’s no backstage drama in Lakerland. Despite swirling rumors of a rift between Lakers president and owner Jeanie Buss and superstar LeBron James, Buss recently offered a compelling perspective on their strong relationship. At 40 years old, James continues to defy Father Time, dominating the court with historic performances while keeping the Lakers in playoff contention. Buss’ latest comments not only celebrate his unparalleled longevity but also put to rest any notions of tension, reaffirming their mutual respect as we move into 2025.
Speculation about discord flared up after the Luka Doncic trade, with some suggesting James was left out of the loop or at odds with Buss and GM Rob Pelinka. Whispers grew louder amid the team’s postseason struggles since their 2020 title. Yet, multiple reports, including from The Athletic, have dismissed these claims, and Buss herself has stepped in to clarify.
Is LeBron ready to call it quits?
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, she marveled at LeBron’s enduring greatness: “If you know there was a script writer writing a script, you probably wouldn’t have him playing this well at this age-he’s unbelievable.” She’s right-most players his age have retired, but James is out here rewriting history.
Take his recent 42-point, 17-rebound masterpiece against the Warriors. That game made him only the second player over 40 to drop 40+ points in a single night, joining Michael Jordan in elite company. It wasn’t just stats-he took over when it mattered, proving he can still carry a team.
James’ historic run continues as Jeanie Buss debunks Lakers tension
Buss, who’s witnessed Lakers legends like Magic and Kobe, doesn’t take this for granted. “He showed us in the Olympics he’s the best player in the world,” she said. “He can play however long he wants to play. He has to decide.”
When asked about their relationship, Buss shut down the rumor mill: “I try not to bother him. He’s got a lot going on-he’s a multimedia star. But he knows I have an open-door policy. Anytime he wants to see me, he can.”
No tension there-just trust and space. LeBron echoed this sentiment when addressing the Doncic trade: “What’s wrong with that? If I had any concerns, I would have waived my no-trade clause and got up out of here.”
With a two-year, $101.4 million extension (and a no-trade clause) signed last summer, James is committed, and Buss isn’t nudging him toward retirement. His recent triple-double against the Celtics, orchestrating a crunch-time takeover, shows he’s still running the game at his pace. So, how long will he keep going? As Buss sees it, that’s entirely up to him-and right now, he’s not slowing down.
