Jeanie Buss addresses LeBron James drama, rejecting rumors, defending the Lakers’ appreciation, amid family tensions, shifting stardom, and speculation after his All-Star streak ended publicly.

LeBron James was once the star player for any team he played for. And this was the same for the Los Angeles Lakers, too. Unfortunately, as age caught up with him, things pretty much went downhill. With the likes of Luka Doncic coming in, the Lakers, too, have seemingly moved on from James as their primary superstar.

Adding to all that, James recently put an end to his NBA All-Star streak. And now, with rumors swirling, things are threatening to get out of hand. A recent ESPN report said that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has grown tired of the 41-year-old.

“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron James has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama. To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him,” Buss told ‘The Athletic.’

Such a statement carries significant weight amid the ruckus created recently. And as the Lakers try to sort out their inner conflicts, here’s what ESPN has reported about Buss and James.

ESPN Dropped A Bombshell Involving LeBron James And Jeanie Buss

LeBron James (Image Credits: Imagn)

Back on January 21, 2026, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes dropped a bombshell. He pointed out that the tensions between Buss and King James began several years back. The report claimed that roster failures and power struggles frustrated Buss as the Lakers struggled.

“The distance between Jeanie and James widened after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in July 2021, people close to the team said. The team had made the trade in an effort to appease James, but the acquisition backfired in catastrophic fashion. L.A. went 33-49 and missed the playoffs, and James seemed to wash his hands of his role in the acquisition,” read the report.

Thus, with a lot going on, fans are eagerly awaiting how things will pan out in the future.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.