The LeBron James era in Los Angeles Lakers almost ended before the King could finish writing his Hollywood script. Former Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss privately considered trading the franchise’s biggest star. She even floated the Clippers as a potential landing spot.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes dropped a bombshell Wednesday revealing Buss privately mused about not giving James a contract extension and, later that year, even about trading James, with the LA Clippers floated as a possibility.
Jeanie Buss Began to Turn on LeBron James Years Ago
It was the 2022 timeline, right after the Russell Westbrook disaster. and two years before James secured his no-trade clause.
The friction reportedly started the moment James stepped foot in Staples Center. Buss “didn’t like that James was considered a savior for a floundering franchise when he arrived in 2018 and that it was he who chose the Lakers rather than the team’s leadership receiving praise for landing him,” per Holmes.
Buss “privately grumbled” about what she perceived as James’ “outsized ego” and the “overt control” Klutch Sports exerted over the organization, according to team sources. She felt like Rich Paul was running her franchise and Rob Pelinka was taking orders from the player instead of giving them.
However, her feeling was not baseless, as recently second-year head coach JJ Redick personally admitted that James makes most of the team’s decisions as the main showrunner, and most of the time Redick just follows the 41-year-old.
Jeanie Buss was reportedly so frustrated with LeBron James that she privately considered not re-signing—or even trading—him in 2022, including floating a deal to the Clippers, per @Baxter
She also had concerns about LeBron’s ego and Klutch Sports’ influence over the Lakers. 😳 pic.twitter.com/aqScqqhJDl
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 21, 2026
As for the Westbrook trade, it was a mistake from the start. Westbrook couldn’t shoot, couldn’t defend, and didn’t fit alongside two ball-dominant stars. It became a disastrous season, with the team missing the playoffs and finishing 33–49.
Buss bristled about what she felt was LeBron’s “lack of accountability and the way James would shift blame onto others after the Westbrook trade,” people close to the organization told ESPN.
The beef escalated to a different level when Lakers drafted Bronny James with the 55th pick in 2024. Buss “privately remarked that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he wasn’t,” per team sources.
She wanted a thank you at least, but Bron acted like the Lakers did him a business favor. She took it very personally when LeBron updated his LinkedIn profile, celebrating the moment by showing gratitude to the Lakers.
When contract extension talks began that summer, Buss “seemed more resigned to the fact that they’d have to do it — almost begrudgingly accepting that they’d take a massive PR hit by not doing so,” sources revealed.
She didn’t want to pay him. Didn’t want to hand him a no-trade clause. But he’s here and playing alongside his son to win one more ring in a purple and gold jersey. But the owner who reluctantly kept him around? She’s already checked out.
