INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In his first public comments since an ESPN article alleged a rift with Los Angeles Lakers’ governor Jeanie Buss, LeBron James said he was unbothered.
“Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I really don’t,” James said when asked if he felt valued by Lakers ownership. “I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of s—. Nah, they don’t … they don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody feel about me.
“If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all that matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.”
James, who controls his immediate future because of the no-trade clause in his contract, was asked if he wanted to remain with the Lakers and finish his record 23rd season in Los Angeles.
“I’m good. I’m good. I’m good,” James said.
James then pointed to his sweatshirt, which had the name of his wife Savannah’s podcast.
“Everybody’s crazy,” James said.
The ESPN article, which primarily focused on the Buss family ownership dynamics, alleged that Buss was irked by James’ ego and the influence that he and his representation from Klutch Sports had over the franchise. Buss disputed the story.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” Buss told The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
James’ comments came after the Lakers’ 112-104 road loss to the LA Clippers on Thursday. He scored 23 points in 36 minutes.
“Since I’ve been here, my eighth year here, been in this league 23 years, it’s gonna be another article tomorrow, especially involving me,” James said of the story. “And at the end of the day, when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring, you know, excellence.”
Before Thursday’s game, second-year Lakers coach JJ Redick said he’s enjoyed coaching James at the highest level.
“Everybody in this organization appreciates LeBron and appreciates what he’s done for the Lakers,” Redick said. “He’s carried on the legacy, and also truthfully the burden, of being a superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years. And he’s done it with class.”
Asked about his working partnership with Buss, James said he “thought it was good.”
“But, you know, somebody could see it another way. So it’s always two sides of the coin,” he said. “So like I said, at the end of the day, how I represented this franchise, and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise since when I got here until now, it’s been with the utmost respect and honor and dignity. And I would say loyalty.”
James has played 445 games for the Lakers, second only to the 849 he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since losing to the Clippers on Dec. 20, the Lakers are just 7-10. They will play six straight road games before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline — a crucial stretch as the front office surveys options for improving the roster. Austin Reaves, who has been out since Dec. 25, is progressing and could soon play five-on-five, Redick said.
James declined to share what he thought the Lakers’ approach should be over the next two weeks.
“We’re missing our All-Star two-guard,” he said. “So we haven’t been whole, pretty much all year. We’re starting to get a little rhythm. … So, I mean, we don’t know.
“And I don’t really get involved into … it’s disrespectful to these guys, if I start talking over the deadline and what we need to do, we got to get better, whatever the case may be. I’m trying not to play fantasy basketball too much.”