The Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James in 2024 delivered a historic moment for the franchise and for LeBron James, who fulfilled a long-stated goal of sharing an NBA floor with his son.
Behind the scenes, however, the move reportedly deepened existing tensions between the proud dad and the team’s longtime power structure.
According to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, who wrote an extensive essay on the details of the Lakers' sale, Jeanie Buss privately felt that the organization had gone to great lengths to accommodate its superstar, and that the appreciation she expected in return never fully materialized.
People close to the team told ESPN that Buss believed LeBron “should be grateful” for the franchise drafting his son, but she did not feel that sentiment was adequately expressed.
Bronny’s path to the league was unconventional. After a cardiac arrest in July 2023 caused by a congenital heart defect, his lone college season at USC was limited. Since entering the NBA, his role has been minimal, with modest production across limited appearances.
Still, the Lakers used a second-round pick on him, a move widely viewed as a symbolic gesture toward LeBron as he nears the end of his career.
The friction reportedly extended beyond the draft. Holmes noted that in 2022, Buss privately considered moving on from LeBron altogether. At one point, a trade scenario involving the LA Clippers was discussed internally, underscoring how strained the relationship had become following roster decisions that failed to pan out, including the ill-fated Russell Westbrook experiment.
Despite those internal debates, LeBron remained central to the franchise. He led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship and has continued to play at an elite level into his 40s.
In 2024, the team signed him to a new deal that included a no-trade clause, a move Holmes described as one Buss accepted “almost begrudgingly,” given the public fallout that would have followed a breakup.
The organizational backdrop soon shifted. In October 2025, the Lakers were sold to billionaire Mark Walter for a reported $10 billion. While the Buss family retained a minority stake, Jeanie Buss remained in place as the team’s governor.
