LeBron James is still dealing with criticism 23 years into his NBA career

It was painful to watch. 

LeBron James was in this position? 

The guy who resuscitated the Los Angeles Lakers after a six-year playoff drought had to field questions about his relationship with Jeanie Buss?

The guy who won the team their first championship in 10 years had to address reported criticism from its governor?

The guy who devoted eight years of his career to the Lakers (his longest continuous stint anywhere) and is in a two-horse race with Michael Jordan for the greatest player of all-time, had to be in the hot seat?

As James stood by his locker following a 23-point, six-rebound and five-assist performance in the Lakers’ 112-104 loss to the LA Clippers on Thursday, he was peppered with questions about his relationship with Buss and his commitment to the team. 

“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,” James said. “I’ve seen a lot of it, obviously, but I don’t really – I don’t really care about the reports, to be honest. You guys know me. You guys know 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. 

The inquisition came after a wide-ranging ESPN story was published Wednesday which included claims that Buss has a myriad of frustrations with the superstar, including his “outsized ego,” his influence over the team, his lack of accountability over the Russell Westbrook disaster and his lack of gratitude over the team drafting his son. 

As for James’ relationship with Buss?

“I thought it was good,” he said. “But somebody could see it another way, so it’s always two sides of the coin. At the end of the day, how I represented this franchise, and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise from when I got here to now has been with the utmost respect, and honor and dignity and I would say loyalty. I mean, s—, I have played here longer than pretty much any other franchise I’ve played for besides Cleveland and that was a seven and a four.” 

As for whether he wants to finish this season with the Lakers? 

“I’m good,” said James, who has a no-trade clause in his contract. “I’m good. I’m good.”

But how could he be good? 

Imagine pouring your heart out for an organization after joining it in free agency in 2018, winning them a championship in your second season with the team, becoming both the league’s all-time leading scorer and the league’s longest-tenured player while wearing a purple and gold jersey…. and then hearing that the team’s governor was frustrated with you. 

That she “privately mused” about trading you in 2022. That she begrudgingly signed you to a two-year, $104 million contract extension in 2024.

Buss was not quoted in the story. And she issued a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday taking issue with the assertions in the article. “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. To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”

James, of course, is no stranger to criticism.

He has been at the center of it since entering the league as an 18-year-old. He dismissed the latest media storm as yet another deluge he has to weather. He claims he’s unperturbed by the inclement weather. 

“It really don’t bother me,” James said. “I’m 41 years old and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody feels about me. If you know me personally, then you know what I’m about. These guys know what I’m about and that’s all that matters. I could care less how somebody feels about me.”

James went on to say he came to the Lakers with one goal: Restoring them to excellence. 

“The things that I’ve seen growing up with the Lakers, obviously I didn’t get an opportunity to watch The Showtime [teams], but I know this history. And then in the early 2000s with Shaq and Kobe, and then what Kob did, and those couple runs with him and Pau. My whole mindset was how can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization.”

James more than delivered.

He won the Lakers their 17th championship. He took a franchise that was languishing in basketball purgatory following Bryant’s torn Achilles’ tendon in 2013 and made them a success again. 

And now he has to deal with this? In his 23rd season? When he’s contemplating retirement? 

It’s a shame. The only thing more spectacular than James’ accomplishments on the court are his standards off of it. He avoids drama. He represents organizations with class. 

And he gets repaid by this shadow over the final one-third of his career?

So what if James has an ego? You think one of the greatest players of all-time wouldn’t?

So what if he had a lot of influence over the Lakers? Ultimately, Buss had the final say. 

So what if James didn’t take accountability over the Westbrook trade? He’s not the general manager. 

So what if James wasn’t overly gushing about the Lakers drafting his son, Bronny, with the 55th overall pick in 2024? Buss knows better than anyone about a father’s devotion to his children. 

Even if Buss has legitimate reasons to be frustrated with James, the bottom line is he breathed new life into an organization that considers anything short of winning a championship a failure. 

He has spent hours a day making sure he’s available night after night. He has given this organization his all. Really, what more could anyone want from their superstar?

James shrugged off the drama, as he has done so many times in his career. He claimed none of it mattered to him. 

But this time, his tone and body language told another story.