Le Journal

Buss family drama is not new to the Lakers or their fanbase. From the moment team governor Jeanie removed her brother, Jim, from his front office role, the Lakers have, at times, resembled a soap opera more than a basketball team. However, that has often existed in a vacuum, existing alongside the on-court Lakers and rarely overlapping. That is until Wednesday when, in Baxter Holmes of ESPN’s piece on Jeanie and the Buss family, LeBron James was pulled into the mix. The story described a seemingly deteriorating relationship between Jeanie and LeBron since the 2020 title. The culmination of sorts came when Jeanie reportedly considered trading LeBron in 2022. In the aftermath of the story, Jeanie released a statement pushing back on the idea that she has not appreciated LeBron while also, more hilariously, saying not to drag him into the family’s drama. On Friday, LeBron spoke to the media for the first time after the team’s loss to the Clippers. To say he was unbothered would be an understatement. In a lengthy response, LeBron spoke about not caring about stories and reports and discussed his motivations for coming to the organization, which was also a topic in Holmes’ piece. “At the end of the day,” LeBron said, “when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence and the things I seen growing up with the Lakers. Obviously, I didn’t get an opportunity to watch Showtime, but I know the history. Then, in the early 2000s with Shaq and Kob’ and then what Kob’ did those couple runs with him and Pau, my whole mindset was ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization.’ “When the Lakers and Knicks and Bulls and Celtics are good, it’s great. And I was able to do that along with 14, 16 other guys, winning a championship, bringing a championship. That’s always been my mind. Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of shit. It don’t bother me…If you know me personally, then you know what I’m about.” LeBron James on his relationship with Jeanie pic.twitter.com/nrf91revHZ— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) January 23, 2026 He was also asked about his relationship with Jeanie directly and where he felt it stood in light of the reports. “I thought it was good,” LeBron said. “But somebody can see it another way. There’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 when I got here until now is with the utmost respect and dignity and I would say loyalty.” That’s not really a great statement, but it was also one delivered in a way that didn’t feel like a shot at Jeanie. Granted, that’s me reading into things and LeBron could have meant it some other kind of way. However, the whole tone of his interview was more dismissive of the whole story than passive-aggressive. LeBron was pushed one more time after that response about his relationship with Jeanie and, specifically, if the two had been in contact since the story’s release. “We never talk,” LeBron said. “It’s like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking. You guys ain’t ever heard a report about that. Don’t make something out of it that it’s not. It’s always been mutual, it’s always been respect, it’s always been a great partnership but it’s not like I call Jeanie on the phone. It’s not like I called [Heat owner] Micky Arison or [Cavaliers owner] Dan Gilbert on the phone. “Come on guys. Don’t make this more than what it is. I don’t care.” To my point above, this all felt like LeBron wanting to downplay the whole situation. Considering he easily could have made a much bigger deal about this if he wished, it does feel notable that he chose this path instead. All that being said, it also likely wasn’t completely nothing to LeBron. It certainly adds another layer to LeBron’s impending free agency and whether this further signals the end of LeBron’s time in LA. Because the Lakers…

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but a late, if not spirited, Lakers comeback fell short as they ultimately lost to the Clippers on Thursday. It’s a common theme for the team in recent years to fall behind big, fake a comeback and make the score closer than it deserved to be. As was the case against their crosstown rivals, who led by as many as 26 against a pretty woeful Lakers team. However, the purple and gold found a lineup that provided some energy late in the third and at the start of the fourth, pulling them back into the game. However, with the margin of error razor thin, a Clippers response in the final minutes ended the game, even if the Lakers tried yet again at one last dash comeback. So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player. LeBron James 36 minutes, 23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 9-19 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-5 FT, -7 You can see how much LeBron feeds off the energy of athletic players around him. The lineup that got the team back into the game featured the Lakers flying around the court, getting some stops and getting out in transition. Grade: B+ Jake LaRavia 22 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 4 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -15 It was a really great opening roughly two minutes of the game for LaRavia. After that, he kind of faded into the background. Grade: B– Deandre Ayton 21 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, -14 How concerning is it that the Lakers have looked better in the last two games with Ayton off the court? Grade: D Marcus Smart 30 minutes, 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4-10 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-1 FT, -1 Smart was pivotal in the Lakers’ comeback attempt as he, along with Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura, helped set the tone defensively and get stops. Grade: B+ Luka Dončić 39 minutes, 32 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 11-27 FG, 3-13 3PT, 7-10 FT, -17 Luka was really doing all he could in the first quarter and first half to keep the Lakers in it early. By the time the rest of the team caught up, he was out of rhythm. He also didn’t help his case with that late decision not to shoot after the incredible steal from Vando, but that likely wouldn’t have changed the result. Grade: A- Gabe Vincent 15 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, -8 On one hand, Vincent needs to be out of the rotation. On the other hand, having gotten a good look at the other guard options on the bench, it’s hard to make an argument for any of them to get minutes. Grade: F Jaxson Hayes 17 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 3-4 FG, -4 While he was better than Ayton, the Lakers’ best lineup was a center-less one. And he did little to slow down Zubac on the boards when he was playing. Grade: C- Rui Hachimura 28 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, +6 While I could easily mention Rui finding his shot and playing a big role offensively in the comeback, there’s no way I can not mention this sequence. WOOOOOOW, RUI HACHIMURA SHUTS DOWN JORDAN MILLER pic.twitter.com/s5YqzHNIED— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) January 23, 2026 Grade: A- Jarred Vanderbilt 22 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, 3-5 FG, 1-1 3PT, +16 On the topic of players who helped spark the run, Vando was also at the heart of it. He still has offensive limitations and missed a couple layups, but he was very much a positive on the night. Grade: A- Drew Timme 10 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 fouls, +4 Timme’s minutes were more limited in this one, but he was still diving on the floor and making the hustle plays, which is all you could ask from a two-way signing. JJ Redick I liked some of the string Redick pulled in this. He benched Ayton on a rough night and went as far as to go…

The Lakers nearly pulled off an improbable comeback against the Clippers on Thursday before coming up just short, falling 112-104. After trailing by as many as 26 in the second half, the Lakers cut the deficit to two points, setting up a frantic finish. Despite an improved defensive effort in the second half, LA ran out of steam down the stretch. LA lost the rebounding battle 55-43, giving up 15 second-chance points. Ivica Zubac pulled down 19 boards himself. It was an offensive showdown early. Jake LaRavia was red hot, draining two 3-pointers for the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard then began to heat up for the Clippers, scoring eight points. LaRavia and Luka Dončić combined for 12 of LA’s first 16 points.  Luka Dončić goes no-look for Jake LaRavia for 3!📺 LAL/LAC on Prime pic.twitter.com/BvXfA1ji0k— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2026 At the first timeout, the Lakers were up by two.  Kobe Sanders provided instant offense for the Clippers off the bench with two triples. The purple and gold’s struggles mounted as Luka was the only one scoring. The Clippers jumped to a lead of seven, forcing a Laker timeout. Out of the break, Luka scored on a shot off the glass.  Sanders continued shooting well from behind the arc, draining another triple. After missing his first two shots, Rui Hachimura knocked down a 3-pointer at the first quarter buzzer, making it a seven-point deficit.  RUI IS MONEY AT THE BUZZER 🤑 pic.twitter.com/B9rpCdhaIF— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) January 23, 2026 The second period began with Brook Lopez scoring four points. LeBron James was being assertive and playing aggressively as he was at nine points in the half. The Lakers couldn’t defend Leonard, who was still scoring at ease. He was the second player in the game in double figures with 12.  At the 7:13 mark, the Lakers were down by nine.  Each time the Lakers tried to get closer, the Clips had an answer. Despite defending James Harden well, he did still manage to notch seven points. The lead kept growing for the Clippers as the Lakers completely fell apart on both ends.  At halftime, the purple and gold were down by 17.  The Lakers failed to score from the 2:58 mark of the 2nd Q until Ayton's first hoop with 26 seconds to play, snapping a 9-0 run.— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 23, 2026 The third period began with both teams missing shots until Harden converted on a three-point play. Deandre Ayton countered with a hook shot on the other end. Leonard then went on a personal 5-0 scoring run, forcing a timeout for the Lakers. The Lakers only made one of their first seven shot attempts.  Leonard was now at 24 points for the game.  The Lakers were struggling with poor energy and effort until they suddenly found some life. They scored five straight points, but they were still down by double figures. After a Clippers timeout, Luka converted on a midrange jumper.  The Lakers continued to build on the momentum they had conjured up by defending and scoring. They ended the third on a 19-7 scoring run for a deficit of 14 going into the fourth period.  LA finally got something going late in the 3rd Q, rallying behind Luka Doncić – 26 points, 8 boards, 7 assists – to get within 14 after trailing by as much as a 26 earlier in the period.— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 23, 2026 Hachimura opened the final frame with a 3-pointer for the Lakers. Jordan Miller was cooking for the Clips with seven quick points. The Lakers were throwing all their bodies at Leonard, making him battle more for his shots.  It was down to a 10-point game at the 8:45 mark.  Jarred Vanderbilt was providing energy off the bench by doing the dirty work with two assists and three steals. The Lakers had completely taken all the momentum from the Clippers and had now made it a five-point game.  It's a 35-14 extended run now, and the deficit is down to 5 after Smart's and-1.— Mike Trudell…

This recent week of Lakers basketball was so dramatic that it makes HBO’s show “Winning Time” look like a reality TV show. On the court, we had bad losses like falling to the Hornets in a game they made LaMelo Ball look like prime Steph Curry, allowing him to hit nine 3-pointers. We also witnessed Luka Dončić being one of the best players on Earth against Denver as he torched the Nuggets with a 38-point triple-double in a win. While watching the game is what I love to do more than anything, I’m aware that for some fans, the sizzle around this sport is more enticing than the steak. So when Baxter Holmes of ESPN dropped his story on the Buss family drama, I knew it was going to create a buzz that would make me nauseous. Unfortunately, I was right. But hey, that’s what the Lakers experience entails. There are grand wins, disgusting losses and drama that even the most television script writers wouldn’t ever think of. That’s what makes the Lakers the best telenovela around. 5 things I liked and didn’t like 1. Family Matters Last week, I bemoaned Rich Paul and his horrendous hot takes. I wished we would move on from that. Well, I should’ve been more specific with my desires. Yes, we aren’t talking about “Game Over” but we replaced that noise with something equally as messy. The Buss family drama continues to be the gift I never asked for that keeps on giving. We learned that Jeanie’s inner circle received huge bonuses after the team was sold and also found out that Jeanie “began to turn” against LeBron James in recent years and even considered trading him in 2022. After the article’s release, Jeanie has stepped in to defend herself, issuing a statement rejecting the notion that she doesn’t appreciate LeBron. I’m tired. I just want all the drama to end. But even if Jeanie were gone, I’m sure the noise would just be replaced with something else as this is part of the Lakers circus. 2. Do the Lakers have a fifth starter? Okay, back to basketball. There’s a melancholy that overwhelms me when Lakers fans and media alike discuss the Lakers’ fifth starter. Should it be Rui Hachimura? Is Marcus Smart a better fit? Does Jake LaRavia provide enough on both ends? I appreciate people’s passion and love that they care so much, but the true answer is pretty tough to swallow: They don’t have a fifth starter. Hachimura is shooting 43% from 3-point range, but his defense isn’t good enough. He is a bit slow-footed, and when LeBron’s out there, his defensive assignments are players he can’t guard. Smart gives you the highest defensive floor, but his offensive decisions are tough to consistently swallow. He takes far too many shots, looking off the NBA’s all-time leading scorer or ignoring Luka Dončić, who clearly wants the ball and is waiting for it on the perimeter. It’d be one thing if Smart were a bucket, but he is an average shooter. Also, while his defensive antics help more than they hurt, every now and then, his flopping and fouling get a bit too much and disrupt the flow of the game. With your fifth starter, you want consistency, and Smart is a bit too much of an ex-factor. Speaking of inconsistency, let’s talk about LaRavia. In this Goldilocks situation, where Rui has offense but not enough defense and Marcus has defense but not enough offense, LaRavia is right in the middle. His baseline on both ends of the floor is more tolerable, but he has less pop. Sure, he has defensive versatility, but he’s also a bit slow-footed on that first step. Wings and guards consistently blow right past him, neutralizing the size and strength that he has. And while head coach JJ Redick has used more zone in the past week, it’s still a switch-heavy defense. So, teams won’t have a problem finding the right offensive player to exploit LaRavia if that’s what they want to do. So, who should be LA’s fifth starter? I don’t care. Pick whoever you want. They won’t be good enough to truly impact winning anyway. They won’t win an extra series or help the Lakers win…

Due to forecasted inclement weather in Northwest Arkansas on Friday, Arkansas’ gymnastics meet against SEMO at Bud Walton Arena on Friday, Jan. 23 has been moved to 1 p.m. CT.