Le Journal

On Wednesday morning, an article by Baxter Holmes on ESPN portrayed Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss in a negative light. The story had details into the sale of the team that made her look like a cutthroat businessperson who got rid of her family, and also gave her inner circle huge bonuses once the deal was finalized. It also stated that her relationship with the franchise’s biggest star, while she’s been in charge, LeBron James, isn’t a good one. According to Holmes’ reporting, Buss “began to turn” against LeBron James and considered trading him to the Clippers in 2022. Jeanie didn’t delay responding to this article, telling “The Athletic” that she didn’t like LeBron’s involvement in her family drama and that she appreciates the star. Lakers governor Jeanie Buss issued this statement to @TheAthletic in response to today’s ESPN story, which includes reporting about her relationship with LeBron James. “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled…— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 21, 2026 So much to unpack here. For starters, it’s good that Jeanie said something. She could’ve just let this hang and put LeBron in the awkward position of having to speak on it, which would’ve been unfair since it was really a story about Jeanie and the Buss family. However, how much Lakers fans agree with her words compared to the reporting will be up to public opinion. She doesn’t have to answer for everything stated in the story, but the idea that the Lakers considered parting with LeBron isn’t too far-fetched. In 2022, the year in which Holmes’ article indicates the Lakers considered dealing LeBron, there were reports that Phil Jackson might’ve been brought back to the Lakers and that he would want to trade James. Now, ultimately, that didn’t happen, but there was smoke to this story before, and while LeBron was never dealt, it seems likely that the idea was at least considered. In the NBA, countless trade conversations amount to nothing. If there was a thought from Jeanie to trade LeBron, she clearly never went through with it. It’s hard to decipher if she appreciates LeBron enough privately, but publicly, she’s sung his praises. Jeanie called it a “priority” for LeBron to retire as a Laker. This summer, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka echoed similar sentiments. Still, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been jealousy or envy from the Lakers about how much credit LeBron gets for the 2020 title, or how much blame he does or doesn’t get for a lack of one since. Jeanie is working on her PR spin on this story, and her on-the-record statement is that she appreciates LeBron. Her future actions will likely also support her claim. My guess is that Lakers fans can expect a jersey retirement for LeBron and a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena once his playing days are over. And, even if every word in Holmes’ story is accurate, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for the Jeanie-LeBron dynamic. The Lakers’ Governor wouldn’t be the first boss, nor the last, to not appreciate what her best worker does for her organization. The difference is that this is the Lakers, and every ounce of drama gets massive attention, making it very messy. While Jeanie has denounced this reporting, don’t expect this story to go away anytime soon. You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Austin Reaves hasn’t played in 2026 due to this Grade 2 calf strain, but that will soon change. Reaves’ four-week absence due to this injury will be up soon, and Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave a positive update on his guard before the Lakers played the Nuggets on Tuesday. Redick indicated that Reaves’ recovery has been going well and that he would return to play during LA’s current road trip. JJ Redick says Austin Reaves is “progressing well” and will return to the lineup sometime during the Lakers’ 8-game road trip. Some good news for the Lakers, who have been without Reaves because of a left calf strain since Christmas.— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2026 The Lakers’ eight-game road trip is set to end on Feb. 1, so barring a setback, Reaves will be back by that date at the latest. This calf situation has been an issue for Reaves all year long. Earlier in the season, Reaves missed a week of play due to a mild calf strain. The Lakers claimed they were being “cautious” with the injury, but he returned for just two games before suffering his most recent setback. Once Reaves does return, the Lakers will get back one of their best players. This season, Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Those are all career-highs for the five-year player. When he’s back in the lineup, the Lakers can finally see what they can be with their big three featuring LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Reaves. So far, this trio has played together in just eight games, totaling 140 minutes. While Reaves being back is great news, he did lose the opportunity for any individual glory due to his time off. Revaes has already missed 19 games, making him officially ineligible for any end-of-season awards. It seems unfair that Reaves will be unable to qualify for All-NBA accolades due to missing games, since his play certainly warrants such prestige. But those are the rules, at least for now. Considering how much of a team player Reaves is, he likely doesn’t care about those awards and is just thrilled to be returning to play for the purple and gold. With nearly half of the season left, there is still time for Reaves to have a successful year and give the Lakers the best chance at being playoff contenders. You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.