LeBron on Buss report: 'Don't care how somebody feels about me' - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James says he accomplished his goal of «restoring excellence» to the Los Angeles Lakers organization by winning a championship in his tenure with the club and «doesn't care» what anyone — including team governor Jeanie Buss — feels about him at this stage of his life.

James made the comments Thursday following a 112-104 loss to the LA Clippers when he was asked about a story published this week by ESPN's Baxter Holmes that explored the Buss family dynamics leading up to the franchise's sale to billionaire Mark Walter in June. The story included reporting on the allegedly strained relationship between Jeanie Buss and James.

The story detailed discord bubbling between Buss and James when he arrived as a free agent in 2018, for how the four-time MVP was «considered a savior for a floundering franchise,» rather than Buss and the Lakers being lauded for landing him.

A significant point of tension detailed in the story was the fallout from the failed Russell Westbrook trade, which caused Buss to «privately bristle» for how James did not take accountability for the move.

There was so much friction following the Westbrook debacle that, according to multiple people cited in Holmes story, Buss «privately mused» about not offering James a contract extension in 2022 and later floated the possibility of trading James to the Clippers.

James had a different perspective when asked about his partnership with Buss.

«I thought it was good, but, you know, somebody could see it another way,» James said. «It's always two sides of the coin.… 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