Lakers' Jeanie Buss Says She Gets LeBron James' Frustration: 'We're All Frustrated'

The Los Angeles Lakers are having another disappointing season, and it's been hard to cope with for many, including four-time NBA champion LeBron James.

James has been vocal about his frustrations with the team this season, and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss sympathized with the veteran in a recent appearance on Stephen A. Smith's podcast (h/t HoopsHype):

"Unless he's winning, he's not gonna be happy. That's him. That's what drives him and I could see why he would be frustrated. We're all frustrated. When you know we're down four starters and he's our only remaining starter, he's got to show up and play. The burdens on him and he picks everybody up when he plays."

James is chasing more championship rings, and it has become clear that the Purple and Gold aren't going to help him achieve that goal, at least this season.

Since winning his fourth title in 2020, the Lakers have been, simply put, awful. During the 2021-22 campaign, the team finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record. This season, L.A. sits 13th with a 23-28 record.

Individually, however, James has been competing at an All-Star level. Through 40 games he's averaging 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 31.2 percent from deep.

Given all that, the four-time MVP's patience is beginning to wear thin.

The Lakers have been searching for some help ahead of the NBA's Feb. 9 trade deadline. They already acquired Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards last week, but that alone won't vault the Purple and Gold into a playoff spot.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka hinted after the Hachimura deal that more moves could be coming. However, the team is limited in what it can do because of the significant salaries of James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

Even with some other moves, it's hard to envision the Lakers contending for a Finals berth alongside the likes of the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors this year.

James is under contract through the 2024-25 season but has a player option for the final year. If he feels the Purple and Gold won't field a contending roster through the length of his deal, it's possible he'll want to compete for a title elsewhere.

That said, James has never hinted that he would like to be traded, and the Lakers should be able to build a better roster entering the 2023-24 campaign once Westbrook's contract comes off the books at the end of this season.