Jeanie Buss Reportedly Felt LeBron James Wasn't 'Grateful' for Bronny Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was able to fulfill his dream of playing with his son, Bronny, after the team selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, but the person responsible for the pick reportedly didn't feel appreciated.

According to ESPN's Baxter Holmes, "people close to the team" revealed that former Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss "privately remarked that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he wasn't."

Buss issued a statement to The Athletic in response to the reporting:

"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," Buss said. "To say that it wasn't appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him."

Bronny James had less than a year of college experience before entering the 2024 draft, as his freshman year at USC was limited to 25 games after he suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect in July 2023. He's made a minimal impact since turning pro, appearing in 51 total games over the last two seasons and registering a career average of 1.9 points per game.

The elder James is known to be nearing the end of his legendary career, but he's still playing at a high level at 41 years old. After helping to lead the Lakers to an NBA championship in 2020, he solidified his place in the franchise's storied history, which likely played a part in the decision to appease him by drafting Bronny.

Despite James' impact on the Lakers, Holmes noted that in 2022, Buss "privately mused about not giving James a contract extension and, later that year, even about trading James, with the LA Clippers floated as a possibility." She later "almost begrudgingly" signed him to a contract extension in 2024 that included a no-trade clause.

The Lakers were sold to billionaire businessman Mark Walter in October at a $10 billion valuation. The Buss family retained a minority share of the franchise at just over 15 percent, and Jeanie Buss remains in place as the team's governor for the time being.

The Lakers improved to 26-16 this season with a 115-107 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night and will return to action on Thursday against the Clippers.