Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss Appears To Shade LeBron James On Twitter
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is LeBron James' double-dipping into general manager duties for X team employing the basketball legend.
While the Southland currently shows its support for LeBron's influence in yet another offseason bid for an All-Star teammate, Lakers ownership doesn't appear quite as happy with LeBron's control in free agency.
Amid rumors of the Lakers' interest in trading for Brooklyn Nets guard, and former LBJ teammate, Kyrie Irving, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss put out a cryptic tweet that appeared to shade LeBron's leverage on the team's free-agency moves with a call-back to Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.
In her tweet, Buss noted that she missed Bryant's vision of putting "team over self," which on its surface delivered a stark contrast to LeBron's front office oversight.
On Sunday, Buss tweeted, "I miss KB. He would understand and explain everything that I'm not allowed to. Honestly he was the greatest Laker ever. He understood team over self. Meaning your rewards would come if you valued team goals over your own then everything would fall into place. All can reply."
Another Laker that may be taking issue with LeBron's efforts to trade for Irving is Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook's bloated contract and lack of chemistry with the Lakers, in his sole year with the team in 2021, was probable cause for general manager Rob Pelinka to get the boot after a 33-49 season, but the 14-year veteran now serves as the main bargaining chip for LA to land Irving — even if optimism over a successful deal between both teams tapers off by the day.
Though Kobe will forever be lauded for his leadership in building championship-caliber teams, Buss' oddly-timed tweet couldn't help but read as a direct hit on LeBron's eagerness to move players around, often at the discomfort of his team's front office.
After 19 seasons, LeGM is eyeing what seems to be his final stretch of basketball, with one of his NBA bucket list items including playing on the same NBA team as son Bronny James.
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