The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped six of their past 10 games and criticism of the team ramped up Thursday after the Los Angeles Clippers knocked off their crosstown rival.

After the team’s latest loss, LeBron James addressed the ESPN report that detailed Lakers governor Jeanie Buss’ apparent frustrations with the four-time NBA champion. According to the report, internal Buss family disputes led to the majority stake of the franchise being sold to Mark Walter last year.

James pushed back against any suggestion that he had been at odds with Buss. 

“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that or the reports or whatever the case may be,” James said Thursday.

In addition to the alleged Buss family drama, the report floated multiple possible rifts between James and Buss, including the minority owner’s apparent belief that the four-time league MVP received excessive credit for the Lakers’ 2020 NBA title. Buss was also reportedly disappointed in James’ reaction after the Lakers selected his son, Bronny James, in the 2024 NBA Draft.

James’ level of involvement in decisions about Russell Westbrook was also mentioned in the report.

Buss addressed the report, saying in a statement, “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,” she said Thursday. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”

LEBRON JAMES’ UNPRECEDENTED ALL-STAR STREAK COMES TO AN END AFTER 22 YEARS AS GAME STATUS HANGS IN BALANCE

James said he joined the Lakers eight years ago to return the franchise to its former glory.

“At the end of the day, when I came to this organization, my whole mindset was about restoring excellence,” James said. “The things that I seen growing up with the Lakers — obviously, I didn’t get an opportunity to watch Showtime, but I know the history. 

“Then the early 2000s with Shaq [O’Neal] and [Kobe Bryant], and then what Kob did and those couple runs with him and Pau [Gasol]. So, my whole mindset was like, ‘How can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization?’

“And then I was able to do that along with, you know, 14, 16 other guys winning the championship, bringing the championship here.”

James also made it clear what he cares about.

“Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I don’t care about stories. I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of s—. It don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. 

“I don’t care how somebody feel about me. If you know me personally, then you know what I’m about. These guys know what I’m about, and that’s all that matters. I could care less how someone feel about me.” 

James said it’s typical for him to not be in close communication with Buss but asserted the pair have remained on the same page.

“I don’t understand. It’s not like me and Jeanie be on the phone talking, guys. I never heard a report about that. Don’t make something out of it that it’s not. It’s always been mutual. It’s always been respect. It’s always been a great partnership.”

James exercised the player option in his contract last offseason. It is unclear whether his run with the Lakers will conclude this upcoming summer, when he is scheduled to enter free agency after the 2025-26 season.

The Lakers resume action on Saturday when they take on the Mavericks in Dallas.

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Charlie Adams, a sophomore guard for Cleveland High, might have a future as a coach the way he recognized a weakness in Birmingham’s defense Friday night to key an 81-70 victory that gave the Cavaliers first place in the West Valley League.

Cleveland held a 37-35 halftime lead. In the third quarter Adams saw that Birmingham wasn’t stopping him from drives down the middle for layups.

“I kept going,” he said. “Don’t stop what’s working.”

He made six layups in the quarter and finished with 20 points. It was a team effort from Cleveland (13-8, 4-0), which showed how difficult it will be to beat the Cavaliers in the Open Division playoffs when they are being unselfish and getting multiple players involved. Sergine Deme, a 6-foot-8 center, came alive in the second half with his rebounding and finished with 18 points. TJ Wansa had 16 points and Harout Posheyan added 12 points.

“We executed the game plan — play together,” Cleveland coach Dagem Asfaw said.

Birmingham (13-5, 3-1) received productive games from X’zavion McKay, who scored 25 points, and Tekeio Phillips, who had 21 points.

Harvey Kitani is surrounded by his players after earning his 1,000th career victory on Friday night at Mater Dei in Rolling Hills Prep’s 60-45 win over Bishop Gorman.

(Nick Koza)

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Rolling Hills Prep 60, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman 45: Harvey Kitani earned his 1,000th victory, joining Gary McKnight of Mater Dei and Mike LeDuc of Damien as the only coaches in state history to reach that mark. Kitani spent 35 years at Fairfax before moving to Rolling Hills Prep. Nick Welch Jr. scored 15 points and had 17 rebounds.

Chatsworth 72, Taft 58: Aaron Krueger finished with 31 points in the West Valley League win.

Fairfax 67, University 28: Kentrayl Roberson scored 20 points for Fairfax.

Washington Prep 100, Crenshaw 53: Jayshawn Kibble scored 38 points and Bricyn Coleman had 30 points for Washington Prep.

Orange Lutheran 94, Los Altos 57: Josh King scored 27 points and Noah Zeola added 21 points for the Lancers.

Calabasas 58, Westlake 48: Cayde Rooke led Calabasas with 13 points.

Thousand Oaks 55, Oaks Christian 52: The Lancers pulled out the Marmonte League win in overtime.

St. Bernard 64, St. Monica 56: Jordan Ballard had 25 points and Brandon Granger scored 23 points in the Del Rey League win.

Chaminade 83, Bishop Alemany 82: Temi Olafisoye led the Eagles with 20 points.

Moorpark 90, Simi Valley 71: Logan Stotts, back from an injury, poured in 30 points for Moorpark.

West Ranch 70, Canyon Country Canyon 67: Isaac Yuhico had 24 points for Canyon.

La Habra 70, Cypress 67: The Highlanders improved to 20-6 and 5-1 in league.

Redondo Union 92, Wiseburn Da Vinci 26: Chace Holley led a balanced attack with 19 points.

Crossroads 80, Viewpoint 50: Evan Willis scored 20 points and Shalen Sheppard had 18 for Crossroads.

Campbell Hall 60, Windward 57: Chris Paul II had 21 points and Ean Britt had 15 points and eight rebounds in the Gold Coast League upset.

Girls’ basketball

Birmingham 79, Cleveland 52: Belinda Hernandez had 21 points for the Patriots (19-3, 3-0).

Mater Dei 68, Bishop Gorman 64: The Monarchs improved to 20-4.

An Australian Open match quickly turned personal for Yulia Putintseva.

The Kazakh went against Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, who apparently had the home crowd by her side.

Much of the crowd was filled with Turkish flags for the match, but the fans went home disappointed after Putintseva earned a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory.

Upon jeers from the crowd following the win, Putintseva cupped her hand to her ear to mock the fans, resulting in loud boos.

After shaking hands with Sonmez, she then danced provocatively near her bench.

“Honestly, it was a really crazy atmosphere here. Look at them (Turkish fans). They’re very passionate about what they’re doing. It’s very great to see, especially against me, because I love this kind of battle.”

While her comments on the fans were in good spirits, she took a shot at the fans off the court after claiming they had been disrespectful.

EX-AMERICAN TENNIS STARS RIP REPORTER OVER QUESTION TO AMANDA ANISIMOVA

“What can I do? It’s just some people have education of tennis and, unfortunately, some of them not,” she told reporters, via the New York Post. “But I’m very happy that I kept my calm, because Yulia last year would probably throw something at them.”

Putintseva’s best world ranking is 20th, which she earned last year. This is the furthest she has advanced at the Australian Open. She has also reached the quarterfinals of both the French Open and the U.S. Open. She has three WTA titles to her name.

Putintseva will take on American Iva Jovic on Saturday.

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