LeBron James’ Threat to Rob Pelinka & Jeanie Buss Falls Flat as He Faces New Reality

Aug 9, 2025 | 7:26 AM PDT

Nothing is working on LA’s front office as LeBron James continues to be pas
sively aggressive

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Lakers Talk’s Andy Kamenetzky cracked open the
vault of LeBron James’ mind, right as he steps into a role he has never be
en in before in 22 seasons.

You see, he was working out in front of a Clippers logo, and he also congrat
ulated Brandon Weems on being promoted to Assistant GM of the Cavs. Suspicio
us? “This is, to me, this is about when you are being passive-aggressive. T
he best thing about being a passive-aggressive is you could walk around and
pretend like, ‘I didn’t do anything. I didn’t actually say anything,” Sh
elbourne slammed.

Meanwhile, Kamenetzky chipped in. And he said, “LeBron always sets himself
up in these things with plausible deniability. And again, it gets back to ho
w calculated it is. I think the problem, though, for LeBron is that you do a
ll of this stuff because you’re trying to create a threat involved with you
r exit.” But the problem is that the threat doesn’t carry as much power as
it used to. “The problem for LeBron right now is that they have Luka. I’m
not saying that LeBron leaving wouldn’t be a big deal. By definition, it’
s a big deal, and he’s still a great player. But it’s not going to get the
Lakers to panic the way it might have before Luka was there.”

“This is the first time in his career where a team has the exit ramp before he does. I’m not even saying the Lakers are trying to drive 100 miles an hour towards the exit ramp,” the Lakers insider strongly pointed out. “I don’t think it’s impossible that LeBron could be on the Lakers past the 2026 season. I’m just saying they clearly have an exit ramp, and he doesn’t. And I think for the first time in his career, he doesn’t know what to do.”

She said, “LeBron has been the king. Dubbed himself the king. He is known as King James, right? Kings do not ask for your love and affection. They demand it. It is their birthright. And so I don’t think he has shifted his thinking, even since he got to LA. He has demanded it because he’s just that good.” The ESPN reporter added, “Because you will give it to him whether he asked for it or not. He is that good. Anybody will do anything to get him on their team.”

“Now you’re asking for them to love you. God save the king, whatever you want to say. But it’s not coming back towards him like that. People aren’t falling all over themselves like they usually do.”
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