LeBron James' Relationship With Lakers Hasn't Recovered Since One Dreadful Trade, Per Reports

After LeBron James decided not to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, many reports of a strained relationship between him and the organization have surfaced.

It has been confirmed that James and the Lakers no longer see eye to eye, which has led the King to test free agency this season. Apparently, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha, their fractured relationship stems from an earlier trade the Lakers made for LeBron.

"LeBron James’ relationship with the Lakers hasn’t recovered since the failed Russell Westbrook trade," Buha reported.

Back in 2021, during the offseason, the Washington Wizards traded Russell Westbrook to the Lakers. James specifically requested this trade to form a big three among himself, Russ, and Anthony Davis.

However, key pieces like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma were sent to Washington in exchange. Then Alex Caruso decided to join the Chicago Bulls in 2021 because the Lakers couldn't match the contract the Bulls offered him.

According to Buha, it was after the departure of these three valuable players, who helped the Lakers win an NBA championship in 2020, that James' relationship with the team began drifting apart.

In the 2021-2022 season, Russ had a huge adjustment phase, trying to find his identity with the team. It was the first time he played next to another superstar who was ball-dominant like him. James and Westbrook's chemistry was off, which is why they never accomplished their championship aspirations together.

Ultimately, the Lakers organization had to make a decision and traded Westbrook in the middle of the 2022-23 season to the Utah Jazz. He later signed with the LA Clippers in a buyout agreement. But at that point, there had been rumors that the Lakers' management was also growing tired of fulfilling James' requests.

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook Have a Fractured Relationship

In a 2025 report written on Complex, Bernadette Giacomazzo shared that what made Russell Westbrook's experience with the Los Angeles Lakers was LeBron James. Giacomazzo confirmed that the New York Times revealed that Westbrook sees James as a "fake" individual.

For instance, there came a time when James would publicly tell the media to stop hating on Westbrook and allow him to play his game. However, Russ himself confirmed that Bron's words weren't genuine, given how it never felt like it was the case.

"I think nobody understands what that means," Westbrook told reporters in 2021 regarding James' 'Let Russ be Russ' phrase. "That wasn’t true. So let’s be honest."

Westbrook also confirmed that James has a tendency to wear several masks depending on who he's facing. At the start of the 2022-23 season, the Lakers had a terrible 0-3 start. This led to early frustrations between James and the team.

When Hollywood actor Will Smith announced his visit to the Lakers facility, Westbrook mentioned how James was the first to walk out and wanted no part in the activity with the actor. But when former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham convinced the King to come back, he immediately masked his frustrations with big smiles while Smith was around.

Westbrook hated how insincere James was and didn't appreciate the act he was putting up.

"I hate that fake s**t," Westbrook said. "I just can't do it."

Fast forward to 2025, Westbrook confirmed in another interview that his falling out with James was permanent, and the two of them never buried the hatchet since.