Rusty Weiss
LeBron James reportedly threw another fit after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to hand him the game ball on a historic night. Because they didn’t do enough to honor his legacy … or something.
In a March 31 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leader in total wins (regular season and playoffs combined).
Instead of celebrating the King’s latest milestone, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka gave the commemorative game ball to first-year head coach JJ Redick, who had just notched his 100th career coaching victory.
You don’t want to anger the king. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.
LEBRON JAMES WANTS OUT OF LA OVER A GAME BALL!?
— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) May 13, 2026
“Rob Pelinka comes into the locker room and gives the game ball to JJ Redick. LeBron James then called friends, ‘Why wasn’t I honored?!’” — Craig Carton@craigcartonlive @TyJohnsonNews #NBA #Lakers #LeBronJames pic.twitter.com/7blmXVVz0f
LeBron Throws Another Tantrum After Lakers Honor Coach Over His Historic Milestone
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, LeBron viewed the snub as yet another sign that the Lakers take him for granted despite everything he’s done for the franchise — including delivering a championship in 2020.
“Adding to James’ ire,” McMenamin writes, “was the fact that the past dozen or so wins in that stretch came with James willingly taking a supporting offensive role behind Doncic and Austin Reaves.”
So, you see, he was owed some recognition.
Sources say the slight bothered him so much that he stormed out of the arena without even changing out of his uniform. The episode has fueled fresh speculation about growing tension between LeBron and the front office as he heads toward free agency at age 41.
Considering how many patches the club made for LeBron throughout the season, some for significant milestones, others not so much, you’d think he’d be able to overlook one minor oversight. They made a “legacy” patch showing him doing his famous chalk toss, for God’s sake.
Whether it’s a minor grievance blown out of proportion or a symptom of more serious issues, this latest LeBron drama fits a familiar pattern. The self-proclaimed King once again seems more focused on personal validation than team milestones.
Remember, this is a guy who forced the Lakers to draft his son, Bronny, who has zero NBA-caliber skills, and then didn’t show the club any appreciation for the move.
LeBron James last shot with the Lakers was a brick with the game on the line 💔 pic.twitter.com/8DlklvZucg
— Land of Lowlights (@LoLowlights) May 12, 2026
An explosive ESPN report published in January shed new light on behind-the-scenes tensions within the Lakers organization, revealing that former controlling owner Jeanie Buss privately expressed frustration with LeBron over what she perceived as his “outsized ego” and lack of gratitude.
Throwing away a draft pick on Bronny, which allowed the elder James to fulfill his long-stated dream of playing alongside his son on the Lakers roster, reportedly became a flashpoint for Buss.
According to people familiar with the situation, she privately remarked that LeBron should have shown more appreciation for the “gesture” of drafting Bronny, but felt he offered little thanks in return.
Jeanie, according to the report, initially “didn’t like that James was considered a savior for a floundering franchise when he arrived in 2018,” and things got worse when they traded for Russell Westbrook “in an effort to appease James.”
“And when the Lakers drafted James’ son Bronny with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Jeanie privately remarked that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he wasn’t, people close to the team told ESPN,” the report reads.
They bent over backward for the guy, and he still stomped out of the arena when they tried to show some love for his coach on one night.
Lakers fans are left wondering how much longer the franchise will keep bending the knee to King James’ fragile ego before the whole thing finally blows up.
