This offseason is a critical one for the Los Angeles Lakers and controlling owner Jeanie Buss.
They have LeBron James under contract for one more year before he can become a free agent. And after consecutive disappointing seasons, they have a lot of decisions to make on how best to improve a roster with very little cap flexibility. Latest reports have LA tied to James’ former teammate Kyrie Irving.
All of that brings us to a tweet that Buss fired off late Sunday night about missing Kobe Bryant. Her mention of how much Bryant valued team goals over self interests left the internet in a frenzy. Was this truly a homage to Bryant, or was it a passive-aggressive message to someone else?
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.
— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) July 4, 2022
Cue the Brian Windhorst memes.
https://t.co/DJkdDWmYPepic.twitter.com/3MnfvGeZMQ
— Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) July 4, 2022
This is such a layered tweet, especially in the midst of free agency. Why did you say this, Jeanie? https://t.co/5vO7Jdj1wLpic.twitter.com/ma4zwmGppW
— . (@Geespn) July 4, 2022
People in the comments trying to make this a shot at LeBron https://t.co/48PWeGAJhrpic.twitter.com/Fengvdu1Oo
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) July 4, 2022
Curious timing … https://t.co/0h8MPnuLUN
— Jim_Alexander (@Jim_Alexander) July 4, 2022
What is going on in LA https://t.co/WEAMBQzBBwpic.twitter.com/ODrETS7Jmw
— Berachah (15-6 ♦️♠️) (@bdubose__) July 4, 2022
Interesting comment on a late Sunday with Kyrie Irving rumors all over the place. The Buss family are the greatest family owned franchise in sports. Some could also read into this that given reported financial limitations, maybe greatest team move is to sell for good of Lakers 🤷🏻♂️
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) July 4, 2022
THE HELL IS THIS???? https://t.co/34hWouuA9W
— Jason Maples (@JJMaples55_MST) July 4, 2022
We miss Kobe too, but mam? https://t.co/iToEgAvqedpic.twitter.com/0tnHh5yipG
— Bongeka Mfeka (@BongekaVMfeka) July 4, 2022
Very strange tweet. Very strange tweet. https://t.co/polvU7U0h7pic.twitter.com/1xYxLBBKmG
— Sam (@YAnunoby) July 4, 2022
“Team over self”
Do whatever it takes to seal the Kyrie deal. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/GK9crIcT75
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) July 4, 2022
You can miss Kobe without this revisionist history just to throw thinly veiled shots.
– I don’t need to remind you what KB’s & Shaq’s relationship was like or how it ended.
– Kobe demanded a trade more than once when he didn’t like his team or their direction.Just be direct. https://t.co/bFCXUNdDw8
— Letting Go (@ProvideContext) July 4, 2022
Now this makes one wonder, who is this a shot at https://t.co/Y1wcxg65fGpic.twitter.com/UGExC8JxSC
— Southside's Own (@FlowsAndolini) July 4, 2022
LeBron: https://t.co/oGmTiNgGKqpic.twitter.com/WbExaodrtr
— the gambler (@RumhamFrank) July 4, 2022
What is happening ?? https://t.co/UqHn08tEtopic.twitter.com/JRo3M9ByIU
— David Vega (@DavidVe64270691) July 4, 2022
Jeanie girl https://t.co/jmcTnD2aYLpic.twitter.com/FcXBOatGGN
— The Feds (@Sophia_Loren89) July 4, 2022
This tweet is hilarious for 2000 reasons https://t.co/5uINto82dQ
— Kev (@klew24) July 4, 2022
whats going on in LA https://t.co/U47E0efB7Bpic.twitter.com/8sD2aUACRD
— Isaiah (@NotIsaiah__) July 4, 2022
Why is an owner tweeting passive aggressive stuff about their players who are currently on the roster. Also why are you bringing up Kobe to make a point like this. This is a bad look. Keep this stuff internal even if it’s really how you feel. https://t.co/5OXDhHvu4Q
— Los’ (@Ufeelme510) July 4, 2022
"Now, why would Jeanie tweet this?" https://t.co/dO5q4QkB76pic.twitter.com/PlBhCdiV7N
— Unbiased NBA Fan (@nonbiasednbafan) July 4, 2022
I’m not interested in Jeanie Buss, or if her tweet was meant as an insult to LeBron James; but with all due respect to Kobe Bryant, the greatest LA Lakers player of all time is Magic Johnson. https://t.co/tronAX1Gkg
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) July 4, 2022
Jeanie can’t wait for Klutch and their affiliates to exit her franchise https://t.co/xaVU04LMLy
— jeremiah (@th3_prophet) July 4, 2022