Overview of Real Ones — "Jeanie Beefing With LeBron? Plus, Drama Brewing on Broadway."
Hosts Logan Murdock and Roger (with guests Howard Beck and Raja Bell) discuss three main NBA storylines: the ESPN/Baxter Holmes report about the Buss family and friction between Jeanie Buss, LeBron James and Rich Paul; the New York Knicks' internal struggles after a blowout and Jalen Brunson calling a players-only meeting; and the Golden State Warriors' ongoing chemistry problems centered around Jonathan Kuminga, Steve Kerr and ownership. The episode closes with “Real One(s) of the Week.”
Major segments
Jeanie Buss / LeBron / Rich Paul (Lakers drama)
- Context: Baxter Holmes (ESPN) published a long piece on Buss family infighting that includes an anecdote that Jeanie Buss said LeBron wasn’t grateful for the Lakers drafting Bronny.
- Public responses quoted in the episode:
- Jeanie/representation: “It’s not right… to pull LeBron into my family drama… To say that he wasn't appreciated… is not true and completely unfair.”
- Rich Paul (on his podcast): “There's an article written every day. Who gives a shit?… Where there's smoke, there's fire.”
- Howard Beck’s read:
- Noted absence of formal denials or factual rebuttals to Baxter’s reporting; that silence gives the story credibility.
- Tension between LeBron’s camp and the Lakers front office/ownership has been visible for years (e.g., the Russell Westbrook experiment).
- A key turning point: last year’s acquisition of Luka (context implies Luka as the new organizational centerpiece) reduced LeBron’s leverage and shifted the power dynamic.
- LeBron is reportedly a free agent at season’s end, was not extended last summer; separation between player and franchise leadership appears likely.
- Broader theme: LeBron helped define the player-empowerment era; his waning control at the Lakers may be an example of the transition that happens when a generational superstar ages.
Notable point: The hosts recommend reading Baxter Holmes’s long piece for the full reporting and nuance.
Knicks — Jalen Brunson’s players-only meeting
- Trigger: Knicks were routed (blown out) at home, then booed at Madison Square Garden; Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting.
- What a players-only meeting signals:
- Usually a sign things aren’t going well (not a casual dinner); often used when players feel the need to address team problems without coaches present.
- Can indicate a disconnect between coach and players; a last-resort leadership move.
- Concerns discussed:
- Coaching-player messaging balance: calling players out publicly can be a last resort that fractures relationships.
- Specific player issues: Brunson’s ankle affecting defense; Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) struggling offensively and defensively — hosts speculate this could be psychological and symptomatic of deeper issues.
- Outcome depends on locker-room culture and leadership — such meetings can either recalibrate a team or prefigure a longer decline.
Warriors — Jonathan Kuminga, Kerr vs. ownership, and organizational toxicity
- Incident described: Kuminga inserted in late/garbage-time minutes scored 20 in the second half in one game, producing loud owner/bench reactions (Joe Lacob celebrating) and visible tension with Steve Kerr.
- Diagnosis:
- Multiple sources of tension: player/camp vs. coaching, coaching vs. ownership, and overall roster friction (including the Draymond/Kerr dynamic historically).
- Hosts say this appears “toxic” and mismanaged: if the team didn’t want Kuminga, they should’ve pursued a trade earlier when market value existed.
- Joe Lacob’s public enthusiasm for Kuminga reveals internal disagreement about player evaluation/handling.
- Larger worry: cumulative small slights and mismanagement are how successful eras/dynasties break down; Steph Curry is collateral damage in a tense environment.
- Broader organizational consequence: talk that Steve Kerr may not want to be in this environment long-term; absence of stabilizing figure like Bob Myers exacerbates problems.
Real One(s) of the Week
- Main pick: Kurt Signetti (head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers) — credited for winning the college football championship (as presented on the show).
- Runner-up: Fernando Mendoza — lauded for perseverance and impact in the title run.
- Personal pick: Naomi Osaka — praised after a contentious entrance/outfit at the Australian Open and criticized by parts of the tennis crowd; hosts defended her and applauded her handling.
Key takeaways
- The Lakers story is less about a single quote and more about a structural power shift: LeBron’s influence within the Lakers organization has declined and that has real roster/contract implications going forward.
- Public statements that don’t deny reporting can be read as tacit acceptance; absence of direct rebuttal matters in high-profile disputes.
- Players-only meetings are a visible symptom of dysfunction — they highlight leadership gaps and possible coach-player disconnects and can predict either course correction or deeper issues.
- The Warriors’ Kuminga situation exemplifies how mismatched expectations between player, coach and ownership can create a toxic environment that undermines team performance and long-term cohesion.
- Player empowerment’s legacy is complicated: LeBron (and others like Kawhi/KD) changed the balance of power in the NBA, but that power is situational and can ebb with age and changing roster contexts.
Recommended next steps / what to read/watch
- Read Baxter Holmes’s in-depth ESPN piece on the Buss family/Lakers for full reporting and chronology (episode repeatedly references its comprehensiveness).
- Watch upcoming Lakers offseason activity (LeBron’s contract status, potential roster reallocation around the new centerpiece).
- Track Knicks developments: how the players-only meeting translates to on-court changes and coach-player relationships.
- Monitor Warriors front-office moves and public messaging around Kuminga and Steve Kerr’s standing.
- For context on young-player empowerment trends, keep an eye on how this generation of stars (Jokic, Giannis, Tatum, Edwards, etc.) handle leverage versus the model set by LeBron/Kawhi/KD.
Notable quotes from the episode:
- Jeannie’s line quoted: “To say that he wasn't appreciated just is not true and completely unfair to him.”
- Rich Paul’s line: “There's an article written every day. Who gives a shit?… Where there's smoke, there's fire.”
- Howard Beck: “You haven’t refuted anything, guys… in the absence of that, the story has weight.”