​Savannah James, LeBron James’s wife, is defending her husband amid the recent scrutiny surrounding his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. In a Tuesday, July 7 episode of Savannah’s podcast, Everybody’s Crazy, the 39-year-old mother of three acknowledged the inevitable criticisms that come with LeBron’s high-profile career, noting that there’s little anyone can do to silence the critics entirely.
Co-host April McDaniel highlighted the couple’s fortunate, largely positive circle, even as social media and LeBron’s fame naturally bring negativity. “Being such an icon, how negative people can be,” McDaniel remarked, and Savannah agreed, echoing the sentiment. McDaniel added that this period appears to be the most vocal she’s seen LeBron, suggesting he’s signaling that he’s in his own lane when it comes to how he’s viewed among NBA greats. Savannah reflected that many people have built careers around discussing LeBron, but when you’re on the other side of the commentary, the reality is often different—“No, it’s not,” she said, noting that some people profit from making others’ opinions their livelihood.
This conversation comes just days after LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, confirmed to ESPN on June 30 that the basketball star would be parting ways with the Lakers after an eight-season run that included his championship during the 2020 season held in the COVID-19 bubble. During his tenure with the Lakers, LeBron broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular-season scoring record on February 7, 2023, and later surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s career field goal record, as well as becoming the first player to exceed 40,000 career points.
Beyond the statistical feats, LeBron had the opportunity to play alongside the couple’s 21-year-old son, Bronny, who joined the Lakers in 2024. Their pairing made history as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
In the wake of LeBron’s decision to leave, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) praising his contributions. “LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Buss wrote. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers—including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.” LeBron replied shortly after, writing, “No, THANK YOU! Truly an honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continue the greatness,” underscoring his gratitude and continued ambition.