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“It’s a Big IF”: LeBron James’ Surge for Another NBA Title Gets Downplayed by His Harshest Critic

Published 04/25/2023, 10:03 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The Lakers’ victory was spearheaded by a remarkable performance from LeBron James, who forced overtime with a game-tying basket with only 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation time. He then scored four critical points in overtime, securing the Lakers’ win. While some fans consider James to be the greatest of all time, Bron’s harshest critic has something to say about him yet again. 

In the Monday night game, while King James stood out, he was not the only Lakers player to contribute to the win. Austin Reaves delivered a career-high 23 points, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. Anthony Davis also played a critical role in overtime, scoring five significant points to help the Lakers secure the victory. After the marvelous win against the Grizzlies, Skip Bayless had a few words for the All-Time top scorer.

LeBron James’ harshest critic gives an opinion on his GOAT status

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Skip Bayless, the 71-year-old sports commentator, revealed his all-time top 10 list for NBA players, placing Michael Jordan at number one and LeBron James at ninth. In a recent episode of the Skip Bayless Show, he explained that if James leads the Lakers to another NBA title, he could see him moving up to eighth on his list. In his exact words, “If, and it’s a big IF, LeBron carries the Lakers to another title, I could see him jumping to 8th on my all-time Top 10 list.”

Bayless listed Magic Johnson as second, Shaquille O’Neal as third, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as fourth, followed by Tim Duncan, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant, and Larry Bird respectively, with Wilt Chamberlain as tenth on his list. 

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Despite Bayless’ comments, LeBron James has consistently been regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his impressive record speaks for itself. Whether he moves up on Bayless’ list or not, James has etched his name in bold in the history of the sport. 

The Lakers overcome adversity to secure a game 4 victory against the Grizzlies

During the game on Monday night, the Lakers faced difficulties during the game, finding themselves down by seven points with only five minutes remaining in regulation. However, the LA side showed their tenacity and will to win, sparked by a surge that was ignited by D’Angelo Russell’s three straight 3-pointers. From that point on, they never fell behind in overtime, demonstrating their resilience.

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Watch this story: “LeBron James, James Harden, Trae Young, and Others Give Lionel Messi His Flowers After Argentia’s Worldcup Win”

Desmond Bane’s incredible 36 points and game-tying layup in the closing seconds of regulation propelled the Grizzlies’ courageous effort and gave his side a chance to win. Memphis will probably put up a determined attempt to save their season, but the Lakers will need to retain their composure if they want to advance to the next phase of the playoffs.

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Written by:

Nivedita Dubey

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Nivedita Dubey is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports who is deeply invested in the strategic intricacies of basketball. She has been following the NBA since her early teens and is always up-to-date with the latest news and updates in the league. Nivedita's ability to provide insightful analysis and predictions for upcoming games is commendable, and she has covered various events including All-Star Games and NCAA matches.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra