USA Today via Reuters
Jan 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to an official after being called for a foul during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to an official after being called for a foul during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Reaching 40,000 points is no easy feat. In that process, LeBron James also became the only NBA player to do so. Seems exceptional right? Well, sometimes it is not enough for some people.
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I may be the only one to tell the truth about LeBron. He’s not Michael Jordan and it’s not even close. It’s offensive to suggest that LeBron is better than Jordan. https://t.co/hEwbTbNVIL
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 10, 2024
The quoted tweet had a video from the latest episode of The Skip Bayless Show. He said about LeBron, “Playing longer doesn’t make you more valuable.” A fan asked him if Bayless will change his top 10 rankings after King James achieved his recent milestone. To which he said, “No, I’m not gonna do it.”
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Bayless reveals the reason why LeBron James will never be #1 on his list
Before answering the question, Bayless went on to explain why the 39-year-old still has keyholes in his game. He continued “It’s always perplexed me, mystified me how a LeBron James who always posts and gloats so much about he’s in the lab. Never got in the free throw lab. I don’t know why. Maybe he did, maybe it just didn’t work. Maybe that’s just one gift he was not blessed with.”
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Western Conference forward LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to media before the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports
He questioned why the 4-time champion did not hire a shooting coach. His stats would have been around 80% if he tried working with a coach. He answered the fan’s question, “Here’s my answer before 40,000 points. I had LeBron James ninth on my all-time list after 40,000 points. I still have LeBron ninth on my all-time list because playing longer does not make you better or more valuable.”
"Playing longer does NOT make you better.” — @RealSkipBayless on why LeBron < Jordan, even after his scoring record pic.twitter.com/oZYhjX8R5n
— The Skip Bayless Show (@SkipBaylessShow) March 7, 2024
Bayless compared LeBron James to Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, and his number 1 pick Jordan. “And you want me to elevate LeBron in my all-time top 10 above Larry Bird, one of the great closers in the history of basketball and Kobe Bryant don’t mess with him late in games. Mamba. Seriously. No, I’m not gonna do it. Magic Jordan. No, no, I’m sorry.40,000 is 40,000 all time. Legit, excuse me, longevity. Achievement. But just playing longer doesn’t make you more valuable. No. Sorry. Tell me I’m wrong about anything I just said.”
Bayless does bring up a valid point of LeBron James not being good on free throws and missing his opportunity to increase points. But do you agree with his assessment of King James, or do you feel there is a hint of some bias in his tone?
Written by
Edited by
Caroline Joseph