Skip Bayless has been ripping LeBron James for more than a decade. The veteran sports pundit isn’t a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and believes Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history.
On ESPN and FS1, Bayless has bashed LeBron left and right for several things. However, the controversial sports personality once said 10 nice things about LeBron after losing a bet to GQ writer Mark Anthony Green, who just so happens to be a huge fan of LeBron.
In February 2020, Green came on “Undisputed” and made a bet with Bayless that if LeBron reached the 2020 NBA Finals, Bayless would have to say 10 nice things about LeBron.
When Bayless lost the bet, he said many nice things about LeBron.
“No. 1: LeBron James was the greatest high school basketball player ever — even greater than Lew Alcindor,” Bayless said. “No. 2: No player in the history of the National Basketball Association has stood up better to an NBA debut expectations the way LeBron James did at Sacramento the night of October 29th, 2003 … No. 3: Since LeBron James has entered the NBA, he has been the best passer in basketball.”
Bayless doesn’t like LeBron. He’ll never admit it, but it’s clear as day that Bayless has some personal vendetta against LeBron.
When LeBron signed with the Miami Heat in 2010 to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Bayless — along with every pundit in America — called it a weak move. Everyone wanted to see LeBron take the Jordan route and compete against the NBA’s best players instead of playing with them.
In the 2011 NBA Finals, LeBron choked against the Dallas Mavericks. Bayless had a field day during the summer of 2011, as he ripped LeBron for coming up shorter than mini-me on the NBA’s biggest stage.
At the time, LeBron was 0-2 in the NBA Finals.
In 2012, the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. LeBron finally won his first championship and Finals MVP, but Bayless didn’t give LeBron any credit. He said Thunder star Kevin Durant gifted LeBron the title since the two All-Stars are friends.
During the 2013 NBA Finals, Bayless’ heart was broken when his San Antonio Spurs lost to LeBron and the Heat in seven games. Bayless once again didn’t give LeBron props for winning the championship.
Bayless claimed Ray Allen saved LeBron’s’ legacy by hitting the game-tying 3-pointer in Game 6 to send the contest into overtime. The Heat won Games 6 and 7 to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Bayless and the Spurs got their revenge against LeBron and the Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals since San Antonio won the title over Miami.
When LeBron returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014 and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2015 NBA Finals, Bayless criticized LeBron for having a losing record in the Finals.
LeBron and the Cavaliers made history in the 2016 NBA Finals by erasing a 3-1 series deficit against the Warriors to win the championship. However, Bayless said LeBron got lucky since the NBA suspended Warriors forward Draymond Green for Game 5.
After winning the 2020 championship with the Lakers, LeBron improved to 4-6 in the NBA Finals.
Incredibly, LeBron has never acknowledged Bayless. The 20-time All-Star doesn’t have time to talk about a critic who is just saying outlandish things for attention.
LeBron has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. He’s first in NBA history in points, second in field goals, fourth in assists, ninth in steals, fifth in triple-doubles, seventh in points per game, third in player efficiency rating and eighth in 3-point field goals.
LeBron is the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in both points and assists. He’s also the only player to have at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists.
LeBron has won one title with the Cavaliers, two with the Heat and one with the Lakers. He’s the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVPs with three different franchises.
LeBron is the sole player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points. He accomplished that feat this season.
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