Well, this is the Skip Bayless we have come to know for all these years. He shocked the basketball community a week ago by claiming he is a Lebron James fan. But he is back to speaking in the very tone everybody is familiar with. For all these years, Bayless never let an opportunity to criticize James go begging. As the opportunity presented itself again as James sat out against the Nuggets due to an injury scare, it is no wonder who becomes Lebron’s worst nightmare with words again.
Bayless Goes The Old-Fashioned Way To Scrutinize LeBron James
This time Mr. Bayless used the very well-known method of scrutinizing the King by comparing him with the legend, Michael Jordan, again. This cynical critic of Lebron James brought up the two great’s differences based on “durability.” The Fox Sports analyst used sarcasm, calling James “the best in the west.” He then raised the question of what happened to the best of the west and why is he not playing. He compared him to Michael Jordan and said MJ would play all the games even at 39, and he is the actual “no-doubt GOAT.”
Ankle soreness?! He finished the Kings game just fine. Completely deflating and disappointing that LeBron didn’t play. At age 39, Jordan was a year older than LeBron and played all 82 games. More @undisputed, now on FS1. https://t.co/mQ1HaSjHvo
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 10, 2023
At 38, every player needs to check on their physique and give a necessary break to continue for a longer period, and it is not too hard to understand. From the player to the team management, it is important to be very careful about the load factor. It is also vital to take measures keeping the next season in mind. And looks like LeBron James is doing the same. But Alas! not everybody sees it in the same way.
Impact Of The Lakers’ Loss Against The Nuggets
Since the start of the year, the Lakers have been looking good with their star player, King James, aging like fine wine. Winning back-to-back matches, trying to get to the play-in tournament, and the one man leading the Lakers from the front, King James. The LA Lakers could even beat the Miami Heat without Lebron James.
At 38, it is reasonable to take precautions, so the body is not over-used. LeBron James did not play against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers lost that match (109-122), and the Nuggets broke their winning streak. The Lakers were making up their win-loss ratio. But with another loss, the balance 19-22 is looking worse again. On the other hand, the Nuggets are having a pretty good season with a 27-13.
Was this loss because of LeBron James’ absence? But the Lakers were able to beat the Heat without the King. With the King’s presence, the Heat had defeated the Lakers in their previous encounter (112-98), so what went wrong against the Nuggets? Why could not the Lakers repeat the same performance? What is the actual reason for James not playing? Are these questions reasonable?
Questions like these tend to come up after every win or loss, and the star players are always targeted. LeBron James is no exception; in his long career, it is nothing new. It is normal for the toughest naysayer of his career, Mr. Skip Bayless, to stay constant and not miss a chance to scrutinize.