LeBron James, the LA Lakers superstar, has come under fire from veteran NBA analyst Skip Bayless during the team’s recent two-game losing streak. Bayless, known for his outspoken criticism of James, accused the media of shielding the four-time MVP from blame for his team’s shortcomings. “LeBron eclipses Aaron Rodgers as the most overprotected superstar in sports history,” Bayless remarked during an episode of The Skip Bayless Show.
The Lakers’ losses included a nail-biting 119-118 defeat to the Orlando Magic, despite the absence of their star player, Paolo Banchero, followed by a crushing 127-102 blowout against the Denver Nuggets. These back-to-back defeats brought an abrupt end to the Lakers’ six-game winning streak and dropped their record to 10-6, placing them fourth in the Western Conference.
Bayless specifically criticized James’ late-game performances, pointing to his career free-throw percentage of 74%, which ranks 682nd all-time. “LeBron, for his career, is a 74% free-throw shooter. That ranks, since he came into the league, 682nd all-time,” Bayless highlighted. He further noted James’ missed opportunities during the Orlando game, where he went 2-for-4 at the charity stripe and failed to seal the win.