"Disgrace that LeBron won it" - Skip Bayless accuses LeBron James of 'pulling strings' to secure Olympic MVP over Steph Curry
Noted LeBron James critic Skip Bayless expressed his discontent with the LA Lakers star winning the MVP award at the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s basketball event, suggesting that James maneuvered his way to win it over Steph Curry.
LeBron James was honored as the Olympics MVP after leading Team USA to their fifth straight gold medal. During the tournament, James posted averages of 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game.
However, Bayless argued that the MVP should have gone to Curry, alleging that there was political maneuvering and behind-the-scenes influence involved.
“I posted a video right after our men's basketball team won gold presuming Steph had won MVP over LeBron after making 9 threes vs Serbia and 8 more against France including 4 in the 4th. It was obviously a disgrace that LeBron won it,” Bayless said.
“Politics? Strings pulled? Tell me I'm wrong.”
Curry delivered a stellar performance in Team USA's gold medal match against host France, leading the team with 24 points, alongside five assists and two steals.
LeBron James contributed 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the gold-medal game.
Although Curry didn’t win the MVP award, he was included in the Olympics All-Star Five along with James. Curry averaged 14.8 points while shooting an impressive 47.8% from beyond the arc, along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
France's Victor Wembanyama, Serbia's Nikola Jokic, and Germany's Dennis Schroder also earned spots on the team.
Wembanyama led France with an average of 15.8 points per game, adding 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks.
Jokic was crucial to Serbia’s bronze medal achievement, averaging 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block per game.
Schroder, a key player for Germany, averaged 17.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
LeBron James and Steph Curry likely played their final Olympics after securing gold in Paris
Team USA put together what they internally dubbed the Avengers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, featuring former MVPs like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
However, this may be the last Olympic appearance for some of the team’s veteran stars. LeBron James has indicated that he is unlikely to participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
"Nah, I can't see myself playing in Los Angeles 2028," James said. "I didn't see myself playing in Paris 2024, too. But four years from now, I can't see it."
Curry has similarly stated that he views this as his only Olympic appearance.
“This is the one and done, baby. Gold medal. You do it like that,” he said in an Instagram live.
If both decide to retire from Olympic play, James would finish with three gold medals and one bronze, while Curry would end with one gold.