"Especially if you were a junior in high school who only averaged 1.4 points" - Former MIP goes after Skip Bayless for his comments on Bronny James
Skip Bayless' criticism of LeBron James' son Bronny did not sit well with a majority of basketball fans and analysts. NBA insider Jalen Rose hit out at Bayless, stating that he had no right to criticize players when he had such a mediocre record in high school.
In a video that went viral on social media, Bronny was seen streaking down the court and dunking with his right hand in a game against the U18 French select team on the California Club's European tour.
BRONNY JAMES THROWS IT DOWN 🔥 https://t.co/ikJ8ksPVSx
Bayless managed to find fault with the dunk, claiming that Bronny should have used his left hand instead of his right.
"Hey, Bronny ... impressive. But your dad would've dunked it left-handed. You sure got away with it, though."
Hey, Bronny ... impressive. But your dad would've dunked it left-handed. You sure got away with it, though.
Naturally, this wasn't well received by the basketball community, with Jalen Rose the latest to take a shot at Bayless.
"Extremely impressive. And nobody should be overly critical of high school players, in particular adults and professional athletes. Especially if you were a junior in high school who only averaged 1.4 points. I'm just saying."
Jalen Rose has smoke for Skip Bayless after his tweet criticizing Bronny James’ dunk 💨😂 https://t.co/maRI7lhxCi
Rose's comments were an obvious shot at Bayless. He also made additional comments defending Bronny on "Jalen & Jacoby."
🚨🚨🚨A quick PSA for media personalities trying to use high school kids to chase clout and attention from their famous parents: Pretend YOU'RE back in high school, and grab some bench.🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/Q8j3VaJRBB
.@RealSkipBayless responds to the reaction surrounding his tweet about Bronny James' viral dunk: https://t.co/vXZUGefN3t
Skip Bayless, meanwhile, later clarified that his comments were misunderstood and that he was in fact praising Bronny for the play, rather than criticizing him.
Bronny James shines in his senior year
The son of LA Lakers superstar LeBron James has been on an absolute tear in his senior year of high school. While Bronny James may not have inherited his father's physical attributes, his feel and flair are evident.
At 17 years old, Bronny has emerged as a four-star prospect. Ranked at No. 39 on the 2023 ESPN 100, Bronny has garnered attention from several universities.
He produced an impressive set of performances on his European tour with the California Club, although both games resulted in losses. He will hope to build on his early success and lead the US contingent to a win in Rome.