Skip Bayless accuses LeBron James of being solely focused on chasing Kareem’s record
Skip Bayless launched a scathing attack on LeBron James after he tallied only four assists during the LA Lakers' 116-102 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Bayless accused James of solely focusing on scoring and chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record.
The Fox Sports analyst took to Twitter to express his thoughts, saying:
"Love LeBron's 17 rebounds. But how did the best passer in basketball wind up with only 4 assists playing back home in Cleveland? Is he now focused more on Chasing Kareem? Surely not."
Love LeBron's 17 rebounds. But how did the best passer in basketball wind up with only 4 assists playing back home in Cleveland? Is he now focused more on Chasing Kareem? Surely not.
Bayless believes James has entered the season with the sole motive of passing Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list. The TV analyst thinks that "King James" is less worried about helping the LA Lakers get better after a tumultuous 2021-22 NBA season.
However, Bayless may have failed to note that James could only tally four assists against the Cavaliers as the Lakers had an off-shooting night. LA made 42.7% of their shots from the field, including a dismal 6 of 36 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, LeBron James also had to soak up the pressure of being the No. 1 option on offense after Anthony Davis exited the game in the first quarter due to a non-Covid illness. Moreover, James is 887 points away from passing Abdul-Jabbar and will have to average only 15-16 points a game if he appears in every contest for the rest of the season.
At this rate, it's harsh to assume that James is chasing Kareem's record, as he is likely to achieve that milestone with ease this season if he stays healthy for the most part.
Also read: Skip Bayless compares LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ unavailability to Michael Jordan’s 82-game streaks: “Feel just a little bit ashamed?”
LA Lakers lose to Cleveland Cavaliers despite LeBron James' double-double
LeBron James posted a double-double on his return to Cleveland on Tuesday. He bagged 21 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 47.1% from the field. James had to cover the boards in the absence of Anthony Davis, who exited the game in the first quarter due to a non-Covid illness.
The "King" did an excellent job in that department, fending off bigs like Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, grabbing four offensive boards on the night. However, James' efforts weren't enough, as the Lakers succumbed to a 14-point loss (116-102).
The Lakers had no answer for Donovan Mitchell, who bagged 43 points on a 63/50/100 shooting split. It was a close game until early in the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 90-90.
Mitchell altered the course of the game single-handedly from there on. He scored 17 points in the final frame to help the Cavs secure the season series sweep over the Lakers.
It was only the third loss of LeBron James' career against the team that drafted him. It was the first time his team suffered a season series loss against the Cavaliers. The Lakers saw their three-game winning streak snapped after the loss as they fell to 10-13.
They will be hoping Anthony Davis recovers before their next game on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors to have a good chance of getting back to winning ways.
Also read: Charles Barkley refuses to give LA Lakers their flowers after 8-2 run: “If the playoffs started today, they wouldn’t even be in the Play-in Game”