Over the past decade, sports commentator Skip Bayless has made a name for himself by relentlessly criticizing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. While LeBron is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, Bayless refuses to give him the credit he deserves and often diminishes his achievements when compared to Michael Jordan.
One of Bayless"s recurring arguments is that LeBron lacks a “closer gene" and falters in crunch time. He"s quick to point out moments where LeBron has missed crucial shots. However, this perspective ignores several important facts. LeBron is undeniably one of the top scorers in the game, with impressive statistics to back it up. In the past season, he averaged nearly 29 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting, even surpassing Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA"s all-time leading scorer.
"He is still a top five scorer of the basketball," Bayless said. "But when it comes to crunch time, closing time, he does not have the closer gene in him… They"re airballs, they"re clangers, they"re LeBricks, they"re not even close"
"[LeBron James is] still a top 5 scorer of the basketball. But when it comes to crunch time, closing time, he does not have the closer gene in him… They're airballs, they're clangers, they're LeBricks, they're not even close."
– Skip Bayless 😳pic.twitter.com/MNbcIxTg4I
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 27, 2023
it"s worth noting that LeBron James holds the record for the most playoff buzzer-beaters, a feat that even surpasses the legendary Michael Jordan. He has consistently shown his capacity to thrive under intense pressure, delivering numerous game-tying or game-winning shots in the final seconds of playoff contests.
What"s remarkable is that despite being in the latter stages of his illustrious career, LeBron continues to perform at an exceptionally high level in the NBA, often surpassing the standards he set during his peak years with the Miami Heat. While Skip Bayless may persist in highlighting LeBron"s imperfections, it remains crucial for basketball enthusiasts to acknowledge and celebrate his remarkable achievements on the basketball court.
