LeBron James has built up quite the NBA career, but NBA analyst Skip Bayless will always find a way to slander him, saying he’s failed multiple times.
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LeBron’s four titles have come in a variety of shapes and forms over his 18 year NBA career. He won his first two titles with the Miami Heat before returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers to win another one.
He would add on to that list when he won with his third NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers, last season giving him four total for his career.
Proud of my friend @KingJames for his fourth title, fourth Finals MVP, and for not only living up to the hype after seventeen seasons, but surpassing it as an extraordinary leader both on the court and in the public arena fighting for education, social justice, and our democracy. pic.twitter.com/2IB3ZDI4Nf
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 12, 2020
However, Skip Bayless found a way to invalidate several of LeBron’s titles and his NBA seasons in general, saying he’s choked multiple times.
Skip Bayless Said LeBron James Has Choked Or Failed In Nine Different Seasons
So, what reasoning did Skip give behind LeBron’s failures? Well, he had several reasons, and he brought up several years where LeBron has apparently ‘failed.’
When LeBron talks bouncing back from failure, I listen. He has failed SO MUCH. 2009 Magic. 2010 Celts (Gilbert: “Quit.”) 2011 Finals meltdown. 2013 G6 saved by Ray. 2014 record Finals margin loss. 2015 Finals G4/5/6. 2018 G1 OT pout. 2019 missed playoffs. 2021 G5 left bench.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 14, 2021
Well, there’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get right into it. Yes, LeBron did lose in 2009 and 2010 to the Magic and Celtics. However, given LeBron’s roster and the fact that the Cavaliers were even competing with teams of those caliber is impressive enough.
Additionally, LeBron more than showed up in both series. Against Orlando, LeBron averaged 38.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 8.0 apg. Against the Celtics, he put up 26.8, 9.3, and 7.2.
2011, there is no excuse, Skip makes one valid point here. 2013, sure Ray Allen hit the biggest shot of the series that year, but having your teammates come through for you isn’t some sort of sin. Skip conveniently forgets to mention that it was LeBron’s fantastic fourth quarter that even allowed Allen the chance to make such a shot.
2014, sure, another point maybe. The Heat were outmatched and were thoroughly dominated. 2014, LeBron lost both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to injuries and still had the Cavaliers in position to win. 2018 and 2019, he went up against perhaps the best team in NBA history with Golden State’s big three of Curry, Klay, and Durant.
2021, Anthony Davis and LeBron were both dealing with injuries. So, there you have it. Counterpoints to almost all of Bayless’ points. It’s easy to find the flaws and and faults in a player’s career and much harder to appreciate all the good things they’ve done.
You’ll never hear Skip talk about LeBron’s 3-1 comeback against the Warriors in 2016, and even if he does, he’ll see Draymond’s suspension as another excuse (this is a whole other debate that we won’t get into here). Nevertheless, LeBron has more than proven himself and ‘sometimes’ (a lot actually) Skip Bayless is plain wrong.
