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“LeBron James left the court without shaking the Suns’ hands”: Skip Bayless compares Lakers’ MVP’s actions to those of Isiah Thomas and his Pistons vs Michael Jordan’s Bulls in 1991

Samir Mehdi
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“Michael Jordan would’ve never left his team on the floor”: Jalen Rose goes off on LeBron James for giving up on the Lakers once Anthony Davis got injured

Skip Bayless criticizes LeBron James for not shaking the hands of any Suns players following the Lakers Game 6 loss to get eliminated. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have been down on their luck ever since the first game of the 2020-21 NBA season. In their season opener against the Clippers, LeBron James would sprain his right ankle; an event that would foreshadow a series of injuries to both him and his co-star, Anthony Davis, that would carry forth into their last game of this postseason. 

The Lakers looked helpless on the court in trying to contain Devin Booker and the Suns on the offensive end of the floor. With Anthony Davis in clear pain, the bug-man would exit the game in the 1st quarter and would not return. Though LeBron James and company would cut the 29 point lead down to 11 at one point in the 3rd, the Suns would pull away to win, 113-110.

Also read: “Playing for Tune Squad rather than the Olympics”: LeBron James signs off on Lakers’ 2020-21 season with a hilarious post-game presser

Game 5 of this series saw the Suns blow out the Lakers and would result in a questionable move by LeBron James to leave the floor with 6 minutes left in the game. Come Game 6 and history repeated itself merely 2 days later. 

LeBron James leaves the floor without shaking any Suns players hands, much to Skip Bayless’s chagrin. 

With just over 30 seconds left in the game and the bout having been decided at that point, LeBron James would leave the floor and not return to shake any of the Phoenix Suns players’ hands, unlike his teammates who would stay to congratulate the rising Suns. Skip Bayless naturally took offense to this and took to Twitter to voice his ‘disgust’.

It’s no doubt that Skip Bayless, after having forsaken the Clippers, will have a field day in the coming episode of Undisputed alongside Shannon Sharpe. Bayless, a longtime LeBron detractor, will somehow find a way to weave in Michael Jordan into this narrative. However, when it comes to this ‘hand-shaking’ debacle, his inclusion here would be justified.

Also read: “Michael Jordan must be chuckling somewhere”: Skip Bayless blasts LeBron James as the Lakers get knocked out of the playoffs after losing to Devin Booker and co

LeBron James refusing to stay on the floor for Game 6 to shake hands with his opponents is eerily reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons in 1991 not wanting any part of Michael Jordan and the Bulls after getting swept in the ECF. This of course, irked MJ but the Bulls didn’t think anything of it as they would had more games to worry about. 

The ‘beef’ between LeBron and the Suns may not exist however as Devin Booker and the Lakers star were since in good spirits following the game as the latter handed the 24-year-old a signed jersey of his. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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