Noted LeBron James critic Skip Bayless found himself on the King’s side for a change in reference to Mike Malone’s comments on the Pat McAfee show earlier this summer. The Denver Nuggets head coach had taken a shot at LeBron by joking that he was also considering retirement and that McAfee should not tell anybody. Speaking on Undisputed, Bayless stated that he believes Nikola Jokic’s coach made a rather disrespectful, below-the-belt statement at the expense of LBJ.
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The comments were in response to Malone’s frustration about the reduced coverage that the Nuggets seemed to get in comparison to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Despite the Nuggets winning in a 4-0 sweep, Malone claimed that the media focus was always on the Lakers, rather than highlighting the work that his team had been putting up in order to win.
Skip Bayless hits back at Mike Malone for disrespect towards LeBron James
Malone started off with a few respectful things about the Lakers and LeBron James. He claimed that he absolutely respected the team and their coach. But he also stated that it was their fault if the Nuggets were “still one their mind.”
Malone then went on to make a joke about LeBron’s retirement claim after losing game 4 in the Conference Finals. James had said that he had a few things to consider about his future with respect to the game. Malone joked that he was also considering retirement and claimed that he did not want Pat McAfee to “tell anyone”. Bayless gave his two cents on the issue on Undisputed after reiterating Malone’s comments:
“He [Malone] did say, ‘I know it was a 4-0 sweep, but all those games seemed like they went down to the wire…We have tremendous respect for that team’…He says, ‘I have tremendous respect for Darvin Ham as a coach’, and I buy that and believe that 100%”. ‘Yet I don’t listen to all that stuff right now… If we are on their minds, then that’s on them. I am not living four months ago’…[Bayless continues] So he [Malone] said all the right things, and then he went dismissive, disrespect, like if they are talking about us, it’s their fault. Coz they shouldn’t be talking about us.”
Bayless thought that the retirement jab in particular was below the belt. He added:
“I want to reiterate just how out of the way he went on the McAfee show to make fun of LeBron in his “retirement bombshell”…It was a real below the belt shot at LeBron James.”
Malone was suggesting that James had merely made the claim for attention. However, Bayless underlined the fact that Malone was well-acquainted with James on a personal level from his Cleveland Cavaliers days(where he served as an assistant coach). Therefore, it was really unnecessary to take such a cheap shot at LeBron.
LeBron shot back at Mike Malone as well for comments about retirement
Surprisingly, it was regular LeBron James-critic Skip Bayless who leapt out in the King’s defence on this occasion. LeBron was on tour in Europe when Malone made the comments.
Still, ever active on social media, he implicitly responded to the remarks on Instagram. James claimed that he could see why he continues to be on peoples’ minds:
“In Europe for the last past few weeks minding my business and I hear I’m on your mind that much huh??? I mean I guess I see why. 🤷🏾♂️ But Wave the flag on these lames!! Please make being player cool again cause the lame machine is at an all-time high. Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN. I stay on forever! 😉🫡🙏🏾👑”
The 38-year-old’s most obvious hint that the caption was aimed at Malone was the part about returning power to the players. James was obviously not happy about the joke, and suggested that he will do his bidding on the court, once again.
