Undisputed co-host Skip Bayless seems to be fixated on LeBron James recently. Not only did he devote two separate segments of the FS1 program Monday to downplaying James and the Los Angeles Lakers recent NBA title, he also compared Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to James when discussing Prescott’s career-threatening injury, a compound right ankle fracture. Bayless has also been active from his personal twitter account expressing his opinions on both topics.
Bayless, who has a long history of downplaying James’ accomplishments, began the process from his personal Twitter account just minutes after James won his fourth NBA Title on Sunday.
Bayless remained true to form, downplaying James’ accomplishments again on Monday’s Undisputed.
“These championship rings should be made of Cubic Zirconia and have a big asterisk inscribed on the inside that says ‘avoided Clippers’”, Bayless said. “You (the Lakers) avoided the one team that could have knocked you off, the one team that the odds makers had as favorites going into these pandemic playoffs. You got to play a team whose center is only as tall as your point guard… You were prohibitive favorites to win.”
It is likely that similar comments from Bayless and others that caused James to say after the Championship game, where he was named Finals MVP, “I want my damn respect”.
Bayless also took issue with that statement.
“I was shocked that LeBron acknowledged all the doubt that’s out there about him,” Bayless said. “Some of it emanates from this side of the table (Bayless) but a lot of people inside and outside of basketball have doubts. LeBron is wrongly compared to Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time. I covered Michael Jordan. I can’t imagine him saying, ‘I want my damn respect’. That’s because Michael Jordan is universally acknowledged as the greatest athlete to play any sport… There are probably even Laker fans who won’t say that about LeBron.”
Bayless’s Undisputed co-host was not having the disrespect. Shannon Sharpe mocked Bayless and his on-going vendetta against LeBron by brining a live goat onto the show’s set.
The LeBron topic then made the crossover from the hardwood to the gridiron as Bayless compared the toughness of Dak Prescott to that of James.
“I have raved about him ever since he was in college and I did on that other show on ESPN (First Take),” Bayless said. “From the first time I saw him pay in the NFL against the Rams .I knew he could be a franchise quarterback,” Bayless said. “Early yesterday, against the woeful Giants, we were down 17-3.Then the defense starts to cause some turnovers. Maybe there is some hope. I thought maybe this was our day, and then the injury happens. It took me a minute to process what just happened because he had been LeBron-esque ironman.”
Stats seem to back up Bayless’ point, as Prescott has yet to miss a regular season start in his five year career while James has also been relatively durable during his 17 year career. Although, it should be noted that it wasn’t even a month ago that Bayless questioned Prescott’s toughness and fitness to lead a team after the Cowboys’ quarterback admitted to suffering from depression during the early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic and after his brother’s suicide.
