Stephen A. Smith Believes Skip Bayless Is The Analyst Most Critical Of LeBron James: "He Ain't Playing. He Means It."

 

LeBron James is one of the greatest players of all time. There's no doubt that he has accomplished a lot in the league. Many younger fans happen to believe he's the GOAT of basketball. While that is a controversial take, it is widely agreed upon that LeBron James is the GOAT of this generation of basketball players.

Despite his talent, LeBron James is not without his haters. One of his most outspoken critics is NBA analyst Skip Bayless. In fact, Bayless once claimed that LeBron James has been "the most overprotected and under criticized superstar" in the league.

To me, LeBron James over the expanse of his career has been the most overprotected and under criticized superstar I have ever encountered. How can you defend Games 4,5, and 6 against Boston in 2010, when his owner accused him of quitting and somebody from his inner circle said that he had to be sedated?

How do you defend Games 4, 5, and 6, that meltdown against Dallas in the Finals? That’s just impossible to defend. How can you defend the last 3 minutes of regulation in 2013? He just completely unraveled, 3 turnovers in the last 3 minutes.

In 2014, he gets blown off the floor in the Finals by a record Finals margin, I dare anybody to go look at the tapes of Games 3 and 4 in Miami and tell me what you don't see from LeBron James because it was 1-1 going back. That happened, 5 games… LeBricked the tying 3, long rebound to Chris Bosh, kick to corner, Ray Allen saved his legacy. He should have 7 Finals losses.

2018 Game 1 in Golden State, how do you get let off the hook for what happened, he passes it, the free throw gets missed, JR loses his mind, then LeBron just quits on his team in overtime.

There is no doubt that LeBron James has received a lot of criticism throughout his career, especially after the 2011 Finals, where the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks. There's no doubt that Skip Bayless may be exaggerating with his statement, and it seems over the top to say that LeBron James is "under criticized".

A lot of players get criticized as superstars, and LeBron James is not the exception. However, at times, it does seem as though LeBron James is held to higher standards than others. 

Stephen A. Smith Says Skip Bayless Means It When He Criticizes LeBron James

Some people have previously suggested that Skip Bayless hating on LeBron James is him simply putting on an act for television. Some of the ways that Bayless hates on LeBron James are a little ridiculous. However, a recent statement from Stephen A. Smith suggests otherwise.

Stephen A. Smith has recently admitted that he believes Skip Bayless is the analyst most critical of LeBron James on the I Am Athlete podcast. He added that Skip Bayless isn't "playing" with his criticisms and that he means what he says. (48:24):

Of course, I think no one is more critical of LeBron James than Skip Bayless. What I will tell you is that he ain't playing. He means it... his measuring stick is MJ.

There is no doubt that sometimes it is tough to believe that someone can be as critical of another person as Skip Bayless is towards LeBron James. However, it seems as though the criticism is not just an act and that Bayless' opinions on the superstar are very real.

Perhaps one day, we will see LeBron James achieve enough to see Skip Bayless tone down his criticism. However, as of right now, it seems as though the analyst will continue to find ways to poke holes at LeBron James, as he clearly believes the Lakers superstar won't come close to his "measuring stick" of Michael Jordan.