If there’s one thing FOX Sports analyst Skip Bayless is known for, it’s his harsh criticisms against LeBron James.
Over the past few years, Skip has called out LBJ for various reasons, some more ridiculous than others.
But, on Thursday, Bayless actually gave LeBron some praise for how he handled a couple of courtside hecklers in the game against Indiana.
Here’s the segment:
I love LeBron when he plays angry. When LeBron gets that mean mug going, you’re in some big trouble, and maybe those fans lit his fire. I appreciated the fact that instead of getting into it with them, LeBron immediately got the referee.
I love LeBron when he plays angry. When LeBron gets that mean mug going, you're in some big trouble, and maybe those fans lit his fire. I appreciated the fact that instead of getting into it with them, LeBron immediately got the referee. More @Undisputed, now on FS1 https://t.co/KrDAssrJDJ
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 25, 2021
Interestingly, it’s not the first time a FOX analyst has spoken highly of ‘angry’ LeBron. Chris Broussard spoke to a similar level of power regarding the phenomenon as well:
“Think back to his first game in Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat, when I’ve never seen so much vitriol from a regular-season crowd. He was awesome. Think back to the 2016 Finals, after Game 4 when Draymond Green called him the b-word. I talked to LeBron about that, he said ‘you don’t ever call somebody that.’ He follows up with back-to-back 41 point games and a triple-double in what became the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.
Going into last night’s game, there were many reasons for LeBron to be angry. Number one, he’s missed more than half the season with an injury. Number two, he finally gets back and he’s suspended in his second game back. Then on top of that, the Lakers are struggling mightily, then you got fans in Indiana who are known for being nasty. You had all the ingredients for a special night from LeBron. That was angry LeBron and angry LeBron’s a sight to behold.”
We don’t know what those two courtside fans said to James, but it was bad enough that he had to personally escort them off the court.
As we all know, he followed it up by going bananas to close that game, which eventually secured the Lakers a victory.
