Here's Skip Bayless And Stephen A. Having A Debate On LeBron's Game 7 Block In 2016

If you had to pick two of the most outspoken critics of LeBron James in sports media, it would have to be Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Smith has grown more hostile ever since LBJ personally confronted him at a Lakers game last year, while Bayless has had a long history of aiming vitriol at James on national TV.

It was bizarre, then, to see these former ESPN colleagues having a debate on a supposedly non-debatable LeBron topic.

When Smith made an appearance this week on “The Arena: Gridiron,” a podcast co-hosted by Bayless, the two had a discussion on James’ famous block of Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. With the game tied at 89 and less than two minutes left in regulation, Iguodala went for a fastbreak layup, only to get rejected by James at the last moment.

Despite the ramifications of this defensive play, which set the stage for James’ Cavaliers to win Game 7 and win the NBA title, Bayless was not impressed. “Remember, J.R. Smith undercuts Iggy, who’s about to dunk it and had to take another dribble,” the former “First Take” personality said.

Smith, who rose to popularity debating Bayless on “First Take,” decided to take LeBron’s side in this matter. “So you’re just going to ignore the fact that LeBron was damn near at the top of the backboard and blocked the shot?” he asked his friend.

Deciding to concede some ground, Bayless replied, “He can probably touch the top of the backboard. But the point was, it’s an ambush block. Iggy had to redo his dribble, and [LeBron] got it.”

At that point, Smith said what every hoops fan listening to the podcast was thinking: “You’re the only person on the planet that’s complaining about the block!”

This was a silly quarrel, to say the least, but it’s far from the worst verbal attack that Bayless has launched at the King. Over the years, Bayless has called James “overprotected,” a “self-promoter,” and “the biggest diva in the history of sports.” Last summer, when Bayless unveiled his list of top 10 players in NBA history, he had LBJ at number nine.

In other words, LeBron fans might choose to look past the criticism of the Game 7 block. Bayless has said much, much worse.