Skip Bayless has spent much of his career as one of LeBron James’ harshest critics. But when it comes to President Donald Trump’s latest attacks on the Philadelphia 76ers star, even Bayless is coming to James’ defense.
In a conversation with Stephen A. Smith, Bayless pushed back on Trump calling James a “total disgrace” over his behavior during the national anthem. While Bayless called James “the ultimate diva,” he said that James has been “a very good role model” off the court, and suggested that Trump’s comments are about politics.
Trump vs. LeBron
Before the Sixers’ season opener against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, video shared by ClutchPoints showed James swinging his arms as if practicing a golf swing during the national anthem, then going through his shooting motion.
The moment drew backlash from conservative pundits, and on Thursday, Trump demanded an apology on Truth Social.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country! I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump wrote.
Later that day, Trump mocked James’ golf swing during a rally, calling it “a big scandal kind of a story.”
James brushed off the criticism after the Sixers’ comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
“Must (have been) a slow news day at the office, you know? Slow news day in the office,” James said, via USA Today.
‘The Ultimate Diva’
Bayless, a longtime critic of LeBron, didn’t exactly let the NBA superstar off the hook for the moment itself as he called LeBron “the ultimate diva.”
“I don’t think LeBron is deeply sort of psychologically wanting to protest the anthem. I think LeBron is, you know, he is the ultimate diva, and he’s earned a lot of his divaness,” Bayless said in a clip shared on X. “But he wants during the anthem to do a look at me. Remember, I’m LeBron James, and I’m here with my new team, and I’m going to be doing my golf swing during the anthem because I want to differentiate myself from these teammates of mine.”
However, he did argue that Trump is simply taking advantage of a long-running feud.
“What has Trump’s MO been from the start? He says, if you don’t like me, I don’t like you. And LeBron’s made it clear from the start he doesn’t like President Trump,” Bayless said. “So President Trump is going to leap through every little cracked door that LeBron cracks for him.”
And Bayless made it clear that he thinks Trump went too far.
“But to go total disgrace, I don’t think LeBron’s a total disgrace and bad guy. I don’t. And I’m not a fan of LeBron’s as a basketball player per se, but off the court, to your point, he has been a very good role model,” Bayless said. “And this is just politics.”
Bayless even suggested that Trump might have “some deeper level of respect” for James, and that the timing of the attacks isn’t a coincidence.
“I just think to your point, it’s midterms. That’s what’s happened,” Bayless said.
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