'He has lost': Skip Bayless says he just has one takeaway from LeBron James' 76ers debut

Skip Bayless has delivered his instant reaction to LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers debut against the New York Knicks.

It was a special night for the defending NBA champions as they were set to receive their rings, but their party was spoiled by the Sixers.

James finally won a debut game in the NBA, after failing to do so on four previous occasions. There was a lot to like about his performance, but Bayless has highlighted a potential concern.

Skip Bayless says LeBron James has ‘lost his athleticism’

One of James’ greatest strengths throughout his career in the NBA has been his athleticism.

In his prime, ‘The King’ was almost unstoppable, but as you would expect from a 41-year-old now, there is a drop in his physical level.

Bayless felt that was evident in James’s debut for the Philadelphia 76ers against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Nevertheless, Bayless liked most of what he saw from the veteran and showered praise on him.

He said in a video posted on X: “Hey, I must admit pretty good opening night for LeBron James. His first game as a Sixer. This went at Madison Square Garden on ring night for the Knicks. Ring nights are often distracting and draining.

“LeBron did play 34 minutes, a little longer than I thought he would. He did score 14 points. He did have, surprisingly, nine rebounds. He can still bully ball at going on age 42 (currently 41). I was surprised he had only seven assists. I think he can average 10 or 11 and lead the league in assists this year.

“He’ll find his way. He’ll find his vibe with his new teammates. Only one turnover, that’s extraordinary from him. 0 for 3 from 3 is typical, predictable. Remember he shot 31.7% from 3 last year as a Laker. That was third from the bottom in the NBA. But he did make a couple of defensive plays.

“My only takeaway from tonight was, man, he has lost a lot of athleticism. Again, going on age 42, your 24th (year), but it just surprised me tonight. He doesn’t have that much explosive lift anymore. That one jumper that he made just looked awkward to me. But who cares?

“I’ve told you he has got to become a pass-first point guard. Orchestrate, run the show. Make sure Jaylen Brown is happy, which is hard. He’s a hard guy to keep happy. Make sure that Maxie is the star of the team. He showed it again tonight with 28. Keep Joel involved.”

After a winning start, the Sixers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers next. James has an excellent record against his hometown side, winning 76 per cent of his games.

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