Skip Bayless slams LeBron James earning $50 million in Year 20 and 21 with Tom Brady and Duncan comparisons
FS1 analyst Skip Bayless goes after LeBron James over his new extension deal with Lakers, claims his title chances are doomed
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have the season they expected last year. Despite forming a Big 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, the Lakers finished with a 33-49 record. There was a big blame game after the season ended, with many fingers pointed at Westbrook. Heading into the 2022-23 season, the Lakers appear to have a fragile locker room situation. They also have a lot more new faces to play with their Big 3. However, the Lakers made a move to secure the only consistent piece they have.
The Purple and Gold recently signed LBJ to a 2-year, $97 million extension. The deal has a player option for the 2024-25 season (Bronny’s expected draft year). This extension adds to the last year of the previous deal, locking the King in for at least the next two seasons and hopefully a third as well.
Skip Bayless criticizes LeBron James for demanding so much money
News of LeBron’s extension was received differently by different people. While many agree that LBJ deserves that money, others claim that he could have taken a pay cut. A pay cut could help sign stars, that can help LeBron win the fifth ring.
Skip Bayless fell into the latter category. Seeing the extension deal, Skip did what he loves most in the world: use this as ammunition to hate LeBron even more.
LeBron will make $200 million more than Brady … in 2 fewer seasons! That's bc Brady took a winner's discount to make his team better. So did Tim Duncan his last 4 yrs: 10 mil, 10 mil, 10 mil, 6 mil. Billionaire Bron: almost 50 mil in Yr 20 & 21! Lakers: no shot. Congrats, King
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 19, 2022
While Skip does have a point, the Lakers not making an active effort to build a winning team around LeBron could have been the motivation behind LBJ demanding the money he made. We can’t judge LeBron for saying ‘f**k it’ and getting the $50 million a year the teammates get from him.
