I guess we have to keep up with the GOAT debate, one more time! This time with a new perspective. Skip Bayless, the certified LeBron James hater, brought in a fresh angle the “Bad MF” angle. The former Fox Sports analyst is one of the biggest critics of King James alongside Stephen A. Smith. At the same time, the duo would go the distance to defend the legend Michael Jordan in a debate. However, this time, Bayless made a surprising admission about the Lakers‘ superstar.

Undoubtedly, the 4x NBA Champ has found an undeniable place in the NBA world. Playing in his 22nd year, most by a player along with Vince Carter, the superstar pushes the boundaries every passing game. Nevertheless, the critics are all over him, circling him like a hawk to find faults.

Amid this situation, Skip Bayless made a backhanded compliment to the NBA’s scoring champion. Featuring in the latest episode of the All the Smoke podcast, the 72-year-old started off the LBJ-MJ comparison, 7 minutes into the pod. He started off by asking a simple question, “Do I hate LeBron?” Guess what? He proceeded to answer, “I’m actually happy I don’t because I’m afraid if I were around him very much, I think, he’s a really good guy, a really nice guy.”

Then came the MJ plug-in, as Bayless continued, “I was around Jordan a lot. Not a nice guy all the time. He was a bad MF, man… When it was time to be a bad MF, he scared the hell out of the rest of the league.” On the other hand, he added LeBron James doesn’t scare the league and said, “They all really like him and he wants to be liked.” Did he just give the superstar with a faint praise? Or did he really change?

Did season 22 LeBron James change Bayless’ heart?

It’s actually safe to that King James has reached legend status and not many hate him. It’s not just because of age and the number of seasons he has played in the league; but the type of performance he consistently brings to the floor. Pushing 40, the superstar has really punched in some crucial minutes for the Lakers.

In the last outing against the Grizzlies, he became the oldest player to score three triple-doubles on the trot. Guess who wished him for the effort? Skip Bayless himself. The veteran analyst took to his X handle and wrote, “At 39 years old, LeBron James is the oldest player in NBA history to record three straight triple-doubles,” along with a mind-blowing emoji.

Does this mean that LeBron James has finally won over his greatest critic? However, it’s not over until he defeats his famous criticism, which is producing a brilliant fourth-quarter performance on a big stage. Even though the superstar proved it several times in the past, the 2024 first-round exit against the Denver Nuggets left a huge stain on King James.

So, will the superstar take the Lakers to the top once again? Let us know in the comments.