In the first game of their first-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a defeat. Despite being led by LeBron James, the Lakers managed to hold a lead of up to 12 points in the first half, only to see it reduced to single digits later on. With the game tied in the closing seconds of the half, James sank a deep three-pointer, providing a potential momentum boost for his team.

Regrettably for LeBron James and the Lakers, the Nuggets emerged with a strong performance in the second half. Denver dominated the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 32-18, thereby establishing a considerable lead that they maintained until the end. Despite a late opportunity for the Lakers, they failed to capitalize.

 

Criticism has been directed towards James, who transitioned from a prominent presence in the first half to a nearly invisible role in the second. One of the notable voices echoing this sentiment was Skip Bayless.

On social media, the FS1 analyst unleashed a scathing critique of James, branding him a “diva” who shies away from pivotal moments to evade criticism. He asserted that this behavior contrasts sharply with the fearless approaches of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, implying that it further undermines James’ claim to the title of the greatest of all time.

“How can anyone witness such behavior and still consider this guy the greatest of all time? Can you imagine Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan behaving like that? It was simply embarrassing… It’s just typical LeBron James.”

Despite the criticism, James concluded the game with 27 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds, shooting 10-of-16 from the field, with the majority of his performance occurring in the first half. He and the Lakers will aim to rebound in their next game on Monday.