Skip Bayless picks sides after LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith confrontation

Skip Bayless has provided his two cents on the ongoing feud between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith.

The public war of words between James and Smith first gained steam earlier this month during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. During the contest, the four-time MVP confronted the ESPN analyst about recent comments regarding his son, Bronny.

On the latest episode of ‘The Skip Bayless Show,’ Bayless blasted James for choosing to approach Smith in the public eye while a game was actively taking place. “How weak was that, on LeBron’s part, to choose that time and that place to deliver that message?” he began.

“This was a flat-out ambush, a drive-by, a premeditated and calculated move by LeBron James to show up Stephen A. in front of the NBA world while giving Stephen A. no face-to-face time to respond. LeBron didn’t want any rebuttal.

“This was just a delusionally, irrationally, insanely proud pop, telling off Stephen A. Smith, knowing this debate was rigged. Frankly, that was pretty cowardly.”

While the confrontation between Smith and James didn’t escalate any further in the moment, their beef quickly took the internet and social media by storm. Addressing the incident on the ‘Gil’s Arena’ podcast, the 57-year-old asserted that he would’ve “swung on him” had the Lakers star touched him.

“I would have gotten my — kicked, because had that man put his hands on me, I would have immediately swung on him. Immediately,” Smith said. “That, I’m not going to tolerate. But I knew he wasn’t going to do something like that.”

James swiftly returned the favor, declaring on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ that Smith was on a “Taylor Swift tour run” and relishing the attention that their interaction was garnering.

According to Bayless, James’ appearance on McAfee’s show was a “really petty” move. “So, Stephen A. responded to LeBron the only way he could, on all of his platforms along with those of some others. Then, LeBron ——- James got really, really petty,” the 73-year-old said.

“He chose to go on another ESPN show, Pat McAfee’s. LeBron said on that show, ‘It’s my job to not only protect my —- household but protect the players.’ What? Is your son an NBA player or is he not? Are you saying this is just your son, who gets to wear a Laker uniform and just sit down on the end of the bench because he’s your son? Is this like, every night’s Halloween, he gets to dress up and play NBA player? Is that what you’re saying?

“I don’t think so. Look, if you truly believe that Bronny’s an NBA player worthy of wearing that uniform on a nightly basis, then he’s obviously fair game for anyone in the media to critique.”

• Source: NEWHD MEDIA