The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in a major slump during the 2025-26 NBA season.
Following the LA Lakers’ Christmas Day loss against the Houston Rockets, the organization is now on a three-game losing streak.
As a result, head coach JJ Redick is losing patience with the team with each passing day. If there’s one silver lining, though, it’s the performance of LeBron James.
Prove Skip Bayless wrong about Luka Doncic! 🧐
After all, the King has averaged 25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game for the Lakers. While NBA analyst Skip Bayless feels LBJ is not playing good defense, he feels sorry for him.
Skip Bayless says LeBron James is a ‘third wheel’ on the LA Lakers
Bayless is known for his ruthless takes about James, but even he feels that the Lakers are not treating the 4x NBA champion well.
After calling out the supposed brotherly bond between Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Skip claimed he feels ‘sorry’ for LBJ.
“LeBron’s the third wheel now. I’m no big LeBron fan, but I feel sorry for him in this situation because it just feels wrong, wrong, wrong,” Bayless stated on Gil’s Arena.
In addition, Bayless feels James is still a solid offensive player, but he’s barely putting in the effort on the defensive end of the floor.
And what’s the reason behind it? Well, Bayless thinks it’s the Lakers prioritizing Doncic and Reaves over him this season.
Luka Doncic is ‘overrated,’ says Skip Bayless
Not playing elite defense has been the fans’ biggest complaint about Doncic throughout his career. Many thought that would change following Luka’s incredible transformation this past summer.
However, Bayless feels that’s not the case as Doncic plays less defense than a 40-year-old James. As for James, Skip believes coach Redick isn’t holding the 4x NBA champion accountable for his poor defensive effort.
JJ Redick was FURIOUS after LA Lakers’ Christmas Day defeat vs. Houston Rockets!
Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
“He won’t play defense, and his podcast partner [Redick] is not going to call him out because he loves him and he got the job because of him. This is a mess, man,” Bayless continued.
Skip added: “I’m gonna say it again, Luka is overrated. I know he can score, I know he’s a genius, I know all that. … He plays less defense than LeBron does.”
The veteran analyst went rampant on Doncic’s lack of defensive effort, combined with his three-point efficiency and high-turnover rate.
Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say