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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Houston Rockets in Texas.
LeBron James had 18 points, two rebounds and one steal while shooting 8/8 from the field and 2/2 from three-point range in his first 17 minutes of playing time.
The 41-year-old also had a huge highlight that got a lot of views on social media.
The NBA wrote: “LEBRON SNATCHES IT WITH ONE HAND AND THROWS IT DOWN 🤯”
Skip Bayless Sounds Off On LeBron James
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Following the big play, former FS1 and ESPN star Skip Bayless sent out a post (via X).
Bayless wrote: “You see LeBron dunk like this IN YEAR 23 … and you wonder why he never participated in a single Dunk Contest.”
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Here’s what fans were saying in response to Bayless:
Skip Bayless
You see LeBron dunk like this IN YEAR 23 … and you wonder why he never participated in a single Dunk Contest.
@29tre: “Cause he’s a power dunker not a flashy dunker”
@K_Messias_: “LeBron never needed a dunk contest… he turned real games into highlights for two decades.”
@MidoDaGreat: “He’s a power dunker, a Shawn kemp, Zion, Young Shaq type of dunker. Modern dunk contest you need more flair, and he already said it. He just doesn’t have the repertoire for that. A tomahawk or a power reverse windmill won’t get him a win”
@Tronicssystem: “Skip is a real hater man 😂”
@LVstackiN: “LeBron has like 3 dunks in his bag. He’s a in game dunker just like Russell Westbrook. They have a small collection of dunks but they are power dunkers”
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
James came into the night with averages of 21.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 50.6% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range in 47 games.
He is in his eighth season playing for the Lakers (and 23rd in the NBA).
Lakers This Season
GettyLos Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 – LeBron James, left, looks on from the bench as the LA Lakers and the New York Knicks play at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Lakers are the third seed in the Western Conference with a 43-25 record in 68 games.
They are in the middle of a six-game winning streak (and have nine out of their last ten games).
Following the Rockets, the Lakers will play their next game on Thursday evening when they visit Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat in Florida.
On the road, they are 20-13.