The Los Angeles Lakers hated the officiating in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Thursday.
But probably not as much as Skip Bayless abhors LeBron James.
For the second straight time, the Lakers were trampled by the Thunder, 125-107, to fall 2-0 in their second-round series. Game 3 shifts to Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
Bayless loves James the way Kendrick Lamar loves Drake. The veteran commentator regards the four-time MVP as highly as a sidewalk. And no one was surprised when he mocked the 41-year-old James after their defeat in Game 2.
“LeBron played exceptionally well tonight. Longevity GOAT. Hanging on to 9th on my all-time ranking,” wrote Bayless on X.
James tallied 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting, six assists, and three steals in 38 minutes. He is averaging 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in the playoffs.
Bayles also slammed the Lakers for complaining about the officiating.
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“Lakers are trying to make this about the refs. No, it was about the Thunder,” said Bayless in another post.
Bayless' loathing of James is widely chronicled, but the NBA's all-time leading scorer has hardly given it any attention, knowing it is just pure noise.
Lakers coach JJ Redick called out the referees after Game 2, including the way James is being officiated. James vehemently complained about a non-call after being hit by Jaylin Williams in the first quarter.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” claimed Redick in the postgame conference.
Austin Reaves, who approached the referees after the final buzzer, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes were whistled for five fouls each.
The Los Angeles Lakers hated the officiating in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Thursday. But probably not as much as Skip Bayless abhors LeBron James. For the second straight time, the Lakers were trampled by the Thunder, 125-107, to fall 2-0 in their second-round series. Game 3 shifts to Crypto.