Bayless once again took a shot at James’ inconsistency as a 3-point shooter. He debated the topic with Shannon Sharpe on the latest episode of Fox Sports’ “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.” Here’s what Bayless said:
Bayless has often brought up LeBron James’ shooting numbers while debating why he doesn’t belong in the GOAT conversation. It has been one of James’ weaknesses. However, it’s unfair to question his status as one of the best players based on one aspect.
James’ all-around ability outweighs his shooting struggles significantly. He might not rank among the most efficient 3-point shooters, but it’s an area that he has improved on in the past few years.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant will be eager to shut down their critics
LeBron James and Kevin Durant have slipped out of the top-five player rankings for the 2022-23 season. The two superstars maintained their individual numbers last season. However, they weren’t successful in leading their teams to a successful run.
LeBron averaged 30.3 points. However, James’ LA Lakers finished with a dismal 33-49 record, finishing 11th in the Western Conference. Not only did they miss the playoffs, but they also squandered their opportunity to make the play-in tournament.
Meanwhile, Durant was initially an MVP frontrunner before getting injured midway through the season. He averaged 29.9 points. The Brooklyn Nets secured a play-in tournament berth and eventually made the playoffs.
However, they were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics. The failures James and Durant endured collectively impacted their rankings.
The LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets had a lot of external factors hampering their chances of winning at a high level. The two teams had a long offseason to get their plans right.
James and Durant will look to capitalize on that to shut down their critics. The two have delivered when healthy. If they remain available for long stretches, the duo could help their teams achieve plenty of success moving forward.
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